This is very exciting news!

It's good for everyone, all around . . .

I am so excited to do anything that will raise awareness to this subject.   I will be more than happy to play my part in spreading the word. 

The life you save may be. . .    you just never know!

Thanks to all of you for working so diligently to put this together and I am eager to participate.

XOX

Love y'all more than you know   and YOU ROCK!  

Beth~~ 

I had mentioned on another thread that I registered as an organ donor some time back. These days they won't take my blood or bone marrow (learned that at the Moonllight cons. I already had marrow taken some time back so they won't let me again, plus my age) and my corneas aren't exactly aces, so I'm not sure if they'd want any of me anyway but who knows. At 6'2" I've got lots of skin. If it comes about, I won't be using the body anyway. Might be some usable leftover parts.  I don't know about the other states, but in MD and WV all I had to do was check the box when I got my driver's license so it's noted on there. But you really need to have your relatives and preferably your doctor  know about it. Sometimes family members have different ideas about what to do so you need to make sure they follow your wishes. I think this campaign is a grand way to continue great deeds in support of Alex.

I know I can't register for the American side but I am already signed up as an organ donor in the UK. I understand the importance of this and giving blood if you can. At the moment, due to certain meds, I can't but I will when I get off them.

In the meantime I support all my friends across the U.S. and the world in their endeavours.

-- Edited by SharonC on Sunday 16th of August 2009 11:04:13 AM

Nancy,

I'm IN!  Have been listed as an organ donor for 19 years now.  Definitely want to help as much as I can.

As far as spreading the word, we need some kind of flyer, card, etc., with the logos for the Donate Life and TR on it with the website to register so we can pass them out easily to get the word out???

I would be happy to put something like this up in my office and give something to every student that came in (if allowed to).

USF is also a Research One University with a College of Medicine (they're actually doing Alzheimer's research here), a College of Public Health (both of which I have solid contacts in) and a College of Nursing ...

I just wonder ...

HUGS
Luv,
Cass

I agree Beth. When you have to deal with losing a loved one, especially an unexpected loss of a young person, it's very very hard to have to be confronted with these issues.
Donor cards free families from doing that. If the person has checked off that they wish to donate any or all their organs it takes the decision (and guilt) of it out from underneath the grieving family.
It's hard to imagine life going on after a tragic loss but it does. People die and lives are saved every day because of this generous gift. I would love to think that my "parts" were useful to someone else when I'm no longer able to use them. I would hate to leave that decision up to my family to make in my behalf.
People should always have their donor cards and living wills updated. It takes all the burden away from your love ones if you do. I think it's an important thing to discuss with your family and friends about what your wishes are too. Some people cannot or will not discuss that "final frontier" but we all have to face it one day. It would be nice to know what their wishes were beforehand.
Mortality is something we all suffer from. Might as well bring it out in the open. :) Blessings.

Nancy wrote:

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I'm so sorry they made it a difficult experience for your family, Beth.  I'm sure a lot of it has to do with legalities.  The attorneys come in and things start getting excruciating.  I know.  I work with those restrictions every day.  You should write to that procurement organization, Beth, and tell them how grateful you are that you were able to give the gift of life, but at the same time you felt there procurement procedure could have been more sensitive.  And now that you're a volunteer for the transplant community yourself, you're even more sensitive to the issue.

But I agree with everyone here.  Being signed as a donor and specifying what you want to happen makes everything so much better for the family. 

We'll have lots of brain storming of exactly what to do and how to do it in terms of the campaign within one week, Janet.  Give us a little time and we'll all be branching out.  I love your ideas.  I'll let you know fully when we have all the particulars in place.

---

Thanks Nancy, yea' I just may do that,  tough time and people aren't thinking clearly especially if there is NO will.

 

I've been thinking abou tthe campaign and want to learn more. I'd love to get soemthing to the university of Pittsburgh medical Center to print up in a newsletter. That would certainly make sense because the show is so connected to that place.

I thought it was interesting, that in one of the newes articles it even said that Carol Barbee picked Pittsburgh because it was at the top of the list of transplant hospitals. So, since I'm still employed by them, although as a home care nurse, I may be able to get the word out to them that this is happening.