What good are my organs to me when I'm gone? Would it help the healing process for my family if I kept my organs? I think not! What may help the healing process is to know that my organs went to people who needed those organs to survive and continue to be able to live happy healthy lives!
Mum nodded, smiled and left my room.
A week later Mum approached me with a huge smile on her face, 'Ive got something to show you' she said. As I sat with her she placed a card in my hand, When I looked it was a donor card for herself and she had ticket the 'Donate all' box. I was amazed! She told me she had thought about my choice to become and organ donor and how I explained it to her. She said she felt as though not being an organ donor felt almost selfish.
Most people get freaked out buy organ donation and more so donating corneas (part of the eye). There is a massive shortage of cornea donation in the UK! The reason I choose to opt in to donate my corneas is the same as all my other organs....they wont be any use to me. But someone could be able to see their new born baby clearly for the first time or be able to look in to their partners eyes clearly as they say their vows on their wedding day.
Ask yourself this!
If your Partner, Child, Mother, Brother, Sister etc had an accident or became ill and needed an organ to live, Would you expect/hope for there to be an organ available? I know I would!
How would you feel sitting by your loved ones bedside just waiting for an organ to become available knowing that someone somewhere just refused to become and organ donor because they 'don't like the thought of it'?
I feel very strongly that if you expect to receive, Its only fair that you are willing to give.
If everyone in the world refused to become an organ donor or to give blood then a hell of a lot of people would be dying but yet it everyone became a donor then just think how many more lives can be changed.
Know that someone somewhere who chose to opt in just saved a little girls life, Or allowed a woman to continue her dream of living to be a dancer or a Father who can now play football with his children.
People in this country get so cross when food goes to waste 'That could have been given to the homeless man who needs it!' Same goes for organs in my opinion.
My Mum passed away suddenly in 2007 and due to having the discussion that I did with her, her organs were able to be donated in order to save lives of others.
Recently near my home town there was an tragic incident in which a Father and his young son were knocked over and sadly passed away. The wife and Mother Anna Louise Bates Made the decision to continue with her husband and sons wishes to donate their organs organs. Ive heard people discuss this 'How could she do that?' Let me tell you that woman has gone through hell and she made the selfless decision to donate her son and husbands organs in order for others to survive. It doesn't change the fact that she loved them more than anyone can know it means that she was able to create hope for others!
Anna has now gone on to set up a charity Called 'Believe' which aims to promote and support organ donation across wales and Beyond.
Here is a link to the Believe site:- www.believe-ods.org.uk/
To Anna if you happen to be reading this I wish you all the luck in the world with the charity, your boys are so proud of you I'm sure! Try to stay strong though the hard times and know that what you are doing is saving lives.
I am not part of the Believe Charity nor do I work for any other organ donation organisation and I have not been asked by anyone to write this post. These are my own thoughts and feelings on organ donation. I feel very passionate about organ donation and even if this post encourages just one person to change their opt out decision or to be able to have the discussion with their family then I will be happy.
Organ donation Wales:- /organdonationwales.org
Organ donation NHS:- www.organdonation.nhs.uk
