Organ Donation
Donate Life Did you know that seventeen people will die today? They will not die because they were in a car wreck, involved in a shooting, or because it was simply that their time had come. Seventeen people will die because they couldn't get an organ transplant in time. Money's not the issue here. Neither is scarcity. There are potential donors who pass away every day who could meet the needs of people on the waiting list. The problem is the potential donors die without leaving instructions that they wish to be an organ donor. Each donor could enhance the lives of up to fifty people. Everyone should sign up to be an organ donor because the greatest gift you can give is the gift of life. According to the United Network of Organ Sharing, as of February 28, 2006, there are 91,666 people on the waiting list for a life saving organ transplant (Organ Donation). The actual number of organs needed is even greater because some people on the waiting list are waiting on multiple organs. Seventeen people die a day waiting for a transplant. 6,205 people a year die waiting for a transplant (Statistics). What if this was your loved one? What can you do to lower these numbers? Every thirteen minutes another name is added to the national waiting list, 103 people every twenty-four hours, 37,595 every year (Statistics). The United Network for Organ Sharing coordinates the donors and recipients. They have a very sophisticated system that ensures everything runs as smoothly and effortlessly as possible.
Patients who are waiting for a life-sustaining transplant must rely on the generosity of others and the misfortune of that generous person. Someone must die, in order for another person to live. Dying is a part of life, but nobody likes to talk about it. The reason many people don't talk about organ donation is because it involves death. But, by discussing organ donation and deciding to donate it could give another person a chance to live, or to improve the
Patients who are waiting for a life-sustaining transplant must rely on the generosity of others and the misfortune of that generous person. Someone must die, in order for another person to live. Dying is a part of life, but nobody likes to talk about it. The reason many people don't talk about organ donation is because it involves death. But, by discussing organ donation and deciding to donate it could give another person a chance to live, or to improve the
Cited: "Become A Donor". Coalition on Donation. 28 Feb. 2006, . Procurement Foundation, 2000. Derrick. "Empowering Testimonies". Coalition on Donation. 28 Feb. 2006, . "Organ Donation and Transplation". United Network for Organ Sharing. 28 Feb. 2006, . Robbie. "Empowering Testimonies". Coalition on Donation. 28 Feb. 2006, . Smirl. Midwest Transplant Network 2006. Westwood, KS: Midwest Transplant Network, 2006. "Son of KMBC Staffers Dies After Gun Accident". KMBC 9 News. 21 Oct. 2005. 05 March 2006 Tyler. "Empowering Testimonies". Coalition on Donation. 28 Feb. 2006, . "Top 10 Myths About Donation." United Network on Organ Sharing. 28 Feb. 2006, .