February 7, 2011
it doesn’t hurt any more than dying
I’ve been an organ donor since the day I got my driver’s license. It wasn’t really something I gave a lot of thought; I’m not going to need them when I’m gone. In the last few weeks I’ve been thinking a lot about how that quick and almost thoughtless decision could end up saving a life. Specifically I’ve been wondering how many 16 year-olds, as quickly and thoughtlessly, ignore the donor card all together and never consider putting that little pink sticker* on the front of their licenses.
Natasha is a friend of mine. She’s 31 years old and in early January she needed a new liver.
The scariest day for my family and friends. I needed a liver bad yet all the ones presented were not good enough and I continued to be in bad shape. My brother was called and told he needed to be there since they were not sure how much longer I would live without a new liver. Basically, they thought I may die.
Natasha got her liver the next day and is doing well. Consider filling out that donor card.
Ok, I’m off my soap box now.
*Does every state have the same pink sticker?
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In Texas, you sign the back of the license, I believe. Which also qualifies you for a free gun.
Free gun? That’s to protect you from people who might want to shoot you for your organs.
Two steps ahead.
I read a wonderful XKCD strip that made me think about organ donation.
I’m pretty sure Michael, and anyone may of course correct me if I’m wrong, but I think if you are under the age of 18 in California it doesn’t matter if you put the sticker on your license, you have to fill out an accompanying form and your parents can still veto it. I think actually the sticker alone isn’t enough for anyone, you have to sign a form as well?
It sure sounds like I didn’t read the post. But I did! I don’t know how I got so confused. ANYWAY I meant if you’re under 18, the form isn’t enough, your parents still have veto power.
Your story about Organ Donation highlighted the tragic shortage of human organs for transplant operations.
There are now over 110,000 people on the National Transplant Waiting List, with over 50% of these people dying before they get a transplant. Most of these deaths are needless. Americans bury or cremate 20,000 transplantable organs every year.
There is a simple way to put a big dent in the organ shortage – give donated 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. Everyone who is willing to receive should be willing to give.
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 http://www.lifesharers.org or by calling
1-888-ORGAN88. There is no age limit, parents can enroll their minor children, and no one is excluded due to any pre-existing medical condition. LifeSharers has over 14,400 members as of this writing.
Please contact me – Dave Undis, Executive Director of LifeSharers – if your readers would like to learn more about our innovative approach to increasing the number of organ donors. I can arrange interviews with some of our local members if you’re interested. My email address is daveundis@lifesharers.org. My phone number is 615-351-8622.
Amanda Mae, thanks for pointing that out. You’re right, a little donation card has to be completed and stored behind your license. And yes, at 16, I asked my mommy to sign it.
There is a little red heart and the words organ donor above my photo on my Virginia license. When Mr. B. was asked at the DMV he said, “of course.”
The Iowan’s mother passed away last year at 91. There was a memorial service but no traditional wake/funeral, etc., because she had donated herself, so to speak, to the University of Iowa medical center. The Iowan’s father, same thing. They don’t fool around when it comes to this donation thing. Bless ‘em.
I could never understand why people have a problem with organ donation.
David, I like that idea. I think people act out of selfishness more than they do out of generosity to others.
A great way to achieve a higher ratio of organ donors would be to change the system of registering. Instead of requiring people to opt-in, the forms should say “if you do not wish to donate your organs in the event of your death, check here.” We all know government forms are poorly designed. This is just another example of it.