Did you know April is National Donate Life Month (NDLM)? According to Donate Life America’s website, although 95% of Americans are in favor of being a donor, only 58% are registered organ or tissue donors. Only 58%!!!!! Right now in the United States, there are over 114,000 people on a waiting list for an organ transplant. That doesn’t include those waiting for tissue or corneal (eye) transplants. Every 10 minutes a person is added to the waiting list. You can see more info on this NDLM Infographic.
Are Y-O-U registered? What’s stopping you?
I lost my dad when I was in my early 20’s to cancer, and it caused an attitude shift regarding death and dying. Not long after his death, I registered to be a donor…and have been one ever since. I have never been huge on owning stuff, but his death sparked an attitude of “you can’t take it with you when you go” Let’s face it, mommas, after our hearts stop beating, we aren’t going need cars, clothes, purses, our livers, or our eyes.
These end of life discussions are uncomfortable. No one really wants to think about dying. I know for me, it sparks overwhelming anxiety and a thousand what-ifs regarding my own daughter. But, I want to have these decisions made so she or my husband don’t have another burden to contend with at the time of my passing. I have confidence in the fact they already KNOW what my wishes are, and what I want to have done. Whether that’s being a donor, being cremated, playing Queen’s “Another One Bites the Dust” at my funeral, or sending my ashes up in spaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaace.
Instead of focusing on the downer aspect of dying, have you thought about what registering as a donor could mean to others? According to NDLM, you can save up to 8 lives and heal more than 75 people. To me, organ and tissue donation is the ultimate pay it forward…one that could live on through over 80 people. Now THAT is a legacy.
Hesitant to become a donor? Have questions about what is involved in the donation process or if being a donor will affect your patient care? Click to visit the FAQs. Want to contribute another way? Make a donation to help support Donate Life America’s mission or look for ways you can get involved on a local level. Already signed up as a donor? Share your decision on social media – add a frame on Facebook following these steps: “Update your Profile Pic” and tap “Add Frame.” Search for Donate Life America.
Register to become a donor today!
