Anyway, Wednesday afternoon, her mother signed papers to get her officially put ont he donor list. She must have been a high priority on the list, and God must have really been listening to all the prayers going up to Him, because at 12:30 AM, the doctor came and told Jessie's friends and family that a set of lungs was on its way. EIGHT HOURS LATER!!! What an amazing God we have. The surgery went well; they'll wean herr off the ventilator today.
Her journey isn't over, of course... she still has the risk of rejection in addition to a lot of rehab. So please pray for Jessie, Whitney, and everyone involved in this praise-worthy occassion.
Also, remember the family of the donor in your prayers, too. After all, these lungs belonged to someone and while I know Jessie and her family are grateful, there is a family out there mourning. But they did something courageous after discovering that their loved one was gone: they donated. Are you a donor?
If not, you can be. In Missouri, you need to register to become a donor. You can that by goiong to the online registration site. In Illinois, there is also a donor registration site (according to new IL law, registering on this site is legally binding; they do not need youor spouse/parent/child's permission). For all other states, please Google "become an organ donor in..." and find out how you can become a hero, even after you're gone. And please, don't foroget to tell your family members. It is essential that they know your wishes so that they can be carried out.
Organ donation is one of those causes that I have always cared a lot about. You can save so many lives. Think about it: you're got 2 lungs, 2 kidneys, 1 heart, 1 liver, 1 small intestine, 1 large intestine, 1 pancreas, 2 eyes, and your skin. You don't need that when you're lying in a box in the ground, why not give it all to someone who vitally needs it?
Someone like Jessie...
That's such great news to hear about Whitney! Thanks a ton for showing support and calling attention to the issue and our efforts in Illinois.
ReplyDeleteI'd also encourage Illinois residents to visit www.DonateLifeIllinois.org where residents can also register in the state's new registry and join our online community of supporters and advocates spreading the word on the importance of organ donation.
Thanks again.
-Scott
Over half of the 98,000 Americans on the national transplant waiting list will die before they get a transplant. Most of these deaths are needless. Americans bury or cremate about 20,000 transplantable organs every year. Over 6,000 of our neighbors suffer and die needlessly every year as a result.
ReplyDeleteThere is a simple way to put a big dent in the organ shortage -- give organs first to people who have agreed to donate their own organs when they die.
Giving organs first to organ donors will convince more people to register as organ donors. It will also make the organ allocation system fairer. People who aren't willing to share the gift of life should go to the back of the waiting list as long as there is a shortage of organs.
Anyone who wants to donate their organs to others who have agreed to donate theirs can join LifeSharers. LifeSharers is a non-profit network of organ donors who agree to offer their organs first to other organ donors when they die. Membership is free at www.lifesharers.org or by calling 1-888-ORGAN88. There is no age limit, parents can enroll their minor children, and no one is excluded due to any pre-existing medical condition.