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10/17/2007 11:18:47 AM · #1 |
Read this story on ESPN's website and made it a point to watch it with the wifelast night:
ESPN's Ray Of Hope (Be warned it is a tear jerker for the sensitive types.) The video is the story that was on last night.
Brings a whole new meaning to what is important.
I just wanted to post sommore can see it that doesn't normally watch ESPN and maybe to open a discussion about it.
Message edited by author 2007-10-17 11:19:08.
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10/17/2007 11:24:24 AM · #2 |
Yep. I also donate platelets instead of whole blood. Platelets are the clotting part of blood, and they get killed off during leukemia treatments, leaving patients vulnerable to serious bleeding.
It's a 2-hour process where they take your blood out, centrifuge it, then return most of it to you minus the platelets. At least at my Red Cross donation center, they have comfy beds and movies, so it's a pretty relaxing time.
I got into that, actually, because I wanted to sign up to donate bone marrow for cancer patients. They have to do more in-depth tissue typing than for blood transfusions, and the tests cost. If you donate platelets, they do the same test for you at no cost.
In the US, call 800-272-2123 to donate platelets or 800-GIVE-LIFE to donate blood. Or visit the American Red Cross Web site to find out how to donate platelets or blood.
Message edited by author 2007-10-17 11:26:27.
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10/17/2007 11:31:07 AM · #3 |
| Yes I am an organ donor, I have it on my drivers license. |
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10/17/2007 11:31:22 AM · #4 |
My husband was telling me about this last night. The man NEVER cries, and started crying while relating the story.
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10/17/2007 01:10:22 PM · #5 |
Yes I am a blood donor (20 gallons - 170+ donations), a registered organ donor, and have donated an organ. My sister drew the short straw on a genetic kidney disease and I was lucky enough to be a match. This was over 12 years ago and everyone is doing fine.
Please sign up if you haven't already.
Tim
PS: Thanks for the link, as I missed the show. |
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10/17/2007 01:19:41 PM · #6 |
Originally posted by levyj413:
They have to do more in-depth tissue typing than for blood transfusions, and the tests cost. |
So they're gonna charge donors of bone marrow for the
testing? Surely I must have misunderstood what you just wrote. It makes no sense.
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10/17/2007 01:21:09 PM · #7 |
| I am an organ donor and registered in the national bone marrow database. I would also like to thank everyone who is an organ donor - my sister is alive today because someone took the time to make their wishes known. She'd been on dialysis for three years by the time she was selected for a kidney and pancreas transplant. There were four other organ recipients that day as well. |
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10/17/2007 05:25:08 PM · #8 |
Bumpin it cause this is just a great story.
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10/17/2007 05:52:17 PM · #9 |
Originally posted by KarenNfld:
Yes I am an organ donor, I have it on my drivers license. |
Me too - have been for many years.
When I'm dead, I certainly won't need them, so it's a no-brainer as far as I see.
I would also like to see donor families and recipients be able to contact each other. What a wonderful and emotional story.
Message edited by author 2007-10-17 18:08:58.
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10/17/2007 06:07:49 PM · #10 |
| I too am an organ donor. I've even filled out the paperwork to donate my body to Dartmouth-Hitchcock in its entirety. |
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10/17/2007 06:29:43 PM · #11 |
Honestly, I'm not a donor. I haven't watched this show yet as I'm waiting till my fiance comes home to watch it with me. I hope it changes my views as though I understand the importance of donating (and I do plasma and blood)... organs just weirds me out.
I've worked with many patients at the hospital and have lots of first hand experience with the joys of life and death. I'm not a mother, and even when I've experienced its miracles, I've always been hesitant to mark that box on my license...... meh.
Its truly an intimate thing and I applause all of you who are brave enough to donate yourself to science and others.
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10/17/2007 06:35:19 PM · #12 |
Whoa, what a touching story. Thanks for sharing.
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10/17/2007 06:43:07 PM · #13 |
| I've given blood in the past and do carry an organ donor card. SO I try to keep my organs in good shape! ;-) |
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10/17/2007 06:48:33 PM · #14 |
I am not marked as a donor on my license, because it worries me. I know that in theory doctors would do everything they can to take care of me. I believe it takes more than one doctor to decide I'm beyond hope and ready for harvest. In theory, it doesn't matter.
All that theory, however, doesn't stop me from thinking that perhaps it would be tempting to give up on me a little bit sooner, try a little less hard, hesitate a little longer if they know I'm in pretty bad shape but still have a bunch of useful organs.
For that reason I am not prepared to mark my license.
However, I have made it VERY clear to everyone in my family that if THEY (i.e. someone who cares for me) agree there is nothing left that can be done for me (apart from keeping a totally useless body alive artificially), then they are to make sure the doctors go ahead and take whatever they can use to help someone else. |
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10/17/2007 06:57:12 PM · #15 |
Blood Donor and Organ Donor....I'd donate plasma too but they wont let me due to my Printzmetal's and the meds I take for it. I'm registered on the marrow list too, but have never been called as a match.
 Beetle marking your license alone would not make a difference to the doctors who are caring for you. They cannot discontinue care or take your organs until your family agrees.
To those of you who have marked your license - please also discuss your wishes with your family so they will allow the doctors to use your organs when the time comes.
Message edited by author 2007-10-17 18:57:39. |
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10/17/2007 07:02:23 PM · #16 |
I gave away a Hammond B100 once that needed a bit of work.
seriously ... i donate blood cos I'm A- (not often though cos I hate needles too) |
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10/17/2007 07:19:27 PM · #17 |
I'm an organ donor and I donate blood (though not as often as I should). I already gave one kidney to my sister though when I was 22. She got a good year of life (and a year of good life) before she passed away from other complications and I'd have given her both of them if it woulda made a difference.
When I die, I only ask that the useful organs be recycled / put to good use but replaced with artificial ones by the taxidermist who stuffs me so my grandchildren and great grandchildren can hang their little coats on me.
My brain has already been claimed in advance by the Smithsonian.
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10/17/2007 08:58:35 PM · #18 |
Originally posted by Beetle:
All that theory, however, doesn't stop me from thinking that perhaps it would be tempting to give up on me a little bit sooner, try a little less hard, hesitate a little longer if they know I'm in pretty bad shape but still have a bunch of useful organs.
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Which is why I was not a donor but this story has changed my mind about that.
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10/17/2007 09:15:29 PM · #19 |
| Yes, I am an organ donor. Its on my drivers license and my family is aware of my wishes. |
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10/17/2007 09:21:03 PM · #20 |
Heck yes I'm a donor. I don't understand at all why anyone would be so selfish not to be!
I wish I could donate blood and such, but I pass out. Not 'cause I hate needles but 'cause my body goes into shock a few minutes after they start taking the blood/plasma/get a flu shot etc. Wierd.
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10/17/2007 09:29:20 PM · #21 |
I didn't watch the video - not in the frame of mind for a tear-jerker at the moment.
But, I am an organ donor. My parents, and husband know this.
I donate blood when I can (ie - not pregnant or nursing).
And, though my husband is not marked as a donor, he knows that should he die before I do - he'll be donated anyhow.
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10/17/2007 10:42:02 PM · #22 |
Originally posted by NightShy:
I wish I could donate blood and such, but I pass out. |
The same thing often happens to me when I drink, but that doesn't stop me. :P |
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10/17/2007 10:46:45 PM · #23 |
Well,
My wife has my heart,
Jack took my liver,
my kids have my arm,
California has my leg,
all I have left are my kidneys.
I don't have much.
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10/17/2007 10:50:29 PM · #24 |
I have a question that someone might know the answer to.
When I was 9 years old I had a form of hepatitis... Hep A is what it is known as today... back then they just called it jaundiced.
I heard that I am not allowed to donate blood/organs or tissue. I have signed my donor card but my family knows I might be turned down.
I also heard that my form of Hep A is not a deterrent and my blood and organs/tissue can be used.
Blood transfusions saved my life on three separate occasions so I would love to be able to give back... anyone know the answer to my question? Thanks. Maggie |
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10/17/2007 11:35:47 PM · #25 |
Originally posted by fir3bird:
Originally posted by levyj413:
They have to do more in-depth tissue typing than for blood transfusions, and the tests cost. |
So they're gonna charge donors of bone marrow for the
testing? Surely I must have misunderstood what you just wrote. It makes no sense. |
Nope, you read it right. Yes, it costs money to do the tissue typing.
I had the same reaction you did. The nice person at the bone marrow place explained that they just don't have the $80 or so for the thousands of donors, so they do ask that people either:
1) Pay the cost
2) Donate platelets
3) Go to marrow donor fairs they set up
I don't think it's a lack of will, but a lack of money, that keeps them from just paying for the testing.
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