Can you imagine what it would be like for you, a family member, or friend to be in need of an organ, eye or tissue transplant and there was no donor available to meet their specific need? I cannot think of how scary that would be so that is the reason I decided to be a registered Organ, Eye, and Tissue Donor.
I took the time to register at www.DonateLifeTexas.org; it felt really good to know that when GOD decides to take me, someone might live because of my donation(s) and it took me only minutes to register on line.
I am including for your benefit several items from the current Donate Life Texas brochure. It states that as a donor, you can save and enhance the lives of more than 50 people. Donated organs may include the following:
- Organs – Heart, intestines, kidneys, liver, lungs, or pancreas
- Tissue – bones, corneas, heart valves, skin, or tendons
Also it answers questions about the donation process such as organ donation will not interfere with your medical care and organ, eye, and tissue donation becomes an option only after all life-saving efforts have been made and death has been declared. They then confirm consent for donation and the family is asked to participate in the process by providing your medical history. Surgical procedures are used to recover donated organs, eyes and tissue and the body is always treated with great care, respect and dignity.
Some additional and interesting facts from Donate Life Texas include:
- People of all ages and medical histories should consider themselves potential donors.
- Your medical condition at the time of death will determine what organs and tissue can be donated.
- Tissue is needed to replace bone, tendons and ligaments lost to trauma, cancer and other diseases in order to improve strength, mobility and independence. Corneas are needed to restore sight. Skin grafts help burn patients heal and often mean the difference between life and death. Heart valves repair cardiac defects and damage.
- All major religions support organ, eye and tissue donation as an unselfish act of charity.
- Donation should not delay or change funeral arrangements. An open casket funeral is possible.
- There is no cost to the donor’s family or estate for donation. The donor family pays only for medical expenses before death and for funeral expenses.
- In the United States, it is illegal to buy or sell organs and tissue for transplantation.
- It is possible to donate life to others as a living kidney or partial liver, lung, intestine or pancreas donor.
The folks at Donate Life Texas suggest you:
- Find answers to your questions about organ donation on their website, www.DonateLifeTexas.org
- Act now to make a life-saving difference.
- Sign up to be on the official Texas donor registry.
- Tell your family about your decision to donate.
Thank you for allowing me to share this information with you and I hope you will join me in spreading the word about donor, eye and tissue donations to your friends and family.