Megan Case Media Writing December 1, 2011

Youre One Decision Away From Saving Lives

Everyone faces the decision to save lives by deciding whether or not they want to become an organ donor. The rocess of becoming an organ donor is sim le, b!t the decision maybe a diffic!lt one for some. "eing the da!ghter of a #ediatric $e hrology $!rse, % have grown ! being e& osed to the ositive o!tcome donating organs can have. 'ccording to (nited $etwor) of *rgan +haring ,($*+-, the (nited +tates trans lant waiting list, as of $ovember .0, 2011, consists of 112,/02 candidates. There have been 02,10/ trans lants com leted between 2an!ary and '!g!st 2011. *n average, 13 eo le die daily from the lac) of available organs. "eing an advocate of organ donations, % believe it is im ortant to shed light on how the choice to give an organ can directly effect the 4!ality of someone5s life. Many eo le are aware of the conce t of organ donation b!t do not !nderstand the logistics of it and how their answer affects other eo le5s lives. %t is im ortant for everyone to be ed!cated on this iss!e beca!se it is a decision that everyone m!st ma)e when yo!r initial drivers license is obtained and ! on renewal. 6ene +h!mat, trans lant coordinator at 2ohns 7o )ins 7os ital, shared how receiving a trans lant can change a atient5s life.8 9etting the news that a atient has received a )idney is overwhelming. "eing a n!rse to yo!ng )ids, watching them !ndergo ho!rs of dialysis, ta)e 20 ills a day and having to o)e and robe them with needles and is to!gh to deal with. 'fter a s!ccessf!l trans lant, they get the gift of having a normal

life, not having to deal with treatments anymore. This is what ma)es my :ob so rewarding.; There are two ways to becoming an organ donor. *rgans are donated either by living donation or as a deceased donor. When becoming an organ donor yo! have the choice to donate organs, tiss!e and eyes. The rocess of becoming a living donor entails that yo! !ndergo s!rgery, in which an organ or a ortion of an organ is removed and trans lanted into the reci ient. #ossible organs that can be donated by a living donation consist of )idney, liver and bone marrow. ' living donation re4!ires ma:or s!rgery for both donor and reci ient. 6eci ients e& erience a better o!tcome when receiving a living donor5s organ. 'ccording to ($*+, there are more then 1,000 living donor trans lants every year. Many eo le choose to have their organs donated at the time of their death. "y choosing this o tion, one erson can save nine lives thro!gh organ donation, enhance more than /0 lives thro!gh tiss!e donation and renew vision for two eo le thro!gh eye donation. (nfort!nately, these ositive statistics alone have not been able to override the many misconce tions abo!t donating organs. 's a strong s! orter of organ donation, %

feel it is my d!ty to hel dismiss the r!mors that contrib!te to the decisions against it. My beliefs go hand<in<hand with Donate =ife 'merica ,D='-, which is a non< rofit organi>ation to terminate r!mors thro!gh the rocess of ed!cation. D=' states that anyone can become a donor, regardless of age, race or medical history. 'll ma:or religions s! ort the act of becoming a donor. The main goal of medical caregivers is to

save the atient5s life before addressing organ donation. Donation of organs can not be

considered !ntil after the atient is rono!nced dead. %t is ossible to have an o en cas)et f!neral after donating organs. The body is treated with care, res ect and dignity. %t is ossible for the atient to choose what organs they want to be donated. ?inally, there is no cost to the donor or the donor5s family. The rocess of donating organs is diffic!lt to gras . Many !nderstandably have tro!ble dealing with the tho!ght of their own death, b!t this is a to ic that no one can esca e. +aving lives is a ositive res!lt that caref!l consideration of the decision of whether or not to become an organ donor can have. Many donor families have commented that the donation of a deceased family member5s organs has hel ed them co e with the ain of dealing with their loss. Michele is a donor sister from California and s o)e abo!t the tragic death of her brother. 8The Donor $etwor) called and told !s that 00 eo le are going to benefit from my brother@s death. (nfort!nately, my brother didn@t have a choice in his death. "!t once he was gone, he hel ed so many eo le, and for all % )now he@s still living in yo!.; 6egistering to become an organ donor varies from state to state. To register in yo!r state visit the Donate =ife 'merica website at htt ABBdonatelife.netBregister<nowB. The rocess ta)es a ro&imately two min!ets and re4!ires the s!bmission of basic ersonal information with yo!r driver license n!mber. 'long with registering with yo!r state, it is im ortant to let close family and friends )now abo!t yo!r decision to donate. This becomes im ortant so that yo!r family will honor yo!r wishes at the time of yo!r death and ens!re that yo!r decision to donate can be carried o!t. There will always be atients in need of organs. Ta)e the time to consider the to ic of organ donation serio!sly. We all have been granted the gift to save lives and %t is

! to yo! to acce t it or not. % have made the decision to give the gift of life to others by registering to become an organ donor.

Target '!dienceA Candidates on organ donor waiting list, eo le who are !ned!cated on organ donation, those considering organ donation, those against organ donation, those who are abo!t to become new drivers before attaining their licenses.