Organ donor ??
 

I went and became an organ donor. before my accident I was seriously thinking about doing it. but then after my accident I had a very diffrent view and wiped it from my mind. then very recent my neighbors the hub passed away I posted some on it I went over and cleaned her rug and have been helping .. anyways 2 days after all that crazyness. I had made dinner my oldest was out on movie date my young one and me ate then hub came home and ate he choaked on a freaking chickpea from soup. Thankgoodness my young one was not in room. And GLAD I WAS, I had to do the everything short of call 911. anyways the chickypea came out got some air to him and color returned and all is well. my jaw hurt like a mother and face pain was worth it have to say. So that made donor pop up again and also last will . olny my hub isnt ready to do a will and is upset that I became a donor without "asking" him. I figure my body my say... even if we have been married for 20 yrs. I asked him when he will be a donor and get his orange dot on his liecence. Both my girls wish to have donor cards too so right now it is the hot topic . How many donors are reading this? how long have you been ? do you think a 16 yrs old is to young to decide that on her own? I may have more questions and have to edit this to add them. but for now this will work. Thanks for any and all suggestions help and advice.
Burntmarshmallow

I was marked as a donor until my health complications began to pile up. For the most part, I am not sure I'd have much to give. My lady parts are non-functional, I have a MVP in my heart, I smoked, I have kidney problems, bad eyes, etc, etc.

The last time I went to the BMV, I had it removed. Not because I'm hogging my organs, but mainly because they will not be worth anything to someone else. However, I've looked into several places to donate my organs for research (they like the tainted stuff).

I do have rare blood, I can't donate due to anemia - and I'm not sure how that goes when you die. But short of needing a detox from the medications I take, I'd think they could make use of my blood.

I kind of look at it like when I die, I really won't care what they do with my organs. As long as they keep me looking whole; I'm OK. :D I worry more about making sure my family is cared for when I die than my organs. I really should think about it more, but I always seem to never do that.

Thanks for the reminder :P

Donor?
 

Dear Burntmarshmallow:

Yes, I got my new driver's license this year before my birthday, and this time signed up as a donor.

If I am killed in an accident, I won't have any more use for my body parts and might as well make it possible for some living person to live better.

This is a personal decision, however, and each person has to decide for him or herself. Thanks for bringing up this subject.

Shirley H.

well I included tissue but didnt go as far as donating for science my body. my hair can go to locks for love....

What about a 16yr old to young or not to decide? want thoughts on that.

and I wonder what becomes of any high tech medical equipment thats implanted like my neuro stim. would that be donated to some fellow suffer of t.n. monster ???
I know it is a very personal thing. thanks for sharing your thoughts and ideas ladies. check back soon hope more post on this.
I got the family thing covered best I can so when I die I have touched that base already Ellie ;)

p.s. hub said yes to do will last night :) . Tina wins :D...

:) I just became an organ donor on my last birthday. I joked and said I had just about used everything up. The lady said even a square inch of skin could make a big difference to a burn victim. They can use skin from more than one donor and every little bit helps. Heck, in my next life I want a whole new body anyway lol. I feel good about becoming a donor.
Just hope no one ends up with this Trigeminal Nerve. I want this blasted thing to die with me.
A donor; A very good subject to be thinking about during this holiday season. Thanks Tina for bringing it up.

Macy

:D I feel good to and I dont think 16 is to young . Any lower Mom and Dad say ;) . Thanks Macy, what part of Virginia?? I have a place in Vir. right next to the apl trail it is in New castle.
Vir. My mom and sister live there and I have a spot there too. Olny Florida is MUCH WARMER and my Doctors are here.
have a exellent Holiday Macy
Burntmarshmallow

****** Please take care before reading. Speaking of Death *****************





I've been an organ donor for years. I'll tell the story about how something I'd never considered alot gave me the awareness to make this decision.

My daughter's little 15 yr old friend was given an additional three years to make it to her 18th b'day through donations of liver and kidney. She was able to drive her first car, and go to homecoming, graduate high school. She lost her fight and would've lived much longer with her donated liver had her kidneys not failed. She had a kidney transplant, but her body had already been through so much. She asked us all to donate considering she lived so much longer to do things she'd dreamed of and we might be able to do that for another. We all agreed. This was very hard on my little girl, and I became a donor from that moment on.

There are more that we can donate outside of organs, I believe (i.e. skin). They have even performed the third successful hand replacement surgery.

Regarding someone not old enough or who hasn't marked it, they'll ask the next of kin. My father hadn't marked it on his license and 30 mins after his passing I recieved a call from someone asking permission to remove his corneas. I was stunned, and felt a number of things, but agreed. With children, I believe they do the same...asking the next of kin (parent, guardian, etc.)

The gifts given to Theresa, allowed us more time with the that precious soul on this earth. Moreover, it gave the parents of an only child more time with their baby. My daughter stayed with her night and day at home as she declined then was with her up until her passing. I was there for my daughter. She was in the same hospital where she had the transplant surgeries and I remember her mother and father asking everyone there to become donors if they weren't as they showed the pictures of her in her first car, with her horse, at Homecoming, her first ride in a plane with her best friend to Colorado (alone! how exciting at 16!), her graduation from high school with a standing ovation and not a dry eye in the house, etc...explaining that those pictures representing that beautiful child wouldn't have been there without organ donations...

KD

become a bone marrow donor. you can give the gift of life now. this is especially important for minorities. there are less minorities on the donor lists.

all it takes is a simple blood test to get on the list. that way they can test to see if there is a match now....or one in the future.

KD Thanks so much for sharing such a bittersweet experience . Heart touching and filled with lessons of life. inspiring to have here ...to come back to read.

Curious ;) exellent fact that I did not know or think about. I will research bone marrow donor .

It is really good to see people talking about this subject here when I bring it up to people/friends in person not many care to talk .

Now I wonder about medical equipment can that be donated to another? like a battery ?

it sure can!! people are always in need. crutches, canes, wheelchairs...basically anything.

we have the classified section here on nt. but you can call your local county hospital....senior center....most charities. even the vfw...or any veteran association.

Silly ha ..I should of said medical equipment thats implanted like a battery for pace maker or my neuro stim happy zapper I have . but the answer from you is great , Love the infromation here :D ,
and just visited the creative corner ,
Neuro Talk is a helpful place and all the mods + admin Thanks for all the time and energy and most of all caring . :) .

now you REALLY go tme curious :p
o'm going to have to find out if they can donate internal medical devices....hmmm even hip replacements?

You're welcome. This is a really good thread.

Both of my daughters regularly "give blood" and my oldest has considered donating marrow but had some physical problems which put her decision off.

Some might think this a morbid, or sad, discussion...I think just discussing it is giving a gift! What if someone reads this right before they go to get their license renewed or something and for the first time says, "yes" or even makes an informed decision not to and explains to their family their wishes and why. With my father I didn't know. It would've been alot easier on me to know his preference.

KD

I have also put myself on the Organ Donation register here in the UK, I also carry a donor card with me wherever I go.
I would want to help someone live after my death.

Tracy x

great Tracy that they do the same over the pond even better you are a donor Right on :) ! ! !
KD I almost want to move this post to where it will get more reads so I receive more replies . I really want to know about implanted medical things and if they get trashed or if they can be reused . I know of 2 others who have neuro stim like me for facial T.N.pain so far as I know I am the olny one who has not had to have mine taken out at all. Adjusted yes but not taken out ever. so I wonder what ifs ???? like what if something happened to me and the neuro stim could help one of those and they just trashed it without considering? do others with knee implants and stuff wonder the same thing ? what if hummmmmm? ha ha
maybe I will post this question in another room here at neurotalk or you can move it if you know of a better place.

Burntmarmallow,

Do you want to start a thread in CFF asking this question, then linking to this thread here as well?

I think that would be more than appropriate. If you decide to and need any help, let me know, k?

KD

I thought seriously about it when I was younger but I don't think I have anything they could use now.
I have had a heart attack, have heart disease and congestive heart failure.
I have had ARDS and it scarred my lungs, plus I have COPD and am on oxygen.
I have glaucoma and have had it for 30 years.
My spine is shot, my joints are riddled with arthritis, so don't know what else they could use.
I do applaud anyone though that has made this selfless decision. It's a wonderful thing to do.

Take care,
Linda :)

(((((((((((((((((( boopers ))))))))))))))))))))

KD

Boopers soft tight hugs to you . thanks so much for sharing your thoughts and really THAT ALONE is something all of us can use!!!! :) after my accident I felt cursed by the gods up there and was on so many meds just crazy but now with my hub almost dying from a chickpea and me being able to help him made me think about donor again and now in the future with everything being so hightech and growing ..who knows maybe they can use my teeth or lips or something I have no idea that I have ... who knows???? thanks a million for sharing with me BOOPERS ... HAVE A GRAND WONDERFUL HOLIDAY! ;)

One of my saddest days at the hospital was when we had a very healthy young man who became brain dead due to lack of oxygen in a very, very freak incident.

His parents donated his organs, so he was kept breathing until the gift-of-life and procurement team could be flown in.

This process is very complicated and intricate and what a team of dedicated professionals I met that day. Four teams came for different organs, bones, skin and corneas and worked over 12 hours.

Although I cried the entire day (my youngest was the same age at that time also) I was there as each team came in and did their job with respect, kindness and this young man was treated with dignity even in death.

Unfortunately, due to the amount of compressions and crash cart use, his young heart could not be used, but the valves and aortas could. The recipient was on standby and gift of life had to call and give the news. She cried and I was moved with the compassion she still had after doing so many of these.

The team told me that approximate 175 people would more than likely benefit from this sad, sad situation.

I went home than night and asked my then 16 year old son if that would be his wishes if I were ever in the parents shoes. He immediately said yes without hesitation and that was the end of the subject. He is 23 now and has it on his license also.

The loss has to be unbearable, but I would like to believe that I would find some solace in knowing that my child's life would carry on through someone else and that he did so much good after life as he does in life.

I can say this is how I would react only because I have not been there.

Whatever one decides is a personal thing and to be respected.

Maybe if I hadn't witnessed everything that day and learned what I did I would not feel the way I do.

God bless us all,
Judy

H J 50/50,
First I have to say BLESS YOU FOR THE JOB YOU DO. ((( Jude)) the story you share here must have been as hard to post as the actual day Thanks a bunch for sharing it... it answered some of my questions I had .I also got the post in feedback room from you. One single person can help 175 people wholy cow that is more then I would of guessed, My flyer did not have that on it just the fill out kind
I think you mentioned batteries for pace makers and stuff. I was told by my pain doc that batteries can be reused :confused: :confused: :confused: and also do they not have rechargeable ones now that recharge with a remote? That is the kind I am supose to get next but maybe I will just stick to the type of battery I have now till I know if at least the batteries can be donated and reused.
My 15 yr old is like your son was/is. I asked her when we were doing our girl after dinner walk one night and the answer came without a second thought.
She has her learners permit. driving and Mom is getting gray fast ha ha I wanted to know her thoughts about what ifs. and who has more what ifs then a teen eh? ha
I am glad to read that everything was done with care and respect:)
I have and others have been threw some pretty mean docs and dentists. and to have someone who been frount row and report care and respect is almost comforting. Thanks for being so brave that day and sharing how you feel . in a way it is kind of like sharing a little of that giving young man too.
YUP :) . . . God Bless us all

Thank you for understanding why I posted that story. I was not sure how it would be received, but I learned so much that day and as painful as it was to witness and imagine myself in those poor parents place........I was in true awe at how many people would be given a second chance or with living skin to graft so many people would be able to hold their heads up high after having surgery to correct something that could be life-threatening or just to help them look better for themselves be fixing a disfigurement.
The number I mentioned does have a lot to do with veins and skin. There is so much more than the larger organs that can make a difference to those who are gifted by others loss.
I hope that you are feeling better. I don't know your story, but I do know than you have a pace-maker. Is this a recent placement? How are you doing?
Thank you for responding to me and I hope we can chat again.
Sincerely,
Judy

I just have a battery not a pace maker . here is a site that explains what I have...http://www.medtronic.com/neuro/paint...imulation.html
the set of wires runs from under left arm where battery is to my back up across shoulder blades lower neck to leads on right lower back of head and right side lower jaw it zaps the trig nerve to confuse my brain of the pain signal It is for facial pain and so far as I know I am the first in U.S.A. to try this for face pain.but it dose not stop all the diffrent pains T.N. has to offer. IT is the best thing I have had a chance to have/try/use/be treated with however you wish to say it.
Thanks really for your reply it was very helpful to me. and thanks too I will feel better when the weather is better. evil winds and cold not for me.
Best regards
Tina

I just read up on AD. How painful does that sound. Ouch, I hurt just thinking of what you must go through on a daily basis. Had TMJ for a short while and I know that must be like a small needle poke in comparison.
Did you have a spinal and that is what caused it? I read that it is extremely rare.
You are brave to be a first timer for medicine, and I would do the same.
I am thinking of donating my body to science now while I can still boss them around, lol.
I was all set to go to John Hopkins to volunteer for mass iron infusions for restless leg syndrome. I started to decline in health and under the advise of my doc, I reluctantly said no. There was to be a lot of pain involved due to the fact that I could not take the meds that let me get night-time relief for the duration of the study and that could be months. If I got the placebo then I really would have been SOL. The thought of going back to the sleepless nights, standing against a wall and sleeping are all too easy to recall.
But I would be willing to assist in most any way I could for medical advancement.
My hat is off to you and I hope that you get the relief you so deserve and maybe even become a ground-breaker for people with AD.
If it works......maybe they will name it after you, it could happen.........
take care,
Judy
Oh, and by the way, the new teen driver can be as painful as any disease we get, but I am happy to say, MOM, that with all my worrying and fretting, my sons are 31 and 23 and have never been in accidents. So I hope that brings you some comfort also.
And yes, I still worry about them every dog-gone day.
Can't a parent get a break around here???????????? lol

well honestly I want to be know for my writing . being know for my neuro stim is the last thing I really care to have happen, but I still want to help. It is sorta like a panther out of a cage and back in its natural setting. in that I meen I dont want to give up any inch I have gained with all this or make any silly mistakes with the next steps and every thing is lost and then yikes on me. I start all over in some other direction . we need advancment for controlling all types of T.N. a cure even better.
I got this from accident broke my jaw and have 3 plates in lower to hold together and my lower right trig nerve is snapped in half. accident in 1999 my neuro stim I have had since July 2002.
New Teen drivers are a fine way to instant gray ...ha ha.
The olny time Moms dont worry are when all the kidlets are at home at the same time. :p
Thanks enjoyed the chat with you hope to chat again soon.
Tina

p.s called in work sick :( today glad its slow there.
another question on organ donor topic

I now wonder since I travel what happens in other states . There is no cost to the family of the one donating where I live in fl. but is it the same in every state nation wide or is it state by state

thanks for the web info ;)
http://www.organdonor.gov/faq.html

still nothing about implanted medicaL devices and if they can be donated or reused???
my pain doc said yes batteries can be:confused: but some say no not at all ??? :confused: :confused: dont know where to search on that question?
all over i guess ha ha
thanks everyone for sharing and all the help given .:)

am getting info that batteries CAN be reused will have some solid words on that soon. thanks sooo much hey jude50/50

yes for sure batteries can be reused as long as the seal has not been damaged . also got info that there will be in the near furture a hightech Big machine to make the medical devices all clean and stereil ??sp?? before reuse.
much appreciation eveyone for the input and commets.

today at work I met the mother of a boy 18 who had just passed away from an auto accident :( . There is a write up in tuesdays local paper about it. The doctors approached her and asked her to consider donating his organs. She agreed to donate her sons organs knowing the son durring his life always did what ever he could to help others,so knew he would also help in this way.
... like I said I met the mother at work, I work at a hotel and she was there to see family that were staying from out of town. she came around the corner upset,crying.i asked if I could help what was wrong.. she hugged me and we started talking she told me about her son and I told her how I just became an organ donor myself. Today was a sad day but also ,TODAY WAS A BLESSED DAY.
Peace and Love
Burntmarshmallow...Tina

i am an organ donor, and have known that i wanted to be one since i was 12.
My mother has 5 brothers and 3 sisters. all of her sisters, and 2 of her brothers have a hereditary kidney disease that ultimately means transplants or dialysis. My mother donated one of her kidneys to her sister, and another sister has had a transplant from a cadaver but still suffers from complications. Another brother has donated a kidney to another brother, and both are doing well. three down, two to go. they are still waiting for transplants.
every one can help another human being in some way. organ donation is the gift of life. i can't find a reason not to be an organ donor. CAN YOU?
haha that sounded so much like an advertisement for organ donation.
but its true. ill do it all: tissue, organs, whatever. (i haven't committed to giving my body to science, but with tn, its probably not far off.)
hope this helps....

sarah

yes i am an organ donor have been for about 3 yrs and i am 32 i think 16 is young but it should be a personal choice

yeah 16 kinda young but i needed to talk with her as she is driving now and that is a huge worrie... being hit by semi myself 7 yrs ago. my first and only crash... I wanted to know her wishes in case.. GOD forbid!cus being 16 it would be the parrents say in the end.
THANKS FOR REPLYING.:)

doctors declare people dead before they really are at times

i have no interest in any organ doner programs

sometimes doc do do that you are right. Thanks for your point of view ... in Florida if I understand things right they do not call next of kin before harvesting organs they just go to work even before next of kin is notified. but in other states they must wait untill next of kin has been called and stuff.
It is good to get input from you and all others out there ... because knowlege is power and all the views and talking of it helps .
Thanks Clouds Many blessings to you :) .
Peace Peace
BMW