Have you given much
thought to what you could do to give new hope to a family in the
most desparate of times? You could make a difference in someone's
life by signing a donor card. This would take the decision making
out of the hands of your loved ones at a time when they are
trying to cope with your impending death.
By donating your viable organs
and tissues, you are giving another person, whose death might be
eminent, a chance to live a normal life for many years to come.
Most states offer you the chance to state your desire to be an organ and/or tissue donor when you receive your driver's license or photo ID. The information is displayed on the back of your card. It may be better, though, to obtain a
donor card. You will find a link on the links pages to print one
right off the internet.
Just think how you would feel
if someone you loved was facing sure death that could be avoided
if a transplant was available to save their life, but no compatible organ could be located. It is very difficult to watch a loved one struggle through endless pain and hopelessness. You could give hope where there is no hope.
In these pages, you will read
about Dan and his family. You will be able to feel the pain they
suffered when hope was snatched away from them. Most importantly,
you will be touched by their love reaching out from these pages.
Please follow the links to family photos and to other web sites
that address organ and tissue donation.
No one is exempt from death.
It is inevidible for all of us, but you can help to prolong a
life by making the decision to sign a donor card. Donating your organs and/or tissues is one of the most unselfish things you
could ever do. Talk to your family and let them know your desire
to make this lifesaving gesture. Explain to them how important
it is to you to give someone else a chance to live.
Please read this article written to the editor of our local newspaper by Dan's oldest sister, Mary Jo.
"I would like to make an impassioned plea to all healthy beings to read this and think about the possibility of becoming an organ donor. Many years ago, I made the decision to become a donor but recently, a close family member has found it necessary to be among those on the list for a liver transplant. This is not the case of a willing living relative being able to donate a viable organ. The liver must come from a recently deceased healthy individual and unless that person has formerly made his or her wishes known, the grief-stricken family members are at a loss at the time of death as to how to make this crucial lifesaving decision of whether to donate or not.
Consider this regarding this national health issue.......if you died, wouldn't you want your heart to go on beating? Wouldn't you want your lungs to breathe the breath of life again? Wouldn't you wish for your healthy intact organs to go on functioning for a greater good? Wouldn't it be the most benevolent act of generosity to give someone the gift of sight so that they could see again from your eyes?
When you put this article down, please, if I have persuaded you at all, I beg you to tell your family members as soon as you read this, that you wish to be an organ donor. Express your desire to help those critically ill people desperately awaiting a transplant---many of whom will die because a possible donor never thought of telling anyone. It would be the most charitable gift you could give to humanity. It would be the gift of immortality to your family and the donor family. Thank you. Dan's sister Mary Jo".
God Bless You!
