The world lost a wonderful person yesterday. He was given a second chance at life and did his best to make the most of it every day. He knew his time on Earth was limited and dedicated himself to trying to build something to leave behind. It was very common for people to call him looking for accessories for their cars and find themselves with a new friend an hour later. While we never met in person, I'm thankful for the impact he had on my life, and that was made possible by an organ donor nine and a half years ago. Without that person, their family, and of course Wilbur the pig (fka Sweetie Pie), he would never have had the chance to touch many lives.
The biggest hurdle facing organ transplantation today is education. A lot of people think that anyone can donate organs and don't really think about it, but that is not the case. Organs can only be harvested from brain dead donors. It's uncomfortable to plan for this because doing so forces you to consider your own mortality, but taking time to consider it now can save lives later. Remember that merely deciding you'd like to donate your organs should you end up able to do so is not enough. Your loved ones need to know so that they can consent to it. Talk to them. Include it in your living will. Knowing your wishes will take that uncomfortable decision out of their hands, may prevent a dispute among your grieving family, and will ensure that your last opportunity to do something good for your fellow man is not wasted.
For more information about organ donation, please visit the Southwest Transplant Alliance at www.organ.org.
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All the leaves are brown and the Sky is gray.
I am an organ donor and my family knows, but after what I have done to my body I am not sure anyone would want them. I still believe EVERYONE should at least address this issue! Make a choice and make sure your family knows!
__________________ Red Bull Drift Team 2008
Solo Mach and High Flow Cat
Dejon Intercooler, Intake Elbow, BOV spring
Wester's Garage RACE tune II
JPM custom shifter.
Militec-1
GM Auto-dimming mirror with OnStar and maplights
Rhys Millen Racing, RMR Style Bar. Peak RWHP 286.3, Peak Torque 313 ft/lbs.
SSR Type C wheels, Bridgestone Potenza RE-01's
Car is named Thunderstruck!
My family also knows I am willing to donate my organs. In Florida they even put it on your driver's license so it's "known" when they check for your ID in that kind of a situation.
It's nice to know there are many folks out there who have been saved by a stranger's decision to donate.
Location: buzzard..what buzzard..do you see a buzzard..I didn't see a buzzard...or that little sparrow either
I am registered as an organ donor (on my Ohio Driver's license)
I am also a bone marrow donor
and I have been giving blood over 40 years now.
Not to preach...but donating blood is something you can do when ALIVE and can be done many times a year.
At all my clinics i notice that the majority of donors are over 40...and a lot are over 50 and 60.
What I'm not noticing in my area is the young 'uns.
Now maybe they go to high school or university clinics...but when I talk to the technicians
they tell me..."NO...the kids just don't seem to want to do it"
So as well as registering to be an organ donor after you die..
How about being a blood donor while you are still alive.
You can save many lives while you are still alive.
And the needle doesn't hurt as much as a saturday morning hangover.
Druid (Cool) MERLIN came home 11-15-05 VIN 4495
Clear bra, Stubby antenna, Kappshield, mudguards, Chrome wheels with GS-2's...CAI (as of 07-07-07) soon to have SOLO SQR-2 exhaust
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Pontiac builds excitement... Saturn has rethought it's image...
The time has come for the enthusiasts... NASSOA(TM)
Founding Member-Vendor and Marketing Coordinator ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Organ and blood donor, got my Red Cross card in my wallet. It sucks every time I get a new tatoo I have to wait a year to donate, but I understand why.
__________________ Red Bull Drift Team 2008
Solo Mach and High Flow Cat
Dejon Intercooler, Intake Elbow, BOV spring
Wester's Garage RACE tune II
JPM custom shifter.
Militec-1
GM Auto-dimming mirror with OnStar and maplights
Rhys Millen Racing, RMR Style Bar. Peak RWHP 286.3, Peak Torque 313 ft/lbs.
SSR Type C wheels, Bridgestone Potenza RE-01's
Car is named Thunderstruck!
I too am a designated organ donor and a regular blood donor. (I have been remise is getting on the bone marrow registry, but I think I will start looking into how to do that now.)
I encourage everyone on the forum to find out what you need to do to help save lives:
Sign up as an organ donor, go to that local blood drive, and consider joining the bone marrow registry.
Results of a quick google search: you can join the bone marrow registry simply by undergoing a simple, painless cheek cell swab (like they do on CSI) for tissue typing. You can do this in person at a local donor center, or very easily online and through the mail for a small tax deductible fee. Here is a website for more information, http://www.marrow.org/index.html
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GXP, Sly w/ Black Leather Interior, Loaded
Purchased off the lot on 6/30/2007 from dealer stock to replace My Baby, lost on the Tail of the Dragon on 6/25/2007. You can read all about it here, Tail of the Dragon - Accident
Email me if you are interested in joining the Mid-Atlantic Solstice Sky Club (MASSC) for NJ, NY, PA, DE and MDdscheneck@msn.com
Druid (Cool) MERLIN came home 11-15-05 VIN 4495
Clear bra, Stubby antenna, Kappshield, mudguards, Chrome wheels with GS-2's...CAI (as of 07-07-07) soon to have SOLO SQR-2 exhaust
I'm a designated organ donor and I'm also in the bone marrow registry.
One thing the rest of you organ donors should not overlook is that you need to tell your next of kin that you're serious. Having "Organ Donor" on your license doesn't help if your next of kin say "no."
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Catapultam habeo. Nisi pecuniam omnem mihi dabis, ad caput tuum saxum immane mittam.
Location: SoCal somewhere (I don't have nav, so I'm not quite sure)
I've been registered as an organ donor since I got my first driver's license @ 17yrs ago. I went on the marrow registry @ 13yrs ago. Whenever I'm eligible, I donate platelets (every 2 weeks), &/or whole blood(every 8 weeks). I always tell them to take what they want and just leave me with enough fluids so I can get home.
2 weeks ago I got a call as a matched donor for luekocytes (white blood cells). I had to take meds for that one, and the donation comes out kinda lookin like a tequila sunrise.
Right now I'm working on a cross-promotional fund raiser between my business & the Red Cross.
More important than raising money is raising awareness. There is no substitute for the things that come out of the human body like blood and organs. So give it up; you'll just make more.
__________________
Lenore is Mysterious Sol with LSD, ABS, AC, and leather seats.
Even DMV thinks my Solstice is hot; the plate they gave her says "SXY."
Fakebil is a dreamer who puts people together with the right vehicles, & tends to drive a little faster than most.
My brother just received a kidney and is doing well. I just wish I had been able to do it for him. Instead he found a wonderful donor through an unlikely path. My sistr in law called her insurance company with a small issue, in the flow of conversation a friendship insued because my brother needed a kidney and the person at the insurance company was going to be a donor for another person. Fate or miracles came into play and long story short, the insurance company employee donated to my brother because a cadaver kidney became available for the other person. I am grateful to the donor for the life of my brother.
Pennsylvania has Donor status on the drivers licence and I have been one since the program began.
God bless all of you who take the action.
Mike
__________________ Cool, Sand/Steel, Loaded, Polished Wheels
No XM, OnStar or cough cough Smokers The reports of my disappearance have been greatly exagerated, I'm just teaching school.
