But there is something that I find very important when it
comes to driver’s licenses. Anyone have
a guess????? It’s actually something I really didn’t know I would be this
passionate about today.
At least in our state, they ask you when you renew your
driver’s license “Would you like to be an organ donor?” I already know my wife is an organ donor and
she has been since the day she was able to drive. The lady at the BMV desk asked her if she
would still like to be an organ donor and she said of course.
So where am I going with all this……..Well today I asked my
wife this question…. “I forgot to ask you if they asked you about being an
organ donor during your driver’s license renewal?” She told me, “of course I said yes.” She then said “She thought of me while she
was there.” Apparently, there was this
late teenage girl who was asked the very same question. “Would you like to be an organ donor?” The teenage girl said “NO!” She was with her mom according to my wife and
the mom looked at her daughter with a shocked expression. I guess the lady behind the desk asked the
teenage girl again “Are you sure you would not like to be an organ donor?” The teenage girl said “NO!” again.
My wife said to me, “I don’t know why someone wouldn’t want
to be an organ donor?” I couldn’t agree
more myself but you have to see this tale from both sides. I am pretty sure that people say NO to organ
donation because they actually do not know the facts about organ donation. They just use the myths they hear about organ
donation as a reason to say NO to becoming an organ donor. I will get into more
details about organ donation shortly, but I want to take a step back as I have
been surrounded with news in my own life about organ donation lately.
Recently, my mom told me that her cousin who has cystic
fibrosis was given the second chance at life about a year ago. She had a double lung transplant surgery and
is doing very well as I type this. She has the same exact two CF genes I have
which really puts things into perspective for me. Yes, it truly is scary and hit home when I
heard this but I know it is the reality of this disease. I can tell you this though; if it wasn’t for
the generosity of her donor and donor family she most likely wouldn’t be here
today. I was told she now is very
outspoken and even talks with patients on what to expect during lung transplant
recovery. I guess you could say being an
advocate and raising awareness is in the family blood!!
Then today, I was catching up on some blogs that I read and
I was shocked to read that a cyster in our CF community was knocking on heavens
door this past month. She had a double
lung transplant surgery 2 years ago and her body was rejecting her lungs this
past month. There wasn’t much the
doctors could do and it was questionable if she was going to get listed again
on the transplant list for various reasons. I was reading how she was struggling for every
breath and the lung rejection was really taking a toll on her body. The doctors
informed her that she only would have a short time left unless there was a
miracle.
Well I am happy to say that her miracle did happen this past
weekend. She got her third chance at
life and it truly is a miracle. Not only
does this disease impact the diagnosed but it impacts the diagnosed
family. She has a husband, a mom, a dad,
brothers, and friends. In this blog you
can see how this truly impacted her husband
Again, if it was not for the generous individuals who
elected to be an organ donor and the generosity of the organ donor family none
of this would ever be possible for both my mother’s cousin and this young
cyster. In the time of sadness and
mourning, there can be one last gift you can give before you leave this planet
and that is the gift of life. When you
leave this planet you do not need to bring your lungs, skin, eyes, heart,
liver, pancreas, bone, cartridge, intestines, or kidneys. There are individuals who are waiting for
that second, third, or fourth chance at life and you can give them that by
being an organ donor. Who knows it may
be even you on the transplant list or someone who is very close to your
heart.
To be honest, I think the main reason why people do not
become organ donors is because they have heard the myths of becoming an organ
donor. Below, are some of the myths and
facts when it comes to organ donation and reasons why WE ALL SHOULD BE ORGAN
DONORS. If you click on this link below
you will see some of the myths out there.
http://www.unos.org/donation/index.php?topic=fact_sheet_7
Here are some of the myths but click the link to get all of
them.
Myth: If emergency
room doctors know you're an organ donor, they won't work as hard to save you.
Fact: If you are
sick or injured and admitted to the hospital, the number one priority is to
save your life. Organ donation can only be considered after brain death has
been declared by a physician. Many states have adopted legislation allowing
individuals to legally designate their wish to be a donor should brain death
occur, although in many states Organ Procurement Organizations also require
consent from the donor's family.
Myth: When you're
waiting for a transplant, your financial or celebrity status is as important as
your medical status.
Fact: When you
are on the transplant waiting list for a donor organ, what really counts is the
severity of your illness, time spent waiting, blood type, and other important
medical information.
Myth: Having
"organ donor" noted on your driver's license or carrying a donor card
is all you have to do to become a donor.
Fact: In most
states, hospitals can legally proceed with organ, eye or tissue donation,
without consent from next of kin, if you have a driver's license with an
"organ donor" designation are have signed up with an organ donor
registry. However, it's important to talk to your family about your
decision to donate LIFE so they are aware of your wishes and will feel
comfortable honoring them.
Myth: Only
hearts, livers, and kidneys can be transplanted.
Fact: Needed
organs include the heart, kidneys, pancreas, lungs, liver and intestines.
Tissue that can be donated include the eyes, skin, bone, heart valves and
tendons.
Myth: Your
history of medical illness means your organs or tissues are unfit for donation.
Fact: At the time
of death, the appropriate medical professionals will review your medical and
social histories to determine whether or not you can be a donor. With recent
advances in transplantation, many more people than ever before can be donors.
It's best to tell your family your wishes and sign up to be an organ and tissue
donor on your driver's license or an official donor document.
Myth: If you
agree to donate your organs, your family will be charged for the costs.
Fact: There is no
cost to the donor's family or estate for organ and tissue donation. Funeral
costs remain the responsibility of the family.
Myth: Organ
donation disfigures the body and changes the way it looks in a casket.
Fact: Donated
organs are removed surgically, in a routine operation similar to gallbladder or
appendix removal. Donation does not change the appearance of the body for the
funeral service.
Myth: Your
religion prohibits organ donation.
Fact: All major
organized religions approve of organ and tissue donation and consider it an act
of charity.
Here is a
list of religions and their stance on organ donation http://www.donatelifeohio.org/religious-beliefs.html
Lastly, here are some of the facts and reasons why WE ALL
SHOULD BE ORGAN DONORS. This data can be
found on http://organdonor.gov/about/data.html
Someone is added to the organ donation list every 10
minutes. In one day, that is an
additional 144 people who are added to the list. At any one time there are over 100,000 people
waiting on the transplant list. This number is enough to fill a large football
stadium!! Each day, an average of 79
people receive organ transplants while an average of 18 people die each day waiting for transplants. The main reason for the 18 deaths is because
there is a shortage of organs. In 2010,
there were almost 2.5 million deaths in the U.S. Just imagine if every one of those persons
had donated! There would have been more memories that could have been made for
the ones who lost their life on the transplant list.
Currently, there are more than 100 million people in the U.S
who are signed up to be a donor. That is
NOT even half of the U.S.
population!! We need this number to
increase and we need to increase it soon before more loved ones are lost while
waiting for a life saving transplant. If
you are an organ donor I thank you not only for the possibility that I might
need a lung transplant one day but you are saving lives. In fact, you can save
up to 8 lives by becoming an organ donor.
You never know if a loved one will end up on the transplant list so why
not make the last heroic gift before you leave this plant the gift of LIFE.
Right now, there are more than enough people waiting for an organ
to fill a large football stadium twice over.
Data from optn.transplant.hrsa.gov
and OPTN/SRTR Annual Report.
** Data include deceased and living donors.
** Data include deceased and living donors.
Referenced websites.
First time in the cart!!!
Happy Happy Happy!!!
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