As we enter spring, we enjoy all the new life sprouting up, the beautiful spring flowers, the blossoming trees and the baby animals. We are surrounded by the gift of life in many shapes and forms. One of the most meaningful ways to share the gift of life and leave behind a true living legacy is through organ, tissue and eye donation.
Currently 107,015 men, women and children are in need of a lifesaving organ transplant and numerous others need tissue and eye grafts. Every 12 minutes, a name is added to this national list. Sadly, an average of 17 people die every day waiting for a lifesaving transplant.
As the sister of one of the 107,015 potential recipients, I understand the day-to-day waiting, as well as the ups and downs of living life on “the list.” We prayed not for the death of someone, but for a family to have a heart big enough to say yes to organ, tissue and eye donation in their time of grief and let their loved one’s legacy live on by giving the gift of life. We prayed for peace for the families that consented to donation and that their loved ones would be blessed and honored. Sadly, my sister died last month – one of the 17 – still waiting for that precious gift.
The topic of organ, tissue and eye donation is not a typical conversation that one has around the dinner table. But, I challenge everyone to change that. We need to create a culture where everyone says yes to organ, tissue and eye donation.
The first step to achieving this culture is to talk to your family about your wishes in regards to donation. Second, sign up as a donor on Texas’s state registry at www.donatelifetexas.org. Finally, be an advocate for donation. Slowly we will change the culture and see the waiting list getting smaller. One day in the future, we may even eliminate the list altogether. What a day that would be!
So as we close out National Donate Life Month in April and we continue to enjoy all the new life that we are blessed with, think of the ultimate gift that you may one day pass on through organ, tissue and eye donation.
- Amanda Williams
Donation Clinical Specialist
LifeGift
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I'm sorry about your sister's loss. :( Thank you for still spreading the message, one of my best friend's baby needs a donor, and he's in critical condition.
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