A few nights ago, I lay in bed, not being able to sleep for a while, and made a rather interesting emotional discovery... I realised that the biggest compliment anyone can give someone who's waiting for an organ transplant, or has had one, is to become an organ donor, without you having to ask them...
This has happened to me, as three of my best friends, as well as my sister and parents of course, became organ donors somewhere in the time that I was listed, and I didn't even know. I only found out a while later, either by seeing the sticker on their driver's licienses, or just finding out in conversation a few months later. And it really felt better than receiving an actual gift from them. It's like they're saying to me: "If I could, I would seriously give you an organ".
On the flipside however, you get friends who just never register, and sometimes I find it rather upsetting. It's one thing if they openly say they've told their family they want to be orgen donors, then at least I know their intentions are good, although it would be more concrete if they actually just registered. It's shocking how uninformed some people are, and even though I've mentioned countless times how easy it is to register etc, some of them still don't know how to!!!! THERE IS A LINK ON THE SIDEBAR OF MY BLOG. FOLLOW THE LINK. GO TO THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE. THERE IS A BANNER SAYING "GIVE THE ULTIMATE GIFT". CLICK THERE. FILL IN YOUR DETAILS. IT TAKES LESS THAN 5 MINUTES. NO MEDICAL EXAM NEEDED. JUST DO IT DAMMIT.
But it's another thing altogether when people just avoid the subject and keep quiet about it. It's like they're saying to me "I'm really glad you got lungs, but you would never have gotten them from me..."
Apparently in Spain, if you're not an organ donor, you can't get an organ. And I assume you must have been one for a while, as it's no use becomming one just when you realise you need an organ. In fact, they've also got the opt-out system, where everyone's an organ donor, except if you register NOT to be one. I really wish we could have that here...
So... if you're a real friend to someone who needs an organ, or who has had one, GO REGISTER YOURSELF. NOW.
Thank you.
10 comments:
Alice I commend your attitude and even anger! It is so easy to loose the passion for donation after your own transplant which you have not done!! to restate it again..THE BIGGEST LIMITING FACTOR TO DONATION IN SA THAT IS LITERALLY COSTING LIVES IS LACK OF ORGANS!!...Every week we loose perfect organs because families won't donate what CANNOT be of any use to them--even emotionally--to save a stranger in need. CAN'T understand it. PGW
Hi Alice
I hope that when you get your T-Shirts you don't turn into an aggressive vigilante!! One thing I've learnt from marketing which has stuck like glue is: you have to deliver a message, with significant impact, a minimum of seven times, before you can expect any level of harvest. It's for this reason advertisements on TV and Radio are aired at least seven times. My message is, just keep on doing what you're doing, and recruit others to do the same. Slowly you will get results. In the UK they are currently trying to implement a law which makes everyone an organ donor.
I think families hide behind religion when it comes to organ donation. If you ask them to reference from their scriptures where their belief comes from, they are not able to find what they feel sure MUST be there. Volk lore, handed down through the generations has somehow become part of religions. I think this is what needs addressing - the question is how?
You Blog remains the BEST EVER!
Peter Leid (CF Man)
PS I'm a card carrying organ donor.
Hi Alice
I think the captions you have around the two cat pictures are hilarious. Especially the kitten, face down in the chow.
Peter Leid (CF Man)
I know you didn't intend to .. but I feel incredibly guilty that I can not be an organ donor. I wish I could, but I've been told that people with tick borne illness should not donate even a strain of hair because they would pass on their illness to others. I wouldn't wish TBI's on anyone. :( I'm hoping that i'll hear once i'm in the clear that I can get one of those lil stickers. BUT I've read that once you've had it ... that's it. no organ donation for you. I'm so sad.
BUT, just because I can't donate .. doesn't mean I don't try to convince my friends to. :)
Just want to make it clear, I don't want to make people who CAN'T register feel guilty!!! I was just venting a bit. I just don't like it if people who are my friends won't register because they find it 'weird' or whatever.
Oh I know you didn't intend for that .. I just was saying that I often feel guilty because I can't. Hence the reason I prefaced my post with, "I know you didn't intend to ."
:)
good post, Alice!
Tick Borne Illness???Please educate us!?
I have seen the comment and will comment back later. I have to run off to work now, but essentially you can get diseases from ticks if they bite you. There are many many diseases they can carry and each disease has a bunch of strains.
If Alice is interested, I'll be glad to write up a little something and let her post it ... or I can write it here in the comments section. Let me know via facebook.
Jennifer
There is a group on Facebook about the Opt Out system of organ donation....I think it is a great idea myself.
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