Every day of every week in every country on Earth, someone is dying because they need an organ transplant. Often, the transplant only buys them a few years or even months, but imagine what they can do or achieve in that time.
What did you do in the past two months that made you feel good or made others' lives better or happier? How about in the past year? The past 5 years?
Here's some inspiration, if you need it:
When Tianna was 18 months old doctors found two holes in her heart and two blocked arteries, faults that left her breathless and with a blue tinge to her skin. Over the years the condition worsened, leading to an ever-lengthening list of symptoms.
''Walking is really hard,'' Tianna said 18 months ago. ''I get heart palpitations, chest pains, nose bleeds. I get light-headed and get leg cramps and back pain. I'm in and out of hospital. I don't have much of an immune system.''
The illness had affected her social life, as it became hard to keep up with her friends.
''Sometimes, they end up carrying me,'' she said. ''I feel like I drag them back a bit because they have to walk slowly with me. I tell them to walk on and I'll walk just behind them at the back of the pack. It takes a toll on your self-esteem, trying to keep up with them and seeing everyone do stuff that you can't.''
Major surgery was necessary and the Ingleburn teenager became one of the 1700 Australians on waiting lists for organ and tissue transplants. She also became a face of the Journey of Hope campaign, aimed at getting Australians to discuss the issue and to encourage more people to register as organ donors. The campaign by Transplant Australia endeavours also to attract more funding to support people who are on waiting lists, organ recipients and their families.
Here's what I think is the saddest part of the donor/transplant story. According to this story in today's paper (I'll post the link), only 309 Australians donated organs last year. Close to 6 million Australians are on the Organ Donor Registry (in other words, they WANT to donate their organs and save lives) but only 58% of families allowed the organ and tissue donations to proceed. That means 42% of families stopped the donations from happening.
HOW DARE THEY!!!! How dare they go against their relatives wishes AND how dare they destroy what may be only possible chance another person has to have a better life -or to have a life at all!
HOW DARE THEY!!! If religion is the reason, then I am even angrier!
My drivers licence says I am a willing donor. My Will says I am willing donor. I have registered with the relevant web sites and organisations. And now this blog tells the world, if they care to read it, that I am a willing donor. NO ONE has my permission to stop my organs or tissue being donated when I die.
Please, do all you can to make your wishes known. tell everyone. register with your local Transplant/Donation service or authority.
Please - don't take your organs with you when you die.
