The Scene staff
When you get your driver’s license, a state employee will ask you a very important question: “Would you like to be an organ donor?”
A simple request, right? Wrong. A surprising number of people say “no” for all kinds of reasons. Some cite religious beliefs or moral concerns. Others just don’t like the thought of giving away what God gave them, even when they’re dead.
One widely held belief is that if you are critically injured, physicians will let you die if you are an organ donor. This is simply not true.
Another way to save lives is to become a living donor, giving a kidney or bone marrow. If your brother, sister, mother or father needed such a donation, would you give it? Could you give it?
In the time it takes to read this column, someone will die waiting for a kidney a sobering thought.
PERSONAL EXPERIENCE
I donated a kidney to a family member. After all, I had two, and I only needed one.
In February of 2001, I checked into University of Alabama Birmingham Hospital for three days of extensive testing, including 72 hours of iodine injections, MRIs, bloodwork, X-rays, urinalysis and, most important, a psychological evaluation.
“What are you getting for this?” the psychiatrist asked me.
“Nothing,” I replied, “other than the satisfaction of trying to help my cousin.”
Two days later, I underwent transplant surgery.
Although I am in the rare group of donors with post-surgery complications, I am still alive and kicking and, as far as I know, so is my cousin. We lost touch years ago, but that’s another story.
The psychiatrist asked me what I received because in the United States and most other countries, it’s forbidden for donors to get any type of compensation for organs.
HIGH DEMAND
Advances in medical technology have made it possible to save many more lives through organ donation. People all around the world are waiting for kidneys.
The number of people who need organ transplants (110,000 Americans) is seven times higher than the number of people registered as donors. The demand for kidneys, lungs, hearts and other donated organs far exceeds supply.
This demand is due, in part, to the overall unhealthy attitudes of Americans. Many don’t get enough exercise, have poor diets and are obese. Eating healthy is expensive.
A worldwide effort is needed to make people aware of the benefits of organ donation. There is a great demand for both organs and tissues, including the heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, pancreas, corneas, bone, skin, heart valves and blood vessels.
The U.S. government reports that a new name is placed on the national organ waiting list every 16 minutes. That means three names will be added during the time you are in class today. Ten people die each day waiting for a kidney.
It is free to be an organ donor, and I see no valid reason why everyone isn’t signed up. If you are dead, there is no physical cost.
In my case, I know I saved a life. Just like Batman!