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Post by monklady123 on Jun 13, 2016 19:08:33 GMT
Dd had knee surgery today to repair a couple of things -- torn ligaments from dancing, and a congenital bone thing that was found when the hospital xrayed her knee the last time she ended up in ER. I was just looking through all the stuff they gave us to bring home and included in the packet was information about her new ligaments, which came from an organ donor. There's a card in there that has the donor's ID number on it and we are encouraged to write them a letter (anonymous to the donor's family, although we have to provide our name to the hospital) thanking them and telling them how their donation impacted us, and whatever else we want to say. I never knew they did this! As a chaplain I've been on the donor end, being with a family in ICU while the transplant coordinator talks to them. But I never knew that there was a coordinated effort to encourage the recipients to reach out to the donor's family. I think that is so wonderful, for the family to know where their loved one's organs and tissues went. I know that younger and/or relatively healthy people who die from a catastrophic event (vs. someone who dies of old age or after a long illness) can donate almost every part of their body -- skin, bone, ligaments, corneas, in addition to organs. It's a wonderful gift. Are you an organ donor? I am, and so are dh and ds. I assume dd checked that box on her license but I'm not sure. I plan to ask as soon as she's conscious. (she's sleeping off the anesthesia).
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Post by mom on Jun 13, 2016 19:10:08 GMT
Yes, I am an organ donor. I didn't know they would do that either - what a nice thing!
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Dalai Mama
Drama Llama
La Pea Boheme
Posts: 6,985
Jun 26, 2014 0:31:31 GMT
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Post by Dalai Mama on Jun 13, 2016 19:11:18 GMT
DS just got his health card after turning 16 - he's indicated that he's willing to donate everything. DH is upset because. . . reasons? I haven't quite figured that one out yet.
I'm an organ donor, DH (obviously) is not.
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raindancer
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,095
Jun 26, 2014 20:10:29 GMT
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Post by raindancer on Jun 13, 2016 19:15:03 GMT
I'm an organ donor and have made my directives very clear to my family.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 18, 2024 4:15:35 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jun 13, 2016 19:16:01 GMT
I have a donor ligament too. We didn't receive anything about the donor like you guys did...that's pretty neat.
Both DH and I are donors.
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Post by meridon on Jun 13, 2016 19:18:12 GMT
Yes, I'm an organ donor. I plan to be cremated, so I say take whatever can be of use to somebody else! When my mom passed away from cancer, my dad wouldn't even have a discussion about the possibility of donating anything--he felt she had been through too much already and just wanted her left in peace. Years later, while I understand his position, I still disagree. Edited to add: and no, I had no idea that the hospital encouraged recipients to contact the family and I think that's awesome!
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Post by evnimom on Jun 13, 2016 19:49:29 GMT
Always have been an organ donor. My dad was a paramedic so I think this imprinted on me that it's the right thing to do.
That is so cool that you are able to reach out to the donor. I think the administrators must get permission from the donors to have this communitcation.
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Post by monklady123 on Jun 13, 2016 19:52:24 GMT
Always have been an organ donor. My dad was a paramedic so I think this imprinted on me that it's the right thing to do. That is so cool that you are able to reach out to the donor. I think the administrators must get permission from the donors to have this communitcation. Yes, the family probably has to agree to it. But it's all anonymous, on both ends, so for me personally -- as the donor or as the recipient -- I'd love to participate. The only one who knows the names is whoever sends the letters on to the donor's family.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 18, 2024 4:15:35 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jun 13, 2016 19:57:46 GMT
My neighbor's niece Courtney passed away last November due to complications from hydrocephalus. Her heart and lungs went to another local teenager with cystic fibrosis, and over 100 other people were helped through donations of soft tissue and other organs. Courtney's husband has said that knowing Angelynn is alive because of Courtney has helped see him through some of his deep grief at losing her. Here's a brief story about Courtney and Angelynn on The Today Show. Organ donation saves lives, so DH and I are both donors. We have discussed becoming donors with our kids, and both have said if something happens to them, they would want us to help as many others as we could. I couldn't imagine losing either one of them, but if donating their organs was possible, I think I'd be comforted to hear from anyone who was helped by it. I'm glad your hospital encourages contact, even if it's anonymous.
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valleyview
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,816
Jun 27, 2014 18:41:26 GMT
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Post by valleyview on Jun 13, 2016 20:01:56 GMT
Thanks for the reminder about organ donation. It's a great way to impact lives.
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Post by Linda on Jun 13, 2016 20:07:35 GMT
I've made my wishes known to my family (and to DMV - it's on my state ID) about organ donation. My Dad had a double corneal transplant during WWII when he not quite 20...he was British Army and blinded in the 1944 Rex Cinema attack in Antwerp.
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jayfab
Drama Llama
procastinating
Posts: 5,521
Jun 26, 2014 21:55:15 GMT
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Post by jayfab on Jun 13, 2016 20:21:59 GMT
Yes and my family knows my wishes. I had a friend who died and was a donor. I went to a ceremony for friends and family of donors and recipients (not her recipients) and is was so moving to hear everyone's stories.
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theshyone
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,411
Jun 26, 2014 12:50:12 GMT
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Post by theshyone on Jun 13, 2016 20:25:09 GMT
Dd had knee surgery today to repair a couple of things -- torn ligaments from dancing, and a congenital bone thing that was found when the hospital xrayed her knee the last time she ended up in ER. I was just looking through all the stuff they gave us to bring home and included in the packet was information about her new ligaments, which came from an organ donor. There's a card in there that has the donor's ID number on it and we are encouraged to write them a letter (anonymous to the donor's family, although we have to provide our name to the hospital) thanking them and telling them how their donation impacted us, and whatever else we want to say. I never knew they did this! As a chaplain I've been on the donor end, being with a family in ICU while the transplant coordinator talks to them. But I never knew that there was a coordinated effort to encourage the recipients to reach out to the donor's family. I think that is so wonderful, for the family to know where their loved one's organs and tissues went. I know that younger and/or relatively healthy people who die from a catastrophic event (vs. someone who dies of old age or after a long illness) can donate almost every part of their body -- skin, bone, ligaments, corneas, in addition to organs. It's a wonderful gift. Are you an organ donor? I am, and so are dh and ds. I assume dd checked that box on her license but I'm not sure. I plan to ask as soon as she's conscious. (she's sleeping off the anesthesia). I'm a donor, to science not others unfortunately because of my medical condition. the writing letters I think must depend on the hospital system you are in. I have a friend whose daughter received a heart last July, and she isn't allowed to write a letter for a year. Yet other locations I see stories immediately after of reunions.
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scrappington
Pearl Clutcher
in Canada
Posts: 3,139
Jun 26, 2014 14:43:10 GMT
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Post by scrappington on Jun 13, 2016 20:35:13 GMT
I received a letter from someone who. Received one of my husbands kidneys. I asked for no letters but I guess one got thru About a month after he died I received a letter stating all the parts that were donated kinda a inventory.
I never had that he lives on in others. I almost wrote back to the person who wrote me. But never could. The letter came just around the year mark
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Post by LavenderLayoutLady on Jun 13, 2016 20:38:50 GMT
I am. I didn't know that would do that either. It's nice, though.
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Post by librarylady on Jun 13, 2016 20:42:25 GMT
DH just got his health card after turning 16 - he's indicated that he's willing to donate everything. DH is upset because. . . reasons? I haven't quite figured that one out yet. I'm an organ donor, DH (obviously) is not. ummmm, I think there is a typo here. As I read it, your DH is age 16. My husband and I have both signed the form to donate organs, but our son (soon to be age 40) did not, last time I asked. Our friend gave his body to the medical school (who cremates it when done) and I am seriously thinking of doing the same.
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Post by lisacharlotte on Jun 13, 2016 20:42:44 GMT
I'm a donor on my drivers license. I found out after the fact that organ donation is also deferred with my ability to donate blood. I still think it's stupid. I lived in England 1984-1986.
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Post by ntsf on Jun 13, 2016 20:48:21 GMT
I and dh and all my kids are donors...one of our best friends got a liver from a donor..and as she always says..."You can't take it with you to heaven"... I think they should make it assume you are a donor..unless you opt out ..
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Post by anonrefugee on Jun 13, 2016 21:14:12 GMT
I'm a donor on my drivers license. I found out after the fact that organ donation is also deferred with my ability to donate blood. I still think it's stupid. I lived in England 1984-1986. I'm a drivers license donor too, and also not allowed to give blood. Thanks, I need to research this.
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Dalai Mama
Drama Llama
La Pea Boheme
Posts: 6,985
Jun 26, 2014 0:31:31 GMT
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Post by Dalai Mama on Jun 13, 2016 21:17:03 GMT
DH just got his health card after turning 16 - he's indicated that he's willing to donate everything. DH is upset because. . . reasons? I haven't quite figured that one out yet. I'm an organ donor, DH (obviously) is not. ummmm, I think there is a typo here. As I read it, your DH is age 16. My husband and I have both signed the form to donate organs, but our son (soon to be age 40) did not, last time I asked. Our friend gave his body to the medical school (who cremates it when done) and I am seriously thinking of doing the same. Yes typo!
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perumbula
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,439
Location: Idaho
Jun 26, 2014 18:51:17 GMT
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Post by perumbula on Jun 13, 2016 21:24:23 GMT
I'm an organ donor and so are my children who are old enough to drive. My son told me about them asking and he said yes like he thought the answer was so obvious it was almost a stupid question. My husband can't donate because he had hepatitis as a teenager. He heard recently that they are now allowing blood donations in some cases depending on how long it's been since the illness, but he hasn't researched it. I didn't know they used donated ligaments though. That's very interesting.
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eleezybeth
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,784
Jun 28, 2014 20:42:01 GMT
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Post by eleezybeth on Jun 13, 2016 21:49:20 GMT
I'm a donor on my drivers license. I found out after the fact that organ donation is also deferred with my ability to donate blood. I still think it's stupid. I lived in England 1984-1986. Seriously?!?!? That bums me out so bad. Donation is something I feel so strongly about. I am banned from giving blood because of living in Europe due to the military. I can only hope the rules change before I die. My family knows to give me all away so after the hospital takes the working bits, any lab or school can have me. After that, burn me, and toss me to the mighty winds.
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Post by zztop11 on Jun 13, 2016 22:04:29 GMT
I have a cadaver achilles tendon. I was an organ donor before that but once I had that surgery, I really felt that it was the right thing to do. That being said, I would not want certain parts taken. Main organs are fine. I can't explain it. It's just something that I feel.
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Post by originalvanillabean on Jun 13, 2016 22:05:20 GMT
I am an organ donor. No idea they did this. I think it's great.
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Post by merry27 on Jun 13, 2016 22:11:57 GMT
I'm a donor on my drivers license. I found out after the fact that organ donation is also deferred with my ability to donate blood. I still think it's stupid. I lived in England 1984-1986. I also lived in England from 1984-1986. I know that I can't donate blood but didn't realize I can't donate my organs. I am registered as an organ donor. I think it's stupid too
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RedSquirrelUK
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,743
Location: The UK's beautiful West Country
Aug 2, 2014 13:03:45 GMT
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Post by RedSquirrelUK on Jun 13, 2016 22:52:00 GMT
I'm guessing the England thing is because of BSE. The stupid thing is that I didn't eat anything containing bovine protein from the mid '70s until the late '90s, because of a misdiagnosed allergy. I moved to the tropics from 2005-10 and now that I'm back in the UK I can't give blood. Not because of the BSE thing but because of living in the tropics, even though it wasn't a malarial region. And they don't want my organs outside the UK because of the BSE thing, that I wouldn't have anyway, because I didn't eat bovine products. Nobody loves me, everybody hates me - I'm going into the garden to eat worms. ETA: I didn't know that donors were allowed to be contacted either. That's super cool.
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Post by M~ on Jun 13, 2016 22:59:48 GMT
I used flag my DL for organ donation. Since being diagnosed with RA, I can no longer donate blood or my organs. It's a point of sadness. Donating bone marrow was on my bucket list.
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Post by Linda on Jun 13, 2016 23:39:48 GMT
I'm a donor on my drivers license. I found out after the fact that organ donation is also deferred with my ability to donate blood. I still think it's stupid. I lived in England 1984-1986. Interesting - thanks! I just squeak by under the limits for the UK - I moved here in January 1980 and haven't quite hit 3months cumulative in visits back home...one more trip would do it though My DH, though, is indefinately deferred due to his Army service in Germany.
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Post by padresfan619 on Jun 13, 2016 23:42:31 GMT
I am an organ donor, have it marked on my license, and have my wishes all drawn up and in a safe in our home. My mom and my best friend know how to get to it if my husband isn't able to.
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paget
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,752
Jun 25, 2014 21:16:39 GMT
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Post by paget on Jun 13, 2016 23:46:43 GMT
DS just got his health card after turning 16 - he's indicated that he's willing to donate everything. DH is upset because. . . reasons? I haven't quite figured that one out yet. I'm an organ donor, DH (obviously) is not. This is how it is at my house. I am extremely passionate about organ donation and my three dds are also donors. Dh is not. His reasoning is that the medical personal will "see that he is donor and so they won't try as hard to save him." I know. I'm just explaining someone's reasoning. I've also heard that even if you check that you are a donor or not a donor, they must get permission from your family. Does anyone know if this is true?
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