By MICHELLE WILLSON
Editorial Editor
One of the questions they ask you when you get first get your license is “Do you want to be a organ donor?” If you say yes it is written in the corner of your license. This is to show EMTs and hospital workers that if you die your Organs can be donated to others who need them.
Now personally I can not think of a reason to say no. It is a way of helping others after you pass. I feel it like a legacy. Yes, you may have died but maybe your heart will go to a 12 year old who will then carry your heart till he dies. In a since your heart would outlive your body.
You can save 8 lives and help heal about 50 other. I do not think that there is anything in my lifetime that will deeply effect that many people. Why would I ruin that chance by letting my organs decay in my body? There are several different organs that can be donated.
“Organs that can be donated heart, kidneys, lungs, pancreas, liver, intestines, corneas, skin, tendons, bone, nerve and heart valves.” (UNOS.org) Even if you can not give a life saving organ you can one that might help them heal faster or even improve their value of life.
Everyday the waiting list for organs grow. Their are not enough donors to keep up with the demands. Surprisingly “95% of U.S. adults support organ donation but only 54% are actually signed up as donors.” (Organdonor.gov) It is free and easy to sign up to be an organ donor. In Oklahoma you can sign up to register at LifeShareOklahoma.org. I know it may seem small but even donating blood is helping someone other than yourself.
There are several myths when it comes to donating organs. The Hospital staffs job is to take care of you first they are not going to throw you to the back burner just because you are an organ donor so you do not have to worry about receiving less of a treatment. They will do extra tests to make sure you are dead before they do the organ transplant so you do not have to worry about them jumping the gun before you have passed.
Organ donation also abides by most religions but if you want to be positive ask the head of the clergy beforehand. There is not an age limit to donating just because you may be older does not mean your organs cannot be used. Organ Donations are free of charge and the receiver of the organs have to pass several test to be on the list and to move up the list.
Life is short. What if the roles were switched and you or a loved one needed an organ but no one in the family was a match? I believe you would do everything you could to find one. There are thousands out their doing just that. Why not spread a little love and sign up to be a donor?