Three years ago tomorrow I had a liver transplant and I thought it worthwile to let all know that the organ donation program is an excellent program. I among many are living proof of that. I have not been sick at all since the transplant, not even a cold. If you are not a donor, please consider doing so. I seen some very sad cases go in for a transplant (I was one of them) and, seen them a year or so later and did hardly recognize them. I have had people say to me that my voice sounds familiar but don't recall who I am! I just thought I would share with you all. Thanks!

 

my license says "organ donor" on it. the way i see it is if im dead, maybe someone else can continue their life; i wont need the stuff anyways.

 

I am a strong proponent of organ donation. Have all the bases covered, my license says it, living will says it and my wife knows and approves.

I have a dear friend's wife who had a liver transplant and seeing the blessing of having her lease on life renewed is something that I doubt that I will forget.

 

Have to agree with GR. Not only is "organ donor" on both mine & Steve's DL's, but it's in our wills, trust documents, living wills and our families & friends know of our wishes. Don't know what I'll have left to give when it's my time, but if I have it and you need it, it's yours.

Now this does not pertain to the '41 or it's parts. Steve wants to be buried in that truck and that's ok with me as long as he goes first.

 

Wow. Congrats on the successful transplant, Larry.

I guess I'm just not one of the many organ donors. I could see myself giving an extra organ to a family member or dear friend. But I just can't see myself checking the organ donor box of my drivers license.

Why?....you might ask....Well, I've seen some disturbing medical information/research that leads me to believe that if I check that box, that my body will be mangled and butchered, not so much to save a life, but for research. I've read some very disturbing medical reports where researchers dropped cadaviers from different floors of a building, down an elevator shaft to discover the effects of blunt force trauma on the human skull and brain.

I did some apprentice work in HVAC years back. And on a job in Northern VA, we had to move a larger deep freezer, bigger than any you would find in a home. It was empty except for a few puddles of water and a dozen or so white labels. I read some of the labels and they turned out to be labels for different body parts from different people. That was one nasty job. That same building that we moved the deep freeze out of also housed lots of different animals. We had to pass through several secure areas with visitor badges and take an elevator to get to the right floor. I remember seeing racks of animals on the same floor. The company apparently was using human tissue and animals for some kind of testing. I can't imagine how they acquired those human parts or what they did with them or the animals?


Also, where do all these cadavers come from that are used in medical schools and for medical research? Are they the remnants of the organ donors? If you are an organ donor does that mean that you give up all your rights to your body when you are deceased?

Forgive my ignorance. I'm not saying being an organ donor is bad. I can definately see that if it can help save a life. But where can people go to find more information on what happens to organ donors and their rights?

 

Congrat's on the "new" liver and new chance!! Yes, I have it on my driver's lic. and this year Texas has a "special" lic. plate available whch states: "Organ Donor". Thanks for sharing your experiance!

 

The cadavers (sp) for medical schools come from people who donate their bodies to medicine. I was a pre-med major for a while and they explained to us where they get their cadavers.

 

Larry,
congrats on your successful transplant. Just wondering anyone out there know much about the living donor program or where I can find more info about it. have a brother w/ 10% functional liver.

Thanks

 

I hear that most cadavers come from "homeless" people where nobody claims the body.

 

My liver came from a 27 yr old Navy Seal that lost his life in an accident.

 

I'm listed as a donar too. The only thing about organ donation I don't like is that sometimes alcoholics and drug addicts get organs after they destroy their's through substance abuse.

 

The only problem I have with organ donation is that the family of the donor is actually charged for the removal of organs, in most cases. If that was not the case, I would gladly check the box on the card, but we just can't afford that yet.

 

According to www.organdonor.gov (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services) that is false. All of the costs related to organ donation are borne by the recipient throught their insurance, Medicare or Medicaid. Here's the link so you can verify it for yourself:

Organ Donation

Note that only applies to the U.S. Other countries may have different policies. So Ford_Six, if you are in the U.S., check the box!

Congrats on your transplant mantta. Here's to a long, happy life.

 

Thank you all for your nice responses. I want to add that the cost of removing the liver from the person I got it from was payed for by my health insurance company.

 

I have an uncle that was saved by organ donation. He has/had polycystic kidneys.