Okay - So every April, I get on my high horse about organ donation. I understand how personal the choice is, in fact, before having to live with the possibility of having it creep into our lives, I am not so sure how I felt about it myself.
First, a few facts:
Organ Demands
Each year 20,000 people receive organ transplants. This figure is only 25% of the 94,000 people in need of an organ.
Everyday around 17 people die while waiting for a transplant of a vital organ.
The Waiting List
Nearly 4,000 new patients are added to the waiting list every month.
The Potential Donor
You can choose to donate one or more of the following organs: kidneys, heart, liver, lung, pancreas, intestines, cornea, skin, bones and/or bone marrow.
The heart is the only organ that cannot come from a living donor.
There is no age limit for organ donation.
The few absolute exclusions are those who are HIV+, have active cancer or systemic infection.
Statistics
Less than 30% of the population has signed a donor card or has discussed organ donation with their family.
One organ or tissue donor has the potential to save 50 lives.
Common Misconceptions
Organ donation happens only after the patient is declared brain dead. The law clearly states that the doctor who pronounced brain death must have nothing to do with the removal or transplantation of organs.
After organ removal, the body does not become disfigured.
Second, the pitch:
I know that there are so many reasons NOT to become an organ donor, but in my life there in one MAJOR reason that is behind my reason TO be one.
My son.
He never asked to be born with liver disease. There is no defining reason why he even has it. It's a "fluke". All I know is that he has been through so much in his short life and I'd like to hope that when he ventures down the path of transplantation, someone thought enough of children like him to make that decision. I know I have.
No, we cannot guarantee who our organs go to. But we can pray that our decision changes someones LIFE for the better - that they actually get to LIVE.
If you haven't already - PLEASE consider giving the gift of life.
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