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

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!

This just cracked me up.....as if anyone in MY family has a regular brain!

Great thread! Thanks, Tom, for posting it. Everyone needs to think about this...while you're still able to make decisions for yourself. If you don't put it in writing then you're at the mercy of whoever (maybe family, maybe not) once you die.

After my husband passed away I got a living will and a POA drawn up for myself. I also took out a large life insurance policy - and it's a good thing I did because nobody would insure me now!! It was before I was dx with MS.

I have very specific instructions in my will and I have given a copy of it and the POA to both of my sons. I have a notebook with everything in it (just in case they can't find their copies!) so nobody has to search everywhere to piece together what I want.

I feel better knowing it's been taken care of. I would not want what I went through when Tim died to happen to anyone else.

Abbey... Abbey Normal.





Rules my family out, too, lol.

I have a couple of clients who should be donors,..., right now.

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.