All About Organ Donation

It's a standard question when you renew your driver's license or register to vote, "Would you like to be an organ donor?" For the longest time I didn't give it much thought and simply said "no". If you've never given it much thought perhaps it is time you did.

A personal tragedy made me change my mind. My sister-in-law died quite suddenly and she was an organ donor. As painful as her death was we knew it was what she wanted and it was the least we could do to honor her memory. My brother didn't hesitate to confirm her wishes when asked because it was very important to her.

Months after her death we started receiving letters from the recipients of Rachel's organs. The letters were bittersweet and filled with hope and pain. It made the impact of Rachel's decision crystal clear; others lived because of her thoughtfulness. Grandmothers could again play with their grandchildren, mothers could once more help their children get ready for school and go to their kid's soccer games. Hope was renewed and lives were saved.

Perhaps those receiving her organs don't know it but their recovery helps Rachel to live on. She made this difference in the world by simply following her heart. She made miracles happen. This is a legacy I will be proud to share with her daughter as she grows.

Why Should I Do It?

Sadly there are no guarantees on how long we will be on this earth. Rachel died when she was 23 and the mother of an infant. We never dreamed such a thing could happen but it did. There are close to 90,000 people waiting for transplants and an average of 18 of those people die each day. You can change that number!

How?

First, let your family know of your decision. It is important to have your spouse or next of kin aware of your choice. If something were to happen to you they may be asked for their consent to proceed. If they are not aware of your wishes they may not comply.

Secondly, sign up with your state's registry if one exists. Be sure to get "organ donor" put on your driver's license and check the box on your voter registration. You can also download and print out a donor card to carry with you at all times.

Who Will Get My Organs

There is a long list of people on a waiting list for organ transplant. Who among them will get your organs depends upon matching your tissue type with those waiting. There are certain factor which determine who's tissues are a match including blood type, tissue type, where they live, length of time on the waiting list and their overall medical condition. According to the U.S. Dept. Of Health and Human Service's Website no one is buying your organs and celebrities and rich people do not get special treatment. They go on the list just like everyone else and must wait for a match.

What Your Family Can Expect

Organ donation will not hamper your family's ability to have an open casket funeral for you nor will it put your life in danger. Many, including myself at one time, have the unreasonable fear that doctors won't try to save their life because they want their organs. Organ donation is not brought up until after all attempts to save your life have failed.

You may or may not be contacted by the agency that dealt with your organ donation. In our case we were contacted by CORE, which is located near Pittsburgh, PA. They let us know what organs had been used and which ones could not be used. They also sent us a beautiful, framed poem that I have put away to give to Rachel's daughter one day.

Your loved ones identity is protected along with the identity of the donor recipient. If they so choose they can send letters to your family through the donation organization that will be mailed along to you. They can reveal is little or as much to you as they wish. You, in return, can respond to their letters through the organization if you so choose.

We received at least five letters from people who received Rachel's organs. The letters were hard to read but at the same time they were a great tribute to Rachel and we treasure each word. Often the recipients felt guilty because someone had to die so they could live but you can't look at it that way. She chose to give the gift of organ donation and it made us happy to comply with her wishes. Their words were bigger gifts to us than the recipients could ever imagine.