Organ Donation

CSign

CSign

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"Roseville resident Natasha Deegan, 31, spoke at an event at the Department of Motor Vehicles headquarters in Sacramento Tuesday celebrating 100 million registered organ, eye and tissue donors in the United States.

Deegan received a liver transplant in 2011.

“My doctors say I am a miracle, but I don’t agree,” she said during the event. “The miracle is my angel, my donor, who decided to give the gift of life.”

Donate Life California honored the California DMV following the announcement by Donate Life America that the goal of 100 million donors has been achieved. This represents about 42 percent of this country’s adult population.

California has the most donors with more than 8.6 million. In October 2006, when the goal was set, 65 million donors were registered. California has since contributed 25 percent of the 35 million registrants needed to reach the national goal."

~ Sena Christian

http://rosevillept.com/detail/190476.html
 
I'm always surprised when people don't have the "donor dot" on their ID. People don't realize how many lives can be saved/positively impacted through one persons organ donation. The one reason I view as acceptable not to is because of religious reasons. Even then, I think they should still consider it- but I respect their choice.

So, if you haven't registered as an organ donor- seriously consider it and do it. Chances are you'll keep your organs till your old and senile, but there is always the possibility of moving on when you least suspect it. In that case, it would be a shame for those organs to go to waste when you could have literally saved lives/and improved someones quality of life.

Edit to add: I'm well aware that organ donation is a very personal thing, and can't be taken lightly. I respect the individuals right to choose- across the board. Not just regarding organ donation. That is something I live by.

The point of this thread was to share an article, and urge those who haven't seriously considered it to look into it and make a choice- either way. Just let it be an educated one.
 
I did a lot of research into organ donation for a story I wrote a couple years ago. I read three books on the subject and interviewed two people who worked as surgery coordinators for the California Organ Transplant Network. After all that, I was still unable to decide if I wanted to be an organ donor. The whole "beating heart cadaver" thing makes me very uneasy.

I would agree to being a donor after cardiac death, but not a beating heart cadaver donor.

It's a VERY personal decision, and I would not judge anyone for choosing to or not to be a donor.
 
I wanted to be a donor but I was on some pretty messed up meds in high school. An experimental drug for seizures which slightly damaged and/or changed stuff to the point that they wont let me donate anymore.
They won't even let me donate blood
 
TheWriteAlex said:
I did a lot of research into organ donation for a story I wrote a couple years ago. I read three books on the subject and interviewed two people who worked as surgery coordinators for the California Organ Transplant Network. After all that, I was still unable to decide if I wanted to be an organ donor. The whole "beating heart cadaver" thing makes me very uneasy.

I would agree to being a donor after cardiac death, but not a beating heart cadaver donor.

It's a VERY personal decision, and I would not judge anyone for choosing to or not to be a donor.
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I agree it's a personal decision, and I'm not judging anyone.
 
TheWriteAlex said:
I did a lot of research into organ donation for a story I wrote a couple years ago. I read three books on the subject and interviewed two people who worked as surgery coordinators for the California Organ Transplant Network. After all that, I was still unable to decide if I wanted to be an organ donor. The whole "beating heart cadaver" thing makes me very uneasy.

I would agree to being a donor after cardiac death, but not a beating heart cadaver donor.

It's a VERY personal decision, and I would not judge anyone for choosing to or not to be a donor.
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There are those that have very strong cultural and spiritual beliefs that would prohibit donating. They have the right to their decisions without judgment.
 
jillio said:
There are those that have very strong cultural and spiritual beliefs that would prohibit donating. They have the right to their decisions without judgment.
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I think people who don't want to donate for simply selfish reasons are perfectly free to feel that way without being judged as well.

I have no religious or cultural beliefs that prohibit me from donating. It's more of a metaphysical problem. I just feel like until my heart has completely stopped beating, some part of my soul is still in the body, and therefore, my consciousness.

With beating heart cadaver donors (brain dead, but heart still beating and organ system still functioning due to artificial hormones being pumped into body that maintain hemodynamics and regulatory functions), which account for 90% of all donations, a lot of the recovery process happens while the heart is still beating, up to and including the moment that the heart is removed from the body.

I just can't do it.
 
TheWriteAlex said:
I think people who don't want to donate for simply selfish reasons are perfectly free to feel that way without being judged as well.

I have no religious or cultural beliefs that prohibit me from donating. It's more of a metaphysical problem. I just feel like until my heart has completely stopped beating, some part of my soul is still in the body.

With beating heart cadaver donations, which account for 90% of all donations, a lot of the recovery process happens while the heart is still beating, up to and including the moment that the heart is removed from the body.

I just can't do it.
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Agreed. I was just pointing out that there may be many reasons why someone is not an organ donor.
 
I know my husband has an uncle who is alive purely due to a heart donor and I think that's great for him.

My father could not be a donor due to health issues and the same with my mother. Husband does not believe in it at all, though he does see the good it can bring. I'm not sure where I stand. My kids are against it and don't want to say why.
 
I'm OK with being a donor, but its not indicated on my driver's license.

If I pass away unexpectedly, I want my friends involved in the process - I don't want hospital employees starting the process on their own.

Perhaps I've read too many medical fiction books :), but that's what I'm comfortable with for now.
 
Jazzberry said:
I'm OK with being a donor, but its not indicated on my driver's license.

If I pass away unexpectedly, I want my friends involved in the process - I don't want hospital employees starting the process on their own.

Perhaps I've read too many medical fiction books :), but that's what I'm comfortable with for now.
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You probably should give someone you really, really trust a medical power of attorney so they have the right to be involved. Otherwise, their input will not count for anything.
 
jillio said:
You probably should give someone you really, really trust a medical power of attorney so they have the right to be involved. Otherwise, their input will not count for anything.
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You are right. I don't have an SO right now though, and I don't know how to start the conversation.
 
I must be odd one out who think organ donation should be opt-out instead opt-in. Seem wasteful. After you die, why you care? :dunno:
 
Jazzberry said:
You are right. I don't have an SO right now though, and I don't know how to start the conversation.
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It can be a difficult one to start. Most people HATE to talk about these things. I agree it isn't really pleasant to think about, but it needs to be addressed.

My brother was dying when he gave me medical power of attorney. We knew that it needed to be talked about, and still it was unpleasant.
 
sunny_signs said:
I must be odd one out who think organ donation should be opt-out instead opt-in. Seem wasteful. After you die, why you care? :dunno:
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Like I said, there are often cultural and spirtual beliefs involved. Those need to be respected in life and in death.
 
jillio said:
It can be a difficult one to start. Most people HATE to talk about these things. I agree it isn't really pleasant to think about, but it needs to be addressed.

My brother was dying when he gave me medical power of attorney. We knew that it needed to be talked about, and still it was unpleasant.
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I'm really sorry you had to go through this with your brother. We all have to go sometime, but I'm going to make the guess (based on what I've read from your posts and that siblings usually aren't that far apart in ages) that he went way, way too soon.

There is no one in my birth family that I trust to make this request. There is no one among my friends that I feel comfortable making this request because it potentially could be something that involves a huge amount of time and be extremely emotionally draining. Not everyone goes quickly.

And I'm one of those folks that don't even like to ask for a cup of sugar if I can help it. Knock on wood, I'm in good health at the moment, but I'm also the kind of person that likes to have my i's dotted and my t's crossed.

There should be a 3rd party that offers this kind of service for people like me.
 
Jazzberry said:
Their is no one in my birth family that I trust to make this request. There is no one among my friends that I feel comfortable making this request because it potentially could be something that involves a huge amount of time and be extremely emotionally draining. Not everyone goes quickly.

And I'm one of thoes folks that don't even like to ask for a cup of sugar if I can help it. Knock on wood, I'm in good health at the moment, but I'm also the kind of person that likes to have my i's dotted and my t's crossed.

There should be a 3rd party that offers this kind of service for people like me.
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You could always file it with an attorney, and then make sure that the attorney is on your contact list with all of your medical providers. You know where they always ask for someone to contact? Then, if you need to change it later on, you can. Meanwhile, you have some degree of protection.
 
jillio said:
You could always file it with an attorney, and then make sure that the attorney is on your contact list with all of your medical providers. You know where they always ask for someone to contact? Then, if you need to change it later on, you can. Meanwhile, you have some degree of protection.
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That's a good idea. I'll look into it.
 
sunny_signs said:
I must be odd one out who think organ donation should be opt-out instead opt-in. Seem wasteful. After you die, why you care? :dunno:
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I agree, I think it would be a better way to go.

I also agree with Jillio that people who don't wish to participate in an organ donation program should have their wishes respected, but they could choose to opt out.

I think most people don't want to think about this topic, or like me, they don't want to opt-in without personal supervision from friends (or family) in a system where the default assumption is opt-out.

So as a result, a lot of people are probably dying sooner than necc. or having a poorer quality of life unneccesarily.

I also think that people who are on record of being willing to donate should rank higher on organ lists if they need a donation.
 
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