Becoming an organ and tissue donor saves lives.

Hi everyone,

My hubby, myself and our children are all registered for donating our organs and tissue upon our deaths and it is this subject I wish to put into the spot light today. One of the most important decisions apart from deciding to donate is to tell your family. Even though you have decided and followed though with donating your organs, upon your passing it is the family who have the last say and they may well go against your belief if indeed you have never discussed and had a conversation and made your feelings and wishes known.
Today on Sunrise there was a story about a beautiful young lass who caught a cold/virus which travelled to her heart and did serious damage which resulted in her having to have an artificial heart and go on the heart donor waiting list.
This story and many many like it are just another reason to consider donating organs after passing. Donating organs and tissue after passing and donating blood or plasma while still alive are life saving actions and you just never know you may well be the one in need of this wonderful action one day.
REMEMBER though discuss with family and make your wishes crystal clear.
Thank you sooo much for reading and for your precious time. Cherz. x

Making the decision to become an organ and tissue donor – See more at: http://www.donatelife.gov.au/decide#sthash.yOTgrR1q.dpufPeople who need an organ transplant are usually very ill or dying because an organ is failing. People who need a tissue transplant can also be of any age. In some cases, tissue can save lives. More often, it greatly improves the recipient’s life.

One organ and tissue donor can transform the lives of 10 or more people. The determining factors are where and how a person dies, and the conditions of their organs and tissues. While your age and medical history will be considered, you shouldn’t assume you’re too young, too old or not healthy enough to become a donor.

The Australian Organ Donor Register
The Australian Organ Donor Register (the Donor Register) is the only national register for people to record their decision about becoming an organ and tissue donor for transplantation after death.

The Donor Register is administered by the Department of Human Services.

The Donor Register ensures a person’s donation decision can be verified 24 hours a day, seven days a week by authorised personnel anywhere in Australia. In the event of a person’s death, information about their donation decision, accessed from the Donor Register by authorised personnel can be provided to the family of the deceased.

Recording your decision on the Donor Register is voluntary and you have complete choice over which organs and tissues you wish to donate. If you don’t want to become an organ and tissue donor, you can register your decision not to donate on the Donor Register.

The Donor Register is not for registering decisions about donating organs and tissue for scientific research purposes or for the manufacture of biological medical products. For information regarding these processes, contact your local state health department.

Register your decision here
Download the DonateLife Brochure and AODR Registration Form (1.85 MB PDF)
– See more at: http://www.donatelife.gov.au/decide#sthash.yOTgrR1q.dpuf

Posted by cherz, 23rd November 2015

8 Comments

- - mom94125 said
  - 28 Dec 2015
    2:35 pm
yes i have personally experienced this situation. it amazes me that the people who received the donations, didn’t say thanks. you get the gift of life, at least thank the donor’s family. their family is being selfless so see this goodwill and appreciate it. Here’s my experience.

we were onboard with the donation and respecting wishes but literally felt that the co-ordinators and the doctor, had done this all and seen this all and we just became pawns. i am still upset with the way this was all handled. we went to the hospital and the doctor continued to use the ultrasound machine and comment on how the organs were really healthy and looked like they came from a 30 year. They had NO regard to the fact that the family was standing there while they were checking “the quality” of the “meat. As soon as they all had what they wanted, that was it. A random letter from the organ donors co-ordinator saying that the organs had been dispersed and that was truly it. Out of four people that my loved ones organs had saved (heart, lungs etc) only 1 person bothered to write a letter, one year on. We didn’t want the world, we weren’t seeking any kind of compensation BUT to get a letter and hear how your loved one has saved someone else’s live and made miracles for them…well that was the whole point! Everyone goes on about donations but i don’t know how to feel. I know that we were treated like it was all just routine business but we were going through an unexpected loss and trying to understand what had happened. Instead of processing and dealing, we were BUGGED REPEATEDLY to give our consent for the donations and even had it mentioned how we would be disrespectful if we didn’t honour our passed one’s wishes. I wish that i had been able to say, hang on, give us a minute! I just wanted to share this. I don’t regret doing what we did, i do regret the way we were treated for helping to give” life”. Please!!!! if you are ever touched by this circumstance, please!!!! the least that you can do is to say thankyou! even if you don’t say another word! My loved one die and now you have a chance at life. The least you can do is be grateful! otherwise things would have been different if we said no…..
- cherz replied
  
  28 Dec 2015 , 9:29 pm
  Hi mom94125,
  
  I am so very sorry that you had been treated poorly and from one loving being to another I say thank you from the bottom of my heart.
  Please take onboard the thought that the loss of your loved one meant the future life of another person /persons.
  All the blood I have donated over many years surely must have saved someone and as I am 0 NEG I am made aware that my blood went to baby packs and that alone just gives me a warm and giving glow .
  Thanks again and God Bless.
  cherzxx
- - mom93821 said
  - 23 Nov 2015
    7:50 pm
Thanks for sharing this issue with everyone – important info for anyone considering organ donation.

- - mom90758 said
  - 23 Nov 2015
    6:39 pm
Such an important message here. I’ve already registered years ago and my husband too.

- - mom165081 said
  - 23 Nov 2015
    4:55 pm
This is a personal choice – keep informed and share with your family – its vital that they understand your choices so that they are wiling and able to support the process as and when it occurs, not find the process confusing and stressful. Communication is key.

- - cherz said
  - 23 Nov 2015
    3:34 pm
Please give and let another live.

- - cherz said
  - 23 Nov 2015
    3:28 pm
Organ, tissue and blood donations save lives.
- mom93821 replied
  
  24 Nov 2015 , 4:45 am
  Always love your poignant photos CHERZ!