In talking about Organ Donation much of the discussion in about the donor and their family. The closure, comfort and purpose that can come and help make sense of a tragedy for the family. This is an important perspective in this discussion but there is another side to organ donation, the perspective of the recipient.
For most organ recipients they do not know their donor’s family. This information may in time be released to the recipient with the permission of the donor’s family. As I learned early on in this process when you are told you need a transplant there is a flood of emotions, fear of dying and a fear of the unknown just to name a couple. In a relative short time you come to terms with these emotions but the emotion that weighs most heavily and persistently relates to your unknown donor.
As part of National Donate Life Month we were featured on the front page of the local newspaper. It was a nice story that highlighted the need for organ donors with my story as a back-drop.
Marshall Curtis, right, and wife Julie are hoping to raise awareness of the need for organ donations this April, which is National Donate Life Month. Marshall, diagnosed with a genetic condition that is slowly killing his liver, has been waiting since August for the transplant he needs to stay alive, and says the uncertainty has been an enormous burden for the couple.
As I have discussed organ donation with friends and associates I am amazed at the wide array of misconceptions that exist. Unfortunately these misconceptions are preventing many people from becoming organ donors.
The entire organ donation and allocation process is highly regulated by an independent agency under contract from the department of Health and Human Services, UNOS (United Network for Organ Sharing www.unos.org). The process of organ procurement and allocation has been carefully structured to protect both the interests of the donor and the recipient. Despite what has been seen on television recently there is complete separation of the teams that are responsible for obtaining consent from the donor’s family and doing the organ procurement and the team that is responsible for the transplant. This is true even in the case of living donors who are donating an organ to a family member. This process ensures that there is no duress placed on the donor or their family and that the information about the availability of an organ and the donor are presented appropriately to the recipient.
Listed below are some facts regarding common misconceptions about organ donation1:
Fact: Anyone can be a potential donor regardless of age, race, or medical history.
Fact: All major religions in the United States support organ, eye and tissue donation and see it as the final act of love and generosity toward others.
Fact: If you are sick or injured and admitted to the hospital, the number one priority is to save your life. Organ, eye and tissue donation can only be considered after you are deceased.
Fact: When you are on the waiting list for an organ, what really counts is the severity of your illness, time spent waiting, blood type, and other important medical information, not your financial status or celebrity status.
Fact: An open casket funeral is possible for organ, eye and tissue donors. Through the entire donation process the body is treated with care, respect and dignity.
Fact: There is no cost to the donor or their family for organ or tissue donation.
Fact: Signing a donor card and a driver’s license with an "organ donor" designation may not satisfy your state’s requirements to become a donor. Be certain to take the necessary steps to be a donor and ensure that your family understands your wishes.
The following trailer highlights the power of a single organ donor to not only to save the lives of multiple people but provide comfort and purpose in the face of tragedy. Consider the facts and talk to your family about your wishes and make a “final act of love and generosity” your legacy.
For more information on becoming and organ donor in your state visit DonateLife.net.
If you are a regular reader you may have noticed that the name and look of this blog has been updated. The address has also been updated to correspond with the new name. The address is now http://onemansstory.com, links to the old address will be redirected to the new one.
The reason for the change was in part the changing of the seasons. As spring approaches we tend to evaluate the things in our life and shed off the old in favor of the new. After all spring is a season of rebirth. When I started this blog nine months ago the purpose was to have a forum to share my random memories, thoughts and opinions. When I was diagnosed with liver failure a few weeks later the direction of the blog evolved. It became a forum for me to share what I had learned and to express my thoughts and feelings about the challenges the disease presented. It wasn’t long before it became apparent that I would need a liver transplant and at that point the focus shifted yet again to documenting my journey toward a transplant. The blog still contains posts about memories, thoughts and hopes but the transplant journey has evolved as the primary topic for now.
Over time, particularly as the focus of the blog has changed, I have received a number of comments that the old title, Remembrances and look were to stark, final and oppressive. With that in mind I have tried to update the look to a fresher brighter look that reflects my optimism for the future. I have changed the subtitle to be more reflective of the actual content of the blog. As I was pondering the updates a new title was a bit elusive. What would represent all of the topics that I wanted to cover yet keep it personal. After all this was just one man’s story in the endless sea of the blogsosphere. So there I had it, One Man’s Story, simple yet on target.
Welcome to One Man’s Story, Memories of the past, a Liver Transplant and Hopes for the Future. I hope you enjoy the new look, the new name and what I write. Please feel free to give me your feedback on the changes as well as any suggestions.
April is National Donate Life Month. Established by Congress in 1983 as National Organ Donation Awareness Week it was expanded to full month in 2003 and the name was changed to National Donate Life Month. This change was to allow more time for public awareness events to educate people on the ever growing need for organ donation. To understand the magnitude of the need consider that as of 10:10 pm eastern time today there are 106,783 other people waiting for a transplant along with me. In 2009 (most recent data available) 14,631 people donated organs resulting in 28,464 transplants. Clearly there is a tremendous need that is not being met. A need that is met one donor at a time. A need that you can help meet.
“Do you have the heart to be a donor?” All of my life I have been a passive proponent of organ donation. I never felt compelled to take a more active role in promoting organ donation but strongly supported it anytime the subject came up with family, friends or co-workers.It seem simple and logical, if I no longer need my organs why not allow them to by used by someone in desperate need. With the recent events in my live and now finding myself waiting for a liver transplant I feel much more compelled to be an active proponent of this cause, something I wish I had done years ago.
