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Imagine you just got into a car accident. You’re bleeding profusely, you are in dire need of medical attention, and you may just need an organ transplant. With so many odds against you, it can be terrifying to think that your life is in someone else’s hands. We never tend to realize how crucial these decisions are until we are put into that situation. Far too often we hesitate when becoming an organ donor ourselves, forgetting too quickly that we may need help just like everyone else.
Organ transplants are a common procedure in medicine today, and surprisingly, many of the donors are still alive. It is a frequent myth that you have to be deceased in order to give your organs to someone who is on death’s door step. Fortunately, if you can survive without a specific organ, you can still participate in helping others. Many times family members or partners will try to become a match for their loved one who is need of an organ. Other times generous and warm hearted people will be willing to give a kidney or a similar organ to a stranger who they don’t even know. All of these are certainly acts of kindness, and happen frequently in the world.
While living donors are interested in organ donation, those who are deceased also are willing to lend a hand. This happens when a person is declared dead and cannot be resuscitated. Recently, cardio deaths have supplied hundreds of hearts to people who are in dire need of saving. This has helped the pool of donations immensely, as people are constantly on the waiting list for an organ transplant.
The majority of people who allow organ transplants to occur when they pass away have already signed up for it previously. In order to acquire an organ donor sticker on your license, you may search for information through your local hospital or the DMV may lead you to the correct place. If you are interested in organ donation, it is crucial that you take the time to do it sooner than later.
Organ transplants may be a stressful situation for anyone who is in need of a transplant, but it is a beautiful thing for people who want to give their organs away just to help a stranger or a loved one. As long as people continue to sign up for organ donations, the less fortunate will be able to have a second chance at life. While there are never enough people ready to give part of themselves away, there is still hope for the people who need it the most. Perhaps one day no one will second guess donating their bodies when they pass away. After all, wouldn’t you want to do one more good deed before you leave this world?
By: Natalie Aranda
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