Organ Donation

I'm a registered organ and tissue donor. It's not something that's for everybody, but I feel it should be. I think most of my siblings are organ and tissue donors as well. My dad lived 5 more years than he could have because someone donated their liver. He was in the hospital #1 on the national list for 3 weeks before a match was found. He had to be admitted to the hospital because he was too sick to live at home anymore. When he was admitted, he was basically given a death sentence: he would either go home with a new liver or he'd be wheeled out of the morgue. He got to come home because one person wanted to make a difference even after their life was over. Many people who are in the hospital awaiting a transplant are in the same situation.

Yesterday at work LifeGift came and talked to us about how it is hospital policy to contact them every time their is an imminent death or death in the hospital so that they can talk to the family about potential organ donation. How much easier it is on your family members, hospital staff, and the transplant organizations if you've made the decision prior, registered, and let your family know your wishes. Medical staff will never talk to you about organ donation because it is seen as a conflict of interest.

It's a decision that shouldn't be made lightly. There are several ways you can donate. One is the oldest way where there has been cardiac death--the heart has stopped and can't be restarted. They can only use certain organs if this type of death has occurred. The other is because of neurological death--your body is being kept alive because of life support measures but medically the brain has died. In cardiac and neurological death, they have 1 hour from the time a patient is pronounced to remove the organs or they are of no benefit to anyone. That's why it is SO important for others to be aware of your decision ahead of time. It helps your family members and loved ones to understand what is going to happen. There is also living donation. Living donation is for kidneys, part of livers, pancreas, and other organs.

IF one of your life goals is to save at least one life, consider registering as a donor. Study up. Learn what you can do to save the lives of others. I've seen how such a selfless act can affect the lives of people you may never meet.

Donate Life.