Each year, hundreds of thousands of patients have new pacemakers or implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) removed and replaced or pass away and are buried with these devices. Those who choose cremation routinely must have their devices removed. You or your loved one’s pacemaker or ICD may still work and could be donated to a patient in need. There are patients throughout the world, mostly in poorer countries, that cannot afford pacemakers or ICDs. These patients do not have access to these same life-saving devices.
Pacemaker donations are accepted from private individuals, funeral homes or crematory, physician or healthcare facilities, medical waste company or private individual. Please note these donations are not tax deductible and are for humanitarian efforts.
Michigan Medicine is working with World Medical Relief (WMR), interested citizens, physicians, and funeral directors across the United States to help these patients in need through a program called Project My Heart Your Heart. You may be able to help save a life by donating your or your loved one’s device to our project. A funeral director will respectfully remove the device and send it to be used by Project My Heart Your Heart. There is no cost to you or your loved one’s estate or insurance company. Your decision to donate is optional. If you are interested in donating a pacemaker through My Heart Your Heart, please download the MHYH Device Donor Information Sheet.
If you are ready to donate a pacemaker through My Heart Your Heart, please fill out the form below.