Sign Your Donor Card

[pegkerr]

I'm echoing what Theresa said over at Making Light here:

Elise (elisem) says that if you're grieving over Mike and would like something constructive to do,sign your organ donor card. As she said, "One of the best medical things that ever happened to Mike was the kidney transplant he got in November of 2000." She's reprinted the piece she wrote about it at the time.

I'll second her opinion. That transplant made an amazing difference in Mike's life. Before, he was tied to a constant regimen of ambulatory peritoneal dialysis--and frankly, even with the dialysis he wasn't doing too well.

Then a really prime donor kidney turned up that was an excellent tissue match for Mike. Sixteen hours later he was wheeled out of the recovery room. The new kidney started working within days. That transplant may have added years to Mike's life. What's inarguable is how much it improved the quality of the life he had. So sign your cards.

I've signed my card (actually, I signed it years ago, and Rob did, too.) Is your card signed? And have you told your family and made sure they will honor your wish?

Comments

[loup_noir]

I signed up as an organ donor years ago. My eyes may be worthless, but I have a strong heart, two good kidneys and a working liver. If those could go to help someone else, then my eventual death isn't final. Knowing that my organs can help someone else is a sort of cozy blanket to my spirit. Flesh is weak, but my guts are pretty damn strong. Let them help others when I'm gone.

Organ donor

[markiv1111.livejournal.com]

I'm not that clear on what my organs can be used for. I'm diabetic too, admittedly the "type II" kind and at this point, not a particularly severe case. But I have very plainly marked my donor card, and Louie also knows that I want any organs I have (that are good enough to use) donated for absolute sure. Let's hope Mike Ford's story will help convince other people to make similar decisions. (I read Elise's write-up -- very effective and moving.)

Nate

[kaytecat.livejournal.com]

yep... noted on the license and everything. Good reminder. Thanks.

What card are you talking about?

[dreamshark.livejournal.com]

It says "Organ Donor=yes" on my driver's license. Is there something else I need to do?

Re: What card are you talking about?

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

Yes. Make sure your family knows and will honor your wishes.

[copperwise.livejournal.com]

Signing the card and putting it on your DL is a good thing. Most importantly make sure that the person who will be immediately responsible for making decisions in the hours after your death is in agreement with you and will carry out your wishes. That person can overrule the donor card and the DL. They can also donate your parts even if it was *not* your wish. It's also not guaranteed that your donor card will be handy when you go, so it's very important to have a nearest and dearest who is on the same page.

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

Good reminder; have edited original post. Thanks.

[nmalfoy.livejournal.com]

You might want to add that just signing your card isn't enough. Your next of kin still has to give permission for your organs to be harvested (as I'm sure you know) so make sure everyone you know knows of your wishes. My family certainly does. I've told 'em I'll haunt 'em with bad Bay City Rollers tunes if they don't donate my organs.

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

Good point. Have edited original post. Thanks.

[nmalfoy.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much for that post. I read the link and it was wonderful. I don't know the people involved but oh, it's great to see how lives are saved by the simple act of donating organs. My thinking is hey, I got them for free, and I don't need 'em anymore, so if someone wants a gently used liver/kidney/heart, go for it. It'd make me very happy.

[handworn.livejournal.com]

Oh, yes. Long ago. They're gonna rot after I die anyway; there might as well be a silver lining to the event.

[guipago.livejournal.com]

Check. Mine's been signed since the day i got my driver's license. They can have it all.

I don't think they want my overactive immune system though :P

[pinkfinity.livejournal.com]

When I went in for a procedure 2 weeks ago I had to sign before going under to indicate I'm a donor. I checked the transplant box (not the medical science box, though) of course, just to reconfirm what my license already said.

[megd.livejournal.com]

FYI, a person who donates will help over 100 different people through organ and tissue donations.

And yes, mine's signed.

[huladavid.livejournal.com]

Just checked my state i.d. (don't have a driver's license--not yet anyway), and there's nothing stating that I'm an organ donor. I seem to remember indicating I wanted to donate when I got the i.d.

However, I'm not sure if they'd... uh... take me guts, since I can't donate blood. (Neither can my brother.)

[redbird]

Also, if you can't donate organs for medical reasons, consider donating your body for medical research or education.