Life is a gift. Those who are at risk of losing theirs through organ failure know that all too well. They are also aware of the obstacles of receiving the organs they so desperately need. Over 3,000 Michigan residents are on the waiting list to receive an organ transplant. Nationally, there are over 100,000. In Michigan, approximately 300 lives are saved every year through organ donation. Why not more?
There are a few misconceptions about organ donation. For many people, it is the concern that their own life will be taken too lightly if they are seriously hurt or ill, or you may think you are too young or old. The truth is, your life is just as precious as the person who is on the waiting list, and age is not necessarily a factor in determining who can be an organ donor. Additionally, it’s a misguided belief that the process will be too complicated to deal with.
I want to share a personal story about organ donation. Several years ago, a relative was in need of a lung. She had a genetic disorder. Some diseases are no respecter of persons, and this one didn’t care that she had never smoked. After years of being on oxygen, she received the call. She had to be in Ann Arbor as soon as possible. Her bags were already packed, because she knew that when the call came she would have to be ready to go immediately. She received her new lung and another woman on the same floor received the other lung from this same person. My aunt received a gift; truly a gift of life.
At the time, I don’t know if I realized the significance of this offering. My focus was not on the donor, but on my aunt. And even though I had witnessed this miracle, I still did not sign up to be an organ donor myself. I always felt that I was in too much of a hurry. I had other things to do. Maybe I didn’t want to think about it. As I was researching for this article, I finally signed up. It wasn’t hard, and it didn’t take that long.
If you are interested in becoming an organ donor, you can sign up at the Secretary of State office. You can also sign up online at GiftOfLifeMichigan.org. To sign up, you will need a valid Michigan Driver’s License or State Identification card. The only other information asked for is your name and your date of birth.
Organ donation is not going to be for everyone. You may have your own reasons for choosing not to sign up—and that is okay. My goal here is not to pressure anyone into doing something they would not want to do, but to create awareness of the need.
(Information taken from the Gift of Life Michigan website)
Donita Robards, RN, Parish Nurse