Imagine a situation where you can be practically immortal, even when your physical being passes on!
That’s what my Mother achieved. When she passed away on February 8, 2010, she pledged her body to the St.Johns Medical College. We were a little sad, I must admit. When she was alive, she often mentioned donating her body after she passed on. Why not donate just your organs, we asked. She insisted on donating her body. She wanted to be of service to education.
Sury and I have both pledged to donate our organs after our death.
Today is World Organ Donation Day
You give but little when you give of your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give. Kahlil Gibran
What is Organ Donation?
Organ donation is the harvesting of an individual’s organs after he or she dies for the purpose of transplanting them into another person. The person who gives the organs is called a donor while a person who receives the organ is called a recipient. Did you know you can Save 8 Lives by donating your organs?
You can register here as an organ donor and they will send you a donor card
Who can be an organ donor?
Everyone can be an organ donor, regardless of age, caste, religion, community, current or past medical condition. Children can also be organ donors (subject to their parents’ consent).
But those with active cancer, active HIV, active infection (for example, sepsis) or Intravenous (IV) drug use cannot donate their organs. Still, those with Hepatitis C may still donate organs to a patient who also has Hepatitis C. This applies to Hepatitis B in rare cases. Most cancer patients may donate corneas.
Which organs and tissues can be donated?
In the event of brain death, vital Organs like heart, liver, kidneys, intestines, lungs, and pancreas can be donated. In the case of natural death, other tissues like corneas, heart valves, skin, bones etc can be donated.
How does Organ Donation help patients with organ failure?
For the person receiving the organ, a transplant means a second chance at life. The heart, pancreas, liver, kidneys and lungs can be transplanted to those whose organs are failing, helping them return to a normal lifestyle. A cornea or tissue transplant means the ability to see again or the recovery of mobility and freedom from pain.
Proof that there is life after death
Organ donation has the ability to comfort grieving families. Losing a loved one is not easy. Families of organ donors often draw solace from the fact that their loss has helped save someone’s life.
Further resources:
Myths about organ donation – and the reality
Frequently Asked Questions about Organ Donation
You can also pledge your organs and print your donor card here
And now, may I request you to share your views on organ donation? Would you donate your organs?
Do you know of an instance where someone close to you donated theirs?
That is so nice and wonderful about your mom. It is so vital to the public to help in any way since so many need organ transplants and there are long waits so it is good to bring this to everyone’s attention
Thank you Birgit! My Mom was an innately generous person, even in death. I know lots of people hesitate to donate their organs. Even today, I was talking to a friend who was on the fence about this. Thank you for coming by! I appreciate you.
Way to go. We are in the same boat too.In this case every”body” can help eh 🙂
PhenoMenon
Right on, Pheno! Every “body” can help!
Noble and thought provoking post!!!
Thank you Sheela!
As you say organ donation is a way for families to believe in life after death, I wish my own life can serve such a noble purpose of saving someone else’s life..
Bless you, Richa!
Thanks so much for such an informative post. will surely think about organ donation.
Thank you, Nibha!
Thanks for posting this! Now that I’m living outside of my home country, this is a good reminder that I need to check into the organ donation rules in my new country.
Yeeeeeeeeeeeeees.
I am a donor. I can’t imagine not being one.
Kay donated all of her organs…
except her greatest, largest one: her heart.
Love you more than vanilla ice cream w/ butterscotch. xx
Thou I didn’t know your Mom, from what I have read i here, she seems to be a very beautiful person. Helping someone even after we have gone is just bliss… Atleast we could live through them for many more years.
This is such an important topic. Thank you for choosing it for the Blog Carnival, Vidya. Will do my best to write something over the weekend. A dear friend of mine was an organ recipient and it gave him 10 extra years of life.
So happy to hear that, Debbie! Truly a gift of life. I look forward to your post! Love.
Your mom was truly a remarkable lady! Hugs to you! ♥
They say that one person’s organ donation can save up to 50 lives! So, it is truly a gift of life, after life. Hope we have more number of people joining in this noble cause!
Very informative post, Vidya! Thanks for the links.