Donate Life!

Lying in bed this morning, my mind went back to people asking what they could do to help and my response. Usually it's, "Well, I can't think of anything." Usually I can't. Not to mention that it is hard to ask for something from someone even if you do need it. So this morning, it dawned on me what people could do to help.

DONATE YOUR ORGANS!!

Well, maybe not this minute...but register to donate your organs! You can't take them with you when you die. Well, you can, but what good will they do in your body? You have the potential to save many lives with just your one. Isn't that amazing? I know that I have constantly thought about what's going to happen when I receive my call for my lungs. I will have a mix of emotions I am sure. I will be happy that I will finally have a second chance at living again. But  I will also be sad because I know that someone else has died giving me that second chance. Unfortunately, we will all pass from this life to the next; it's a fact of life. So when it is your time to go, why not help save many lives? Just one person can potentially give their kidneys, pancreas, liver, lungs, heart, intestinal organs, corneas, and tissues.

Statistics

112,657 Patients Waiting*
62,648 Multicultural Patients*
1,800 Pediatric Patients*
21,354 Organ Transplants Performed in 2011
10,558 Organ Donors in 2011
*as of January 2012

 

Our first instinct when something bad happens and faced with the looming death of a loved one is to keep them "together" as much as possible. This is human nature and is understandable. How can you grieve properly if your loved one doesn't have all their "parts"? Think about this. What about the 22 year old man whom has been blind all his life? What a wonderful gift if he could see the world with your corneas. What about the 6 year old little girl that has been in the hospital time and again in need of a heart transplant? Without it she will certainly die, and she has her whole life ahead of her. What about me? I'm 35 years old, married for 15 years to a wonderful man with whom I love to the depths of my soul, I have 3 children...all of which I desperately want to watch grow, graduate from high school, college. I want to see them on their wedding days and share the joys of watching them become parents too. I need lungs. Without them I will die.

 

Everyone has a story. Everyone has a right to live. The reality is that when our time is up, it is up. You can't take your organs with you, so please register and be an organ donor. Even though one family will most definitely be grieving the loss of their loved one, other families will be rejoicing that their loved ones life has been saved and given another chance to live again. The recipients will be most grateful and you have my word that they will live life to the fullest. Not just for them and their families, but also for the donor and their sacrifice.

 

So I ask of you to make it known to those you love that you would like to be an organ donor. I also urge you to visit http://donatelife.net/ and sign up to be an organ donor. You can click on "Register Now" on any page of the website. Check out the website and the facts about organ donation.