When most people think of April, they think of spring, Easter, and prom. In the United States, April is designated as National Poetry Month, Arab American Heritage Month, and Donate Life Month. Donate Life Month is when the Coalition on Donation brings awareness and education to the public about tissue, eye, and organ donation upon your death. Although it can be difficult to consider your mortality at a time when the flowers are blooming and the leaves are budding, consider that your organs could bring new life to another person. We’ve discussed talking to your family about funeral arrangements. When it comes to organ donations, you can indicate that on your driver’s license. However, it’s a good idea to discuss this with your loved ones as well. If you haven’t made the decision to donate your tissue and organs, take some time to consider the need and the myths.
Beating the Myths About Organ Donation
With all the information available to people today, there are still myths perpetuated in healthcare. This might be due to movies or television, but here are the facts.
- Most major religions allow organ donation. If in doubt about your own religious beliefs, talk to your spiritual leader. This is not something traditionally discussed during a sermon or homily. Maybe it should be.
- Even people who are very young and very old can donate organs and tissue. Although children can make the decision to be an organ donor, it’s their parents who must give permission. Although seniors may have problems which preclude using some of their organs and tissues, it’s still possible for them to be evaluated at their death.
- Being an organ donor will not change how the doctors proceed with treatment. Your doctor has one goal when treating you—to save your life. If you are an organ donor, your physician won’t declare you dead prematurely. In fact, even more tests will be performed to determine that you are officially dead before organ donation proceeds.
- Many health conditions don’t preclude you from the ability to donate organs.
- Your family will not be burdened with the costs of organ donation.
- You can specify which organs you wish to donate.
- Your organs will not be sold on the black market.
The Need for Organ Donation
According to Donatelife.net, 90 percent of people in the U.S. support organ donation, but only about 30 percent of us have actually taken the steps to become a donor. In the time it takes to watch a sitcom, 30 minutes, three people have been added to the National Organ Transplant waiting list. That’s about 140 people every day. Currently, 123,000 individuals, adults and children, are on the waiting list for organs. Even worse, about 21 people die every day because there aren’t enough organ donations.
The good news is that organ and tissue donations are actually successful when they do happen. Here’s what happened in 2014:
- 24,000 organ transplants from 8,500 deceased donors
- 6,000 transplants from living donors
- 48,000 corneal transplants to restore the sight of those receiving the corneas
- More than 1 million tissue donors
How to Be an Organ Donor
Many states have a box on the driver’s license that can be checked to demonstrate your conviction to donate your organs. You can also visit https://registerme.org/ which is associated with Donate Life America. Whichever route you do take, discuss your plans with your family so they can give authorization to the hospital. The quicker the decision is made to assess your organs, the better it is for the receiver. We understand it’s difficult to think about your own death, but this is a vital need everywhere. It doesn’t cost a thing to your or your loved ones to give your organs at your death, but it makes a huge difference to someone who needs them.