A serious post from me today. National Transplant Week runs from 7 to 13 July 2014 and this is what I want to talk to you about. Please don’t skim over this as it is so important to talk about being an organ donor and I am going to explain to you why it is important and how talking about it can make a unbelievable difference to someones life.
A – Amazing
I along with a group of bloggers are all going to tell you why we think it is important to be a donor, we are going to spell it out for you and my letter is A.
Firstly donating an organ is an amazing thing for anyone to do. It isn’t an easy decision and has an impact on the people you leave behind, but you are giving an amazing gift to another person.
Do not be Ambiguous
• Only 45% of families will agree to donation if decisions aren’t known
• This rises to 95% when the decision to be an organ donor is known
So you have to talk about organ donation with your family and friends. Let them know what your decision is and why. Make is clear and do not be ambiguous.
Why organ donation is important to me:
Advancement
I have touched upon my condition and dance with cancer in the past. The fact that I have a genetic spelling mistake and may have passed this on to my boys is hard to deal with, but it is not something that dominates our lives. We choose not to let it, but it does mean that as a family we have all discussed death and that I have seen more than my fair share of family die.
I know that if in my death I could help another person I would in a heartbeat. I know that it is though peoples generosity and also scientists and doctors thirst for knowledge and desire to find cures that my childrens lives and outcome may be different to mine. So for me it is about Advancement.
What I want you to take away from this blog post
Please don’t just read this post and nod to yourself. I am asking you to make an action, to go away and tell your family and friends that you want to be an organ donor. Talk to your partner, your parents and your children, ask what their wishes are and make it clear.
If you haven’t signed the Organ Donation Register, then please go to the National Transplant Week website and sign up.
Now you know what I want to be an organ donor I would love for you to pop over to Aim Above Limits and see why Katie is an organ donor.
I’ve carried a donor card since I was 16. My parents knew my wishes when I lived at home and when I met my husband, I told him about the card and that any part of my body may be used. I’ve been on the organ donor register for years. I’ll be sharing this as much as I can xx
I’m so glad you’ve written about this Jen! I am a registered organ donor for all or any of my organs that can be transplanted at the time of my death! My parents died in a crash when I was a teenager and it was my mother’s ardent wish throughout her life was that she donate her corneas. It fills me with pride that someone out there had that gift from her… I often think what that might mean for me if I had a family member that needed organ donation, how hard I would hope and pray that someone out there does this for us! I’m sorry to hear about your genetics not favouring you…frankly, mine neither! I feel I make an effort to live better for it 🙂 xx
Such an important message. My family know my wishes, we had the chat a little while back
Such an important topic. Thank you for highlighting it
Such an important topic. In Wales we are just about to implement the opt-out – i.e. unless you specify otherwise, your organs may be used for donation after your death. I hope it leads to an increase in available organs.
Such a great post that not many people talk about I was put in the horrible decision of having to make the decision to donate my mums organs when she died in a accident when I was 21, she didn’t have a donor card so the decision was hard to make but we went ahead with the donation because we said we would hope someone would be kind enough to donate a organ if we ever needed one. And from a donor family point of view it helps a lot knowing that your loved one has not died for no reason and that they have helped others to live . After the translation you get told about the recipients if you wish and they contact you if you wish and it so nice to hear how your loved one has transformed there life . My mum saved four people and I’m proud of that and all are family now have donor cards and know each other’s wishes should the worse happen again and I think posts like yours are great at highlighting this issue as it is not often talked about and the decision really would be so much easier to make if you knew your loved ones wishes on organ donation
I’m signed up to be an organ donor, but I’m not sure my family are aware of this, apart from my husband. Reading your post has made me realise that simply signing up to the Organ Donation Register isn’t enough. I’ll certainly be making sure my family know about my wishes from now on.
It’s a really difficult thing to get your head around as not all transplants are in those who are likely to live more than a month or more, it’s very variable, and sometimes it seems transplantation prolongs the agony and suffering of the recipient unnecessarily. But in so many cases it is such a positive and worthwhile thing. Really important post.
i really wish my fear of needles could disapear so i could do
something like this x
You can’t hear me but I’m clapping. I’m smiling too. Well said Jen, I totally agree and this is something I feel passionately about. I think the law should be changed to that everyone donates unless you opt out. It really is the difference between someone else living or dying. xx
An important topic for many, and one which is still quite taboo to talk about. I always find it sad when someone who has carried a donor card their whole life, but upon their passing, their family object to that decision they made.
Organ donorship clearly makes a difference to someone elses life.
I signed up to be a donor over 20 years ago and agree that it is really important that everyone does so.
An important topic and one we are starting to discuss
I used to have a donor card many moons ago but honestly haven’t thought about it in over a decade – I must do this, thanks for the prompt Jen x
Well done for highlighting such an important topic. x
I’ve signed up to be an organ donor. My fiance’s late mum wouldn’t have lived as long as she did without her kidney transplant. One of my best friends (although currently on the waiting list for another kidney transplant after the first set were rejected) will need an organ donor if he wants to see his next birthday probably – so sad at such a young age but exactly why people need to sign up.
It took me years to do and I am ashamed – but as I thought about it – if my family/friends were in the position to need a donor and organs were available..I wouldn’t think twice about it. So surely I need to put my money where my mouth is and potentially help a stranger out in their hour of need if I no longer need them?
xx
I’ve always said if someone can use my organs when I can’t then go for it, I can’t give blood because of the medication I am on and so I’m not sure if that would affect my donating organs as well but at least I could try. x
organ donor bracelet are a brilliant idea. Short information, blood type etc… they can speed up a lot when worst comes to worst
Have just signed up…and forwarding the link to my partner so he can too. Thank you for sharing.
Such an important post
Both me and hubby are registered and our families know. We also made the decision to register the two boys,p. Obviously when they are older we will respect their wishes if they want to be removed, but we will also explain when they are old why we believe it is important. Thankyou for sharing.
I have carried a donor card for as long as I can remember, It was my nan who spoke to me about who also carries one, it’s such an important message to share. x