The Importance and Value of Organ Donation
THE IMPORTANCE AND VALUE OF ORGAN DONATION
In 1990 I lay in an Intensive Care Unit at Washington Hospital center on a heart pump and hardly able to breathe on my own. Surrounded by family, doctors, and nurses I was informed that my heart muscle was destroyed and I would not leave the hospital alive without a heart transplant.
I was a man of forty-seven facing death. I doubted the technology and even the idea of such a drastic procedure. I turned in desperation to my friend and soul mate, Peggy, for guidance. With almost no hesitation she said, “Go for it!”
It is now eighteen years later. I may be a little biased in stressing the value of transplantation as a heart transplant survivor myself. It is a wonderful gift to face certain death and be given a second chance. It is a sacred gift when you realize there is a family that was caring and astute
enough to make the difficult choice of allowing the removal of organs and tissue from their twenty-two year old healthy son who died suddenly in a tragic accident.
Every day children, adolescence, and adults are added to the list of those awaiting organ or tissue transplantation. Every hour of that same day some will die waiting. The fact is there are over 100,000 patients waiting for an organ or tissue transplant, and a third will die waiting.
I have lived eighteen wonderful years as an organ recipient. I have rejoiced in every day of those years, feeling thankful for the great gift I received. I have lived life fully, and have traveled to the corners of the earth, watched my children and step-children prosper and achieve all the things a parent would hope-far beyond expectations. I have enjoyed grandchildren and great-grand children. I never forget my special blessing and give back whenever I can. I try to never miss a sunset or a sunrise.
I hope everyone will pause and reflect on the most precious of gifts that one can give, the gift of life. When you can give that gift, one never really dies. A part of your life continues. There are two types of people lying side by side in the cemetery: Those who died and did not donate and those that might have lived if they had. Remember the motto of organ donation: “Don’t take your organs to heaven, because heaven knows they could be used right here on earth!”
In 1990 I lay in an Intensive Care Unit at Washington Hospital center on a heart pump and hardly able to breathe on my own. Surrounded by family, doctors, and nurses I was informed that my heart muscle was destroyed and I would not leave the hospital alive without a heart transplant.
I was a man of forty-seven facing death. I doubted the technology and even the idea of such a drastic procedure. I turned in desperation to my friend and soul mate, Peggy, for guidance. With almost no hesitation she said, “Go for it!”
It is now eighteen years later. I may be a little biased in stressing the value of transplantation as a heart transplant survivor myself. It is a wonderful gift to face certain death and be given a second chance. It is a sacred gift when you realize there is a family that was caring and astute
enough to make the difficult choice of allowing the removal of organs and tissue from their twenty-two year old healthy son who died suddenly in a tragic accident.
Every day children, adolescence, and adults are added to the list of those awaiting organ or tissue transplantation. Every hour of that same day some will die waiting. The fact is there are over 100,000 patients waiting for an organ or tissue transplant, and a third will die waiting.
I have lived eighteen wonderful years as an organ recipient. I have rejoiced in every day of those years, feeling thankful for the great gift I received. I have lived life fully, and have traveled to the corners of the earth, watched my children and step-children prosper and achieve all the things a parent would hope-far beyond expectations. I have enjoyed grandchildren and great-grand children. I never forget my special blessing and give back whenever I can. I try to never miss a sunset or a sunrise.
I hope everyone will pause and reflect on the most precious of gifts that one can give, the gift of life. When you can give that gift, one never really dies. A part of your life continues. There are two types of people lying side by side in the cemetery: Those who died and did not donate and those that might have lived if they had. Remember the motto of organ donation: “Don’t take your organs to heaven, because heaven knows they could be used right here on earth!”
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Neil Willens on -
Hi Brian,
Like yourself, my organ, a liver, was received from a young man of 22 years. My surgery was June 5, 2000. My donor family and I have exchanged communications and we each found this immensely rewarding. It gave me added context and it gave them an end to the self doubts that they did the right thing.
I'm hoping you might have some thoughts to share regarding my finding a publisher, a university press, or possibly even self-publishing through and outfit such as Lulu. Thanks. I look forward to hearing from you Brian.
Best wishes,
Neil
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Permalink Reply by Brian A. & Dorothea (AOP) Hartford on -
Hi Neil,
Thanks for sharing and congratulations on your great gift of life. I envy your contact to your donor family. My donor family chose to be anonymous, although I send a letter of thanks every year to WRTC who forwards to them.I and my wife, Dorothea (AOP-"all original parts")have attended every NKF Transplant Games since 1992 and see more and more donor participation and find it quite inspirational. I have been quite happy with my POD publisher (Publish America) and have just finished my third book with them. My wife actually found PA buy a strange coincidence. She was a Agent Representative for Icelandair airlines and took care of the VIP's . One of her clients happened to be the owner/publisher of PA in the US(He also has publishing houses in Denmark and Iceland).
You must do agressive marketing if you chose to use Print On Demand Publishing, but they now have a return policy(buy back) and you get royality checks. It is better than self publishing and they do sell through wholesalers like Pellikin. The big house publishers and large bookstores like Boarders are in big financial trouble right now. Unless you had sex at the White House, it has been real hard to find a publisher or an agent to take notice of an unknown author. You can submit on line to PA at http://www.publishamerica.com. The cost to you is nothing. I buy my own books and do a lot of book signings at local book stores and book fairs. Just remmember you loose your rights on your story if you go PA. You do retain movie rights. Change Of Heart has sold over 2500 copies (I probably have donated as many more) and is available in soft or hard cover.
Best of luck in getting published.
Regards,
Brian - Attachments:
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