Are you an organ donor? If not please consider...

[garybeck]

2 weeks ago, a 14-year old boy in our neighborhood was killed in a tragic car accident.



Today, Sam's heart is still beating, and 4 people are alive who might not be otherwise, because he donated his organs.

In Sam's honor, I'm asking everyone I know to do two things:

1) Hug your kids
2) Become an organ donor

http://www.organdonor.gov

R.I.P. Sam

[RebelOne]

1. I'm a donor. Here in Georgia, if you become a donor

when you renew your drivers license, the license cost is half price.

[magellan]

5. What a fantastic idea

FL has no such perk. (I'm a donor too.)

[ccorces1]

13. Amazing!

That's a fantastic idea, I wish more states would do that!!

[GreenZoneLT]

21. And, surprise, surprise, rightwingers bitch about it.

Guys like Neal Boortz say it's an unfair tax on those who don't choose to be organ donators.

[The Backlash Cometh]

25. Do they also bitch, you think, when they buy for pennies, someone's property

when they fail to pay their property taxes? It's gutter economics, and I bet they love it. The commercial is precious. Feel no guilt about taking up someone's home because they could not pay the taxes on it, because those taxes pay for public services. Ha, I said, "HA!" As if the people who resort to gutter economics give a hoot about public services.

[Dulcinea]

23. Same here.

But I'd still be a donor even without the discount!

Screw Neal Boortz, he's a third-rate Limbaugh wannabe.

[xultar]

2. I'm a donor in GA too!

[lizerdbits]

3. I am

In MD they have it listed on your license but I don't think there's a discount like GA.

[Horse with no Name]

4. What a hero Sam and his family are.

Yes, I am an organ donor.
Thank you for posting this.

[Cleita]

6. Yes, although I'm a senior citizen, my organs can be used for

other senior citizens. It's unlikely that an 65+ person would get a young organ unless there was a surplus. They would most likely go to a younger person, but a senior, who could survive transplant surgery, would be able to get functioning but older organs that would probably given them five years or so more of life.

[tammywammy]

28. You can always donate your body to science too

It would still help people, even if your organs can't be transplanted.

[michreject]

48. You're wrong

When my Father passed away, I had his organs donated. His skin was used for grafts. There was a section of his eyes that could be used. And while they couldn't use his heart, the heart valves do not wear out with age. There was someone who was waiting for his heart valves. I imagine a phone call to a patient notifying him/her of getting a donor for their defective heart and to get ready for the transplant. Would they jump for joy? Would they cry?

After my Father passed, a medical team was on stand-by (my Father was in a Hospice unit in a Hospital) waiting to remove the organs. After removal, the creamatory was notifed.

[Cleita]

49. And why does this make me wrong?

I hope that they can use what is working when I die, however, most likely my kidneys and other organs would not go to a young person unless there wasn't any better organ available, but they could go to an older person who might not get a transplant otherwise.

[michreject]

51. They would be used as a stop gap

I knew several people who had organ transplants. If a person was going to die because of organ failure, and a organ became available to prolong his life for a few years until a more suitable organ was found, the temporary organ would be used, regardless of age.

You take what's available today and worry about tomorrow, tomorrow.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

7. Have been for years

but my husband had to take his name off the organ donar list when he was diagnosed with Hepatitus C. I urge anyone with a similar disease that would harm any potential recipient to take their name off the organ donar list as well.

[Warpy]

8. They don't want my organs, blood, or anything else

but I will always be deeply grateful to the family out there who allowed a loved one's corneas to be donated. I now have one of them.

Not everyone can donate. However, it should be considered by grieving families as a way to keep someone they loved alive by allowing him/her to heal others.

Donation provides everyday miracles. Hearts allow people to live long enough to see their kids grow up. Kidneys get people off dialysis and allow them to function normally for many years. Bone and connective tissue help people walk, rather than be stuck in wheelchairs. Skin allows burn victims to survive infection and begin to heal.

If you can possibly donate, please do. I'm a recipient and I will always be more grateful than you know.

[Lerkfish]

9. as a cancer survivor and diabetic, I don't want to donate PERSONALLY

but I'm all for everyone else doing it.

I just would fear I'd pass on one or more of my health problems with whatever got donated.

[dogday]

47. I am like you, some of my parts can't be used

but I will let them take what they can, if they can.....

[garybeck]

10. Check this out -- INCREDIBLE!

Organ Transplants and Cellular Memories

According to this study of patients who have received transplanted organs, particularly hearts, it is not uncommon for memories, behaviours, preferences and habits associated with the donor to be transferred to the recipient.

http://www.nexusmagazine.com/articles/CellularMemories.html

[acmavm]

11. Marking so I can find this when I get home.

[progressoid]

24. That site has some great stories about alien autopsies, chemtrails, and

the healing effects of Urine Therapy too. :eyes:

Keyword: STORIES.

[pitohui]

32. nexus is for entertainment in my view EOM

.

[WritingIsMyReligion]

35. Yeah fucking right.

I'll believe that when I see it.

[w8liftinglady]

12. my last job dealt with heart and lung transplant recipients.

the sheer joy their families felt was beyond expression.some of my heart transplant patients were 15 years post-transplant.lung transplants are a little less successful.

[KitSileya]

14. That's a good thing you're doing, garybeck.

We really need more organ donors, and having your body help keep other people alive, or improve their quality of life? What could be better? Raising awareness of issue is a must, tho', because it's extremely hard for a family to think about it just after they're told they've lost a loved one.


I have signed donor cards, but here in Norway, those cards are only indicative of our wishes - it's still the family who decides. I haven't had the talk with my mother yet, as I had a severely difficult young adulthood, with several suicide attempts, and I am afraid that my mother will think that I am getting suicidal again if I start talking about donating my organs when I am dead. I am on the bone marrow donor list, I donate blood, and if I didn't have such difficult veins, I would be a plasma donor as well - the bio techs practically cry every time I donate blood because I have so many platelets, but can only donate from one vein.

[garybeck]

15. Kick For Sam

[mentalsolstice]

16. K&R, such an important issue!

i understand, and feel for, those who can't be donors. But I have an extreme impatience with those who can donate, but don't do so for selfish reasons. I've known people who refuse because they want to be "buried whole." I have one relative that's fixated on the viewing. I know a "nurse" who refuses to donate, because she's worried they'll declare her dead before she really is.

My spouse and I are of the mind that we want them to take whatever is useful and give to whoever needs it, and then cremate what's left.

We hope we cn help out others, even we're no longer conscious of it. Otherwise, we do not want to take up unnecessary space on this planet in our demise... Spread out on the Irish cliffs, or Frenchman's Bay off of the Maine coast...that'll be enough for us.

[garybeck]

17. the viewing

Sam gave away 4 vital organs and you never would have known at the viewing. if that's holding anyone back from being a donor, I'd say let go of that one.

[Horse with no Name]

27. I've attended procurements

(but back then they were called harvests).
What was very comforting to me was that they still used anesthesia on the donor. I was told it was because there were still nerve endings alive in order to keep the organs alive, so they didn't think there was a possibility of pain, but didn't want to take the chance.
Everything they removed was filled with like-size materials as well as sutured painstakingly.
There should never be evidence of the procurement visible to the viewing.
The Doctors and Nurses who do this are very respectful and careful.

[Reverend_Smitty]

18. I'm a donor...

what need do I have for my organs if I'm dead? and if something tragic were to happen to me (god forbid) I'd like to do something nice for others as my last act on earth

[Gemini Cat]

19. Thanks for posting this!!

RIP Sam

[GreenZoneLT]

20. Hey, back off, pal!

I'm USING these organs. Oh, you mean a postmortem donor. Sure, what the heck, I won't be using them then.

[Mythsaje]

22. I've been a donor for years...

I can't think of a single reason why I shouldn't, being that I'm healthy enough.

One of my kidneys is reserved, however, just in case my oldest son (who only has one functioning kidney) needs it. I don't KNOW we're a match, but if anything goes wrong, I sure HOPE we are.

[RedEarth]

26. Everyone in our family is an organ donor..... I'm not aware of any

reason not to be one.

[tammywammy]

29. I'm an organ donor

I carry my organ donor card in my wallet. I've expressed my wishes to my parents, who are donors as well.

I've also told them that I want to donate my body to science, though I haven't put it in writing. Both my brother & SIL's bodies will be donated to science. There's a shortage of cadavers out there.

[we can do it]

30. My Mom Had 5 Good Years After A Kidney Transplant In '96

...kept her off dialysis for 5 years. Her transplant failed after 5 years, then she got cancer a year later and we lost her.

I became a donor the day I heard about it - years ago.

[Hippo_Tron]

31. I'm a donor, can't understand why so many people are not

Besides those who don't do so because of their own health reasons.

[pitohui]

33. i've heard of people being charged

i've several times heard of families being charged for that extra 24 hours that the body was kept on machines so the organs could be harvested, this was some years ago tho, one lady claimed that her mom was billed an additional $5,000 :shrug: -- for one day? in the early 90s? what would it cost now, with medical costs so high?

my husband and i are pretty much on the edge financially, if one of us was to pass away, the other couldn't handle an additional expense

so i would need pretty good proof that it wouldn't result in an additional cost

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

36. Got any proof of that or just the usual urban myths?

[Hippo_Tron]

37. You know, I've never thought of that

I always assumed that if it was donation related someone else would be picking up the cost. That's a really good point that certainly needs to be looked into.

[renate]

34. I can't imagine not being a donor

At least one small good thing can come from a tragedy. And what a comfort to the family--Sam's parents can be certain that not a single day will go by that four other families won't remember and honor his memory.

I'm so sorry about his death.

[LeftishBrit]

38. So sorry about Sam!

Yes, I've carried an organ donor card for many years now.

[ReadTomPaine]

39. "Organ acquisition fees" – 10,000$ and up.

Did you know in some circumstances a heart can cost between 10,000$-20,000$ for those on the receiving end of the transaction?

It's true.

Procurement organizations charge that much for the transport and handling of organs, and more. The donors, families and loved ones to whom these organs belong don't see a penny of that money - it disappears into the organ harvest industry.

While those in the organ procurement and trade business claim these monies are just consumed in the act of transit, others in the health care industry dispute this claim and assert the fees are padded and money is being made against the spirit of the law in the US regarding payment for organs.

Make no mistake however - these are not simple hospital 'transplant programs' anymore, they are highly evolved independent and complex organizations and they are made to operate at a profit and are run as a business. I’m sorry, but if someone is going to make a profit from harvesting my flesh, it's going to be my family, not any third party via padded fees or any of the other structures the health care industry in the US uses to overcharge for its services or circumvent medical ethics. If other western countries can administer this care without the creation and feeding of an entire sub-industry, so can this country.

This is not as clear-cut an issue as many think, and it's a particularly hot issue between the US & Canada.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

42. Yes, but behind the corporate money, you would still be SAVING A HUMAN LIFE.

I find it absurd and disturbing that in order to avoid corporations making a profit, you're still willing to possibly deprive someone of a life. It just seems like there are some priorities out of whack there.

[ReadTomPaine]

44. I respect the decision many make on this issue...

I just wanted to make it clear that not everyone involved is as altruistic as a donor may be. Some may care that profits are being made here, and perhaps via less than ethical means. Eyes wide open, as it were.

[Randypiper]

40. I have a question.

I got hepatitis when I was young and can't give blood.
Can I be an organ donor?

[RC Quake]

41. I'm registered at www.donatelifecalifornia.com

...and carry their card with my drivers license. They can take anything that still works; although, I don't know how many of my crusty old organs would be worth much.

[michreject]

43. Yes I am

and I donated my Fathers organs when he died. He was 72.

[Ilsa]

45. It is on my driver license, so it is in the state's records. It has been discussed

between and my SO and family. We have living wills/ healthcare proxies, signed, etc.

Bless this kid's family for giving life to all around, and to those four special people who share in his gift. And blessings upon this one young man who passed too soon onto another path.

[cool user name]

46. Yes, I am.

[Spirochete]

50. I have no kids to hug

but I'm an organ donor. Have been for years. Dunno if I have anything worth giving away anymore, though. hehe