Consider Donating Life

It is a miracle in itself that medical science has developed the knowledge and skill to successfully transplant healthy organs from one human being into another human who's very life may be dependent on receiving such a donation.Sadly, there is a huge shortage of available, healthy organs to meet the need of some 100,000 Americans now on the list awaiting organs to replace organs that have failed as the result of disease or damage from injury. Thousands of these will die each year because there is no organ available to meet their need.

When one considers that between 1,500,000 and 2,000,000 Americans die every year it is difficult to understand why 100,000 healthy, transplantable organs can not be made available to those who need them to maintain life.

The answer while unacceptable is a simple one. Most Americans have never considered making their organs available upon their death. Maybe this is because most of us, and especially the young and healthy, do not give much thought to our own death and as a result can not make plans for what becomes of our no longer required organs.

That is one possibility.

Another reason, and one most in the medical field believe is the primary reason for donor organ shortages, is that many well intended Americans who would willingly donate organs do not understand that organ donation can not occur after death without prior authorization. If one plans to donate organs after death an agreement must be made prior to death. In most states this can be accomplished by registering with the state donor registry. Once registered the registry links with a national organ sharing network which links those awaiting organ donations with available donors.

I is also a good idea to complete and carry in your wallet or purse an organ donor card. The organ donor simply states that you are a willing organ donor and allows you to specify whether you are willing to donate specific organs or all in the event of your death. The card is signed by you and two witnesses. You can review a copy of a donor card and then download and print it for completion at organdonor.org.

You can also state that you are willing to be an organ donor when applying for a driver's license in most states. If you elect to do this your license will indicate that you are a registered organ donor.

Finally, if you have made the decision to donate organs upon your death it is important that you inform your close relatives (spouse, siblings, mother and father) in order that they are aware of your decision and wishes and are not forced to make an uninformed decision at your death.

It is easy to put off this decision. Please consider it carefully. Thousands of lives can be saved if only we take the time to thoughtfully plan.