Organ Donation (Lisa)

Lisa here...Blogging… Wow I feel so cool. Did you know that 17 people die every DAY just waiting for organs?When I read that I have to stop and imagine. Do I even have 17 friends that I could imagine dying in a day? And then 17 more in the next... and again by the end of the week loose 119 friends and family. It isn't like these children (and adults) who die waiting for organs DON'T have modern medicine on their sides. It isn't like there isn't something out there to save their lives… instead medicine HAS advanced, it figured out how to take organs from one person and save another! The doctors DID their part. They figured out how to save dying babies, how to give life to little girls like Haley, to give others chances to graduate high school, and to become parent's of their own. So what are we waiting on?? Why are they still dying?? Ohhh yeah that is because people don't CHOOSE to help. We aren't talking traveling to the edge of Africa for some miracle drug…we are talking about organ donation. It seems crazy to me… that in a country where we will take such pride in protecting children, giving an education, futures and hope to children, we also just let them die in hospitals. The hope for the future is organ donation for these kids, yet it is a "touchy topic" and no one wants to talk about the fact we will all die one day. So, let's just ignore it. When Aiden was born with Biliary Atresia and then shortly after they said he needed a liver transplant, I figured... "Then go get him one." I had a big awakening when they said there was a massive shortage and people died everyday not getting what they needed. Huh? I had NO clue that this was happening in hospitals all over our country. Why hasn't the public been notified? OK folks read this and say it out loud:Just signing your driver's license means NOTHING. You HAVE to tell your next of kin. They make that choice. Why didn't they tell me that when I signed my driver's license? It seems so simple. I talk to a lot of people who think, "I can't donate my organs. I had cancer... (Or fill in the blank)" I even heard a group of Mom's at an allergy board say their kids could never be donors because their children had peanut allergies. (Ummm does sound as ridiculous to you as it does to me?) But it isn't their fault. They haven't been educated. No one talks about this. So how would they know that you could donate if you have had cancer (as long as you are cancer free for over 5 years and it wasn't a melanoma)? The people who are recovering your organs or tissue will be able to determine if you are a candidate for donation. So just tell your family.You know Aiden got his liver when he was only 8 months old. But he got a second gift two days later, a cadaveric vein. Someone donated his or her tissue and Aiden is alive because of that vein. He had an 8-hour surgery to fix a clotted vein to his liver, and things were touch and go. They decided to use a donated vein in replace of his own; my son is alive from that tiny gift. Yes, I know in my inaugural blog I sound kind of angry. But it isn't anger that I am really feeling. I feel an overwhelming feeling of sadness for my dear friends who have lost a child waiting. Can you believe I have lost count to how many angels have flown to Heaven since I began this journey with Aiden only 4 ½ years ago? I never knew that at 30 years old I would know anyone who lost a child, none the less know so many I couldn't count. Please please, today… NOT tomorrow… TELL someone that you love, " Hey you know, I want to be an organ and tissue donor when I die." The tough talk is over and maybe one day after you have lived a wonderful and full life you can be a hero and an angel to someone who needs you so desperately.