How many times, while getting your driver’s license, have you blindly checked that infamous box “be an organ donor” and if so, do you even know what it really means?” It goes without saying that there are 1000’s of issues that plague this world daily, sending constant fear into the hearts of people everywhere and I apologize for bringing light to one more, but knowledge is power. Today, I will be sharing a story and information on a subject that is near and dear to my heart because it greatly affects a family who I hold in high regard and love. I am also sharing this because this subject affects millions of families every year. I don’t have a huge a platform to speak from, but I do have a small one through my articles, my blog, and my readers and to not to, I feel would be irresponsible on my part. My hope is to provide many with knowledge about what organ donation is, some statistics surrounding it, and why it is so very important to me.
For those who are unsure of the overall process of organ donation or even what it really is, we will start with the actual definition and move on to the steps. Organ donation occurs when an organ or a part of an organ is given to another person for the purpose of transplantation and this can be done after the donor has passed away or while they are still living. In order for an organ to be considered viable, blood and oxygen must continuously flow through it until the time of recovery and immediate implantation. When speaking of a deceased donor, this will require that the donor passes away under circumstances resulting in irreparable neurological injury, usually from massive trauma to the brain such as aneurysm, stroke, or automobile accident. Once all human efforts have been made to save the person, tests will then be performed to confirm the absence of all brain or brain stem activity. If official brain death is declared, they will then begin to look into whether or not donation is a possibility. The state donor registry will be searched to determine if the patient has personally consented to donation, but if the potential donor is not found in the data base, the doctors will speak with his or her legally authorized representative (a spouse, relative, or close friend) and offer the opportunity to authorize the donation. If an official donation decision is established, the family is asked to provide a medical and social history so professionals can determine which organs would be suitable or transplant as well as making the decision on how to allocate all viable organs according to who is on the waiting list. Deceased donors have the possibility of providing kidneys, pancreas, liver, lungs, heart, and intestinal organs. For living donors the process is obviously a little different and I have provided a link at the bottom of a webpage on how to do that. Living donors have the potential to provide one of their kidneys or a portion of the liver, lung, intestine, or pancreas.
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"You have the power to SAVE lives."
To register as a donor in California:
www.donateLIFEcalifornia.org | www.doneVIDAcalifornia.org
Outside California:
www.organdonor.gov | www.donatelife.
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