Thousands Are Waiting. One Can Help.
In the next 24 hours, 77 people in The United States
In that same amount of time, 19 people will die waiting for a transplant.
The sad truth is that there just aren't enough people willing to donate.
Since learning about sweet Kelli and what she and her family are going through, The Lord really pressed upon my heart to learn more about organ donation.
I have shared with my husband my wish to be a donor at my death. He has agreed to honor those wishes. Other than signing the back of my driver's license, I really have not done much more to share my willingness to donate.
In an effort to promote awareness about Organ Donation, and in honor of Kelli and the many others waiting for a transplant, I will be posting the "Organ Donor" button in my sidebar.
I am asking you to consider joining me in this campaign to promote awareness. You are welcome to right click on the button and post it on your blog.
You may also link to this post for a quick reference.
Who is eligible to donate?
Anyone over the age of 18 who has indicated their intent to donate. Persons under 18 must have the consent of a parent or guardian. Medical suitability for donation is determined at the time of death.
What can be donated?
Organs: heart, kidneys, pancreas, lungs, liver, and intestines
Tissue: cornea, skin, heart valves, bone, blood, blood vessels, and connective tissue
Bone marrow/stem cells, umbilical cord blood
You may choose and designate on your donor card what you wish to donate.
Can I still have an open casket at my funeral?
Yes. Donation does not interfere with having an open casket service. Surgical techniques are used to retrieve organs and tissues, and all incisions are closed.
No. Your family will only pay for your medical and funeral costs. All donation related costs are paid by the recipient or their insurance provider.
Will my wishes be carried out?
Even if you sign a donor card, it is essential that your family know your wishes. Your family may be asked to sign a consent form in order for your donation to occur.
How do I become an organ donor?
- Talk to your family
- Register with your state donor registry, if available. (See the national link below and follow the instructions to find your state's registry.)
- Sign a donor card and carry it with you
For more information about organ donation, state registries, and to download a donor card, visit http://www.organdonor.gov/.
Canadian residents may visit The Organ and Transplant Association of Canada.
Remember, you can't take it with you.
*Information taken from OrganDonor.gov
12 comments:
This is great! Thanks for doing this. My father-in-law is awaiting kidney donation (I wrote about this briefly today.. so weird!) I'll be posting the button and wanted to see if it was ok to link to your site.
Thank you for all the research you did! And you even got a link for us Canadians!
Jessica-
Yes. Please link to this post if you would like to. I will be praying for your father-in-law.
Thank you Melanie- an behalf of the thousands of us out there waiting :)
Hey Melanie! Happy Valentine's Day! Thank you for all the time and research you put into find out more about organ donations.
What a wonderful idea, Melanie. I can't get this into my sidebar fast enough. Thank you for thinking of this - we so need to call attention to just exactly how important it is. I've had this on my driver's license forever and my wishes are very well known to my husband AND my entire family.
What a blessing this is and yes, the timing is perfect.
I've donated bone marrow and a part of my liver. I'd do it again in a moment. Thanks so much for posting this vital information.
Great work, Melanie!
What a wonderful thing to do! I've been signed up for a long time. I worked ICU and trauma for many years and have seen both sides of organ donation and feel very strongly about how important it is. Thanks for helping raise awareness!
Hi, Melanie. I hope it's ok that I linked to you and to Kelli. When I saw her post about Organ Donor Day, I just had to follow up!
Over half of the 95,000 Americans on the national transplant waiting list will die before they get a transplant. Most of these deaths are needless. Americans bury or cremate about 20,000 transplantable organs every year. Over 6,000 of our neighbors suffer and die needlessly every year as a result.
There is a simple way to put a big dent in the organ shortage -- give organs first to people who have agreed to donate their own organs when they die.
Giving organs first to organ donors will convince more people to register as organ donors. It will also make the organ allocation system fairer. People who aren't willing to share the gift of life should go to the back of the waiting list as long as there is a shortage of organs.
Anyone who wants to donate their organs to others who have agreed to donate theirs can join LifeSharers. LifeSharers is a non-profit network of organ donors who agree to offer their organs first to other organ donors when they die. Membership is free at www.lifesharers.org or by calling 1-888-ORGAN88. No one is excluded due to any pre-existing medical condition. LifeSharers has 7,48 members, including over 700 minor children enrolled by their parents.
Comments and links to organizations on this post are not necessarily the opinion of the blog author.
This post is not a forum for debate. This post was simply meant to promote awareness of the need for organ donors.
Thankfully, in America we have the personal choice of organ donation and it does not affect our own eligiblity to receive a transplant.
Sincerely, Melanie/This Ain't New York
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