I recently had a will written up and put in there that my brain would be donated to whatever entity for MS research. I threw this together without really knowing how to say it. I need to fix it now. Has anyone put this into their will and how did you word it?

It really isn't that morbid of a question. It's actually a topic in the summer 2008 NMSS Momentum magazine. I figure somebody might benefit from checking out this non DMD influenced lesion riddled brain that's had MS for 20+ years that's still useful for, say, participating in shuttle launches...

Tom

I've been considering donating a sample of my DNA, which I could do now since it would just be a blood sample, to a medical researcher who is researching a genetic birth defect that's in my family.

I actually figured out that I had that birth defect (specific anatomical defects in me that can only be found in this particular syndrome) and then I figured out that my dad, his sister and at least one of her children and two of her grandchildren have that birth defect. I also traced it to my dad's dad, and my dad's brother. It's an autosomnal disorder (meaning it doesnt skip generations)

Only reason I havent done it yet is because I'm reluctant to let my DNA get put into a database that insurance companies could possibly access and keep me from using my insurance.

I'm considering donating my brain, optic nerve and spine for MS research, but am not sure yet if I really want to do that.

The Rocky Mountain MS Center in Englewood CO has a brain tissue bank. Here is a link for more information:

http://www.mscenter.org/content/view/65/113/

HTH

At one time, I had looked into it and had a change of heart. I need simple and complete so I opted to donate my whole corpse to the university of TN forensic sciences dept. Criminal forensics is my other passion and instead of putting my family through "parting me out", they'll take the whole enchilada.

Cool! So you're going to be "teaching" either some med students or future criminalists and M.E.'s.

I really wanted to be a criminalist, but didnt have a good enough math or science background for it.

My brain is going to UCLA Medical Center for their research, while the rest of me is going to the California State University for their Comparitive Anatomy classes.

When Cal State is done using me for practicums, I am being cremated and my ashes are going to be scattered in my favorite alpine meadow in the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

All of this is in my Living Trust.

Here is a picture of my final resting place where my ashes will help my favorite meadow grow:

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Now that looks like an awesome place to spend eternity. And so good for the environment. Go green!

Tom, I don't think the wording has to be anything other than your wishes. Just be specific, very specific, about your wishes. Do you want your brain to be donated while your still artificially alive, meaning if you are on life support? Or do you specifically want it done post mortem? Just be specific and it should be fine. A medical dictionary would probably come in handy for you to be even more specific.

When Jim and I had our living wills done we had very specific instructions. We hired a lawyer to write ours up. We told her our wishes, she wrote it up. We had our living will, power of attorney and final will done for $250 total.

Thanks Beth


Tom, here is a little bit of a different link than what MSacorn gave.....
http://www.mscenter.org/content/category/1/4/29/

And this link......
http://www.mscenter.org/content/view/7/30/

Great thread. I just read the article in Momentum also. It said they need "regular" brains also so if you have family members interested they can contact them also.

I figure when I'm gone I won't need it and if it saves DH from having to pay to cremate me, cool!