I heard a statistic recently that the list of people needing a donor transplant is increasing rapidly. Makes sense to me as the population grows. However, the number of people who have registered as a donor on their license is about 35%. That seems low to me because I can't think of a good reason for a healthy person not to be a donor. Maybe people don't want to think about it because it involves death. But in essence it seems pretty simple, at the point your a donor, it won't matter to you anymore but will mean the world to someone else.
This hits closer to home as my coworker's wife waits for a lung transplant....and continues to wait. She's suffers from cystic fibrosis yet thanks to modern medicine has had a high quality of life into her 30's. If you are not registered as an organ donor, I'd like to encourage you to reconsider. The DOL can register you when you renew your drivers license.....but since that only happens every few years, they point to a website where you can register now. The link is: http://www.donatelife.net/
Along this line, I'm participating in a stairclimb event to raise money for the cystic fibrosis foundation. If you're inclined to support this cause, click here to get to my donation page: http://stairclimb.kintera.org/faf/r.asp?t=4&i=285455&u=285455-156568318&e=2029975711
The goal of course is raising money......but being a guy and all the competition part is also rewarding! We happen to be the defending champs for the last couple years and we hope to keep that up.
Thanks.
5 comments:
Let me add my 2 cents to this - especially for you youngish people.... I have some involvement with the organ harvesting processing phase when we have a candidate and that's one of the first things that pops into our heads when we have a brain-dead patient ... "Could this patient be a organ donation candidate?" Some people that want to and have signed up to be one wind up being disqualified due to any number of health reasons or due to some aspect of their non-survivable event.
It's heartbreaking enough to watch the families try to come to grips with losing their son or daughter or friend, and many potentially great donors are missed because I suppose that proceeding with organ donation means the family has to accept that things aren't going to turn around. It just makes things that much easier if the parents or other decision makers can be shown documentation that says that this was the patient's wish. Then it's not a decision put on grieving families.
Days when we have an organ harvest are some of the saddest days, yet there's some element of hope and gladness tucked in that something good for someone can come from this tragedy.
Yes, I am personally registered
Justin, great entry. Awesome post!!!
I'm registered, Justin, but I hope when my time comes, they'll take anything! Because I lived a year in Germany (albeit NOT on an American base -- which does have grave consequences in the late 80's) they may not take my organs because of the possibility of mad cow disease leading to Jakob-Creuzfeldt in humans. The blood bank decided, though, that since I didn't live on an American base, I should be okay for blood donation -- if they could even get any of my blood! Stupid veins! Good Luck on the climb!
Sylvia has been one forever and I will make sure to become one. I think it's a great thing. Thanks for the reminder.
Awesome post Justin!! I have a cyber-friend whose wife recieved a double lung transplant due to CF a few months ago...I've learned so much from their journey!! The reason I like donatelife so much is because you have a document & your family cannot interfere with your wishes. Also you can be very specific about what you want donated for what reason.
I had no idea the stairclimb was for CF - way cool!
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