I am a firm believer in this. My license says "take what you need." If I am dead... or on life support with extensive brain damage and no chance of recovery...

I want ANY part of my anatomy that could save (or better) a life to be USED for that purpose. [I don't expect they will want my little buddy.]

I smoke and drink alot... but, my lungs seem clear on recent x-rays, and my liver passes the test. My heart seems to be strong even tho I have an elevated blood pressure.

I never THOUGHT about donating a kidney while still alive, but... as I get older, I don't see that I need both of them.

Check out this story. It will make you proud to be a human.... and an American.

Atlanta Nurse Donates Kidney to Hospital Patient - ABC News

Do me a favor. If you've never thought about organ donation.... THINK about it!

Make whatever choice you are comfortable with. I am not trying to tell you what to do. But, if you "opt out" simply because you haven't made a decision... you may cost someone their life. [Make a choice.]

To BE a contributor... you have to "opt in."

If you decide only to be a "passive" donor... by having it marked on your license, don't WAIT until your renewal date. I'm pretty sure the DMV will give you a duplicate license showing your "donor" status for free. If not? What's a few bucks?

If you want to be an "active" donor... visit your local hospital and have yourself tested. [I am going to do so.]

We work in a dangerous industry. Death can come in a tenth of a mile. I hope it never happens to anyone I know here on CAD... but, if it does... it will be too late to make a decision that you didn't already make.

The Bible [simply a book of moral instruction,] says that "no greater love is this, but that a man lay down his life for another." I suspect that if it were written today, it would include an admonition to be an organ donor. [but, that is just MY opinion.]

Our troops are willing to lay down their lives for OUR way of life. Who knows when one of THEM (a surviving VET) might need what you no longer need? Who knows when a recipient will go on to find a cure for cancer or something?

I will NEVER question any of your decisions in this matter. I am only trying to shed light on a situation close to my heart. [figuratively and literally.]

This was a "no-brainer" for me from the time it was first introduced [meaning the licensed donor program.]

If you need more time to think about it, fine. Talk it over with your family. But... make a decision. Probably something like 80% of all Americans die without donating a life-saving organ. Probably, 90% of them just never made the decision.

There are relatively few decisions we will ever make in life that are actually "life and death" decisions. THIS is absolutely ONE of them.

Thank you for listening to me. Thank you for considering the issue (if you will or do.)

Hobo

 

The way I see it is when I kick the bucket, I won't need the organs anymore. So if they can be of use to someone else, why not?

 

I have been an organ donor for many years now. I'll have no use for them when I am dead.

 

I may need mine in the after life.

 

I already have been a Bone Marrow donator twice plus I am sitting at 3 gallons at the Red Cross in Blood Donatins. My wife has been told tell them to take everything they can from me. The Bone Marrow Donations hurt like hell the DAY After but the rewards are worth it.

 

slippery slope though

 

I was asked to be an organ donor when I got my CDL. I had to tell them "no".
I don't have an organ, but I do have an old upright piano they can have if they want it!!

 

... you sure it's upright, and not just leaning against the wall?

 

Face it H.....we drive truck for a living......They already consider us "brain damaged with no hope for survival"!!

 

Or in my case as Multiple Neurologists have all told me HOW IN THE HELL ARE YOU WALKING. The one thing people want from my body after I am dead is MY BRAIN why so they can slice the SOB open and wonder how in the hell I am alive still. Or as my Doc put it to me at last Appt I know that the Students and Professors at the UofI medical School are going to have fun going WTF how did he do what he did on your brain. He showed me my MRI and MRA films the 20% I lost 11 Years ago should have killed me it wiped out the Autotomic Nervous center of the Brain you know the center that causes you the BREATHE and your Heart to Beat. Either I have a Backup section to that or I refused to die for a reason and I can not think what it is at that time as I hated my ex as I do now I wanted to live so she could NOT get my Life insurance that I had at teh time.