Mondays Matter: Week 17

Taken from the book Every Monday Matters: 52 Ways To Make A Difference by Matthew Emerzian and Kelly Bozza

DONATE YOUR ORGANS

Over 97,000 people are in need of one or more organs.

77 people receive organ transplants every day.

There is no age limit on who can donate.

Most family members are not aware of one another's willingness to be a donor, even if it is indicated on their driver's license.

ACTION STEPS

1. Delare on your driver's license your wish to donate tissue and organs.

2. Carry a donor card in your wallet.

3. Sign up on your states donor registry today.

4. Inform your family, loved ones, and physician of your decision.

I remember getting my driver's license when I was 16 and the lady asking me if I wanted to be an organ donor. I never gave it a second thought, I said yes right away. I can't imagine someone in my own family needing a kidney, a lung, or even a heart and waiting day after day for one to arrive. Now, I realize that someone has to die to get that organ, but if it was me, I would want to be able to save someone else the pain my family is going through after losing me. I have known people who have donated their organs and others who could have and didn't. It is a personal choice, but for me, I can't imagine not giving. Every day, 18 people die waiting for a transplant. Everyday, new treatments, surgeries, and medical knowledge is developed. Who knows what kind of transplants will be available years from now, so please make your wishes known to your family, on your driver's license and/or by a national registry. You could save a life by donating a heart, a lung, a kidney, or even allowing someone to see again by donating your cornea. This could be your final and most significant gift on earth. What a legacy to leave behind!