Organ_Donation

Research Paper on Becoming an Organ Donor By April 18, 2011 The Donor Registry Program in America today is an absolute tragedy. There are 6,205 mommy’s, daddy’s, grandma’s, grandpa’s , brothers, and sisters that die annually, while waiting to be the recipient of a organ transplant. Organ Statistics/facts (www.webmd.com May 2008). Is it possible that the United States of America is far too passive pertaining to the laws that govern “Organ Donning'” Should the U.S. impose similar laws like Belgium, Spain, and France have implemented' These countries consider everyone an organ donor, unless they specifically specify they don’t want to be a donor. Wow, American which is known for being the “Land of the Free” and “Home of the Brave,” where people from other countries risk their own lives, and the lives of their loved ones; just to have the chance to live in this great country. So, why is it that our state and federal government not only mandated that every American citizen is to wear a seat belt, but our elected officials made it a “law.” The reason for making this a law was simple, “Seat Belts Save Lives,” so why can’t the same commonsense be applied to every state in the U.S., which should mandate every citizen will be declared an “official” organ donor, unless they specify they don’t want to participate in the program. It was reported by “Car – Accidents.com” in Oct 2010, if individuals who were killed in an automobile accident had been wearing a seat belt, 132,000 people would still be alive today. It is time that all of us do our part by becoming an organ donor. The simple act of clicking your seat belt saves “one” life, but the simple act of signing your name to the donor registry can save up to “eight” lives. In a recent ( NY Times article dated Mar 17, 2011,) it stated that “ only thirty-eight percent of all licensed drivers in the U.S. are organ donors.” This paper will focus on three primary issues of becoming an organ donor, they are as follows: 1. Why every American citizen should become an “official organ donor.” 2. How easy it is to become an organ donor 3. The benefits from becoming an organ donor, not only for the recipient, but for the family of the donor Americans when we want to be are very passionate people. When we choose to support our passion, watch out, because we give one – thousand %. You don’t have to look any farther than a sporting event. We all have seen the fat drunk man with a painted body, in zero weather yelling and jumping up and down when his team scores. Also, there was a commercial back in the 1970’s that really started the “green movement;” it pertained to littering. It showed a car driving down the highway, and a bag of trash is thrown out and lands in a creek right next to a “Native-American,” and then it showed a tear running down his cheek, the narrator says “Please don’t Litter.” It was a simple commercial, but made a lasting Impression on me. Maybe we should show a commercial of a young mother with her two children crying, and have the children ask “why did daddy die'” The answer the mother gives is simple, she looks in the camera, with a tear running down her cheek , points at the camera and says, “Because people like you were too busy to become an organ donor.” The best reason for becoming an organ donor is very evident, to potentially save a life. It is reported that for “every one person who becomes an organ donor, that one person can save up to eight lives.” (http// www.organdonor.gov) The possibilities are endless, it was reported that it takes as little as fifteen minutes to become a registered organ donor. (http// www.indiana.gov/facts ) When you put it this way to your friends, wouldn’t they have a hard time saying no! The reason I became an organ donor was simple, my dad was an organ recipient, because of an individual who took fifteen to thirty minutes out of their busy schedule, blessed me and my family with an additional ten years of life with my dad. Throughout this paper references have been made to the fifteen to thirty minutes is all it takes to become an organ donor. The reason this reference is referred to so often, is simple, for just a few minutes can allow eight dads, eight moms, no matter which way it is divided up a lot of families get many more years with their families. You need to make your wishes know if you want to become a donor. There are several easy ways to become an organ donor: 1. When you renew your driver’s license just tell the BMV employee you would like to sign-up to become an organ donor 2. Perhaps the easiest way is to jump on your computer, go to (htpp//www.hhs.gov) click your state and sign-up 3. Ensure you have a living will, as long as you have it annotated in your will that you want to donate your organs upon your passing No matter which way you choose to become an organ donor, the important thing is becoming an organ donor. There were so many stories which could have incorporated into this paper, but this particular story really touched my heart. The title of this story is: “A Grieving Mother’s Story” “ Mother sits by her eighteen old son who has been declared brain dead. She doesn’t believe her son is dead; he is warm, he is breathing, I’m sure he will; wake up, but it has been four months.” When she finally decided to take her son off the venation system, the calls started going out to people who have been waiting for a match, will this be their day,' Well, for six individuals are their families it was their day, week, month, life. During the reading of this story, you are over joyed for the families that will live to many days to come, but for the mother who made the decision that today would be the last day she would hold her son’s hand, and the last day she would be with him. Her words will stick in my mind forever, (www.organtransplants.org/stories) “Today I watched my son take his last breath; I watched him take his first breath of life, and I am thankful I was at his side when he took his last breath of life. The day I anticipated being the worse day of my life, was actually a great day. Today, I met six other moms, dads, and family members that were crying for joy, and my son was responsible for their life, how great this day was.” The benefits of becoming an organ donor would seem to be for the recipient and their family, but it goes much deeper than that. There are thousands of stories that show how everyone evolved in the transplant process is blessed. As I was choosing a topic for my research paper an speech, I wasn’t sure if I would be able to stand up in front of people whom I didn’t know and talk about am event that has helped shape me into the person I’m today. Then I remembered meeting the wife of the man who donated his heart, the heart that went to my dad. After speaking with my wife about this she said, “If you don’t chose this as your topic, then I won’t be spreading the message, and if just one person becomes a donor , then your dad would be smiling down.” Since she put that way, how could I not do “Organ Donation'” In my paper I tried to ensure I put it together, so everyone who wanted to become an organ donor would know “Why they should become an organ donor,” How easy it is to sign up and become an organ donor,” and the “benefits of becoming an organ donor go much further than just to the recipient, but to both parties." My hope is that by my speech and my research paper to bring to light just how many lives can be touched by volunteering just thirty minutes of playing, reading, or in my case naptime. I would like to leave you the website if you have any questions or would like to sign up to become an organ donor. (www.organdonation.org) I hope you will become an organ donor, because the life you save my be of someone you love. Bibliography Page Type of Citation: Website (www.hhs.gov/donor registration, April 2011) Website: ( www.indiana.gov/facts, April 2011) Magazine: Article, NY Times, Wilson, April 17, 2011 Website(www.organdonation.org , 2004) Website (www.webmd.com,/statistics May 2008)