6 minute read
Gift Of Life
A few months ago, my oldest daughter went through every teenager’s rite of passage, getting her driver’s license. After leaving the Secretary of State’s office, we decided to celebrate with a big breakfast of pancakes and hot cocoa. As we sat in the van eating our quarantine breakfast, I looked at her and asked, “Did you check the box?” She smiled back at me and said, “I checked the box.”
“The box” we were talking about was the organ donor box. I’ve been on the organ donor registry since I received my driver’s license when I was 16. For me, it was an easy decision, but I understand it can be more delicate for some. My daughter and I started discussing the subject a few months ago, and she immediately said she wanted to be an organ donor. I told her I was proud of her, but to think about it and make sure that was what she wanted.
Though a big decision for a donor, it is an even bigger gift for the recipient. Gift of Life Michigan knows this and, in partnership with the Secretary of State, maintains the Michigan Organ Donor Registry. This registry contains a list of those who have “checked the box” and wish to help others by donating their tissues and organs to those in need. Gift of Life Michigan began in 1971 as a way for transplant surgeons to provide a network for sharing kidneys. Operating under the motto 'We honor life through donation,' Gift of Life Michigan recovers over 900 organs each year from more than 300 donors. Through organ and tissue transplants, hundreds of lives are saved each year, in addition to thousands more patients who are seriously injured and sick seeing significant improvements in their health. Partnering with Eversight, cornea and eye donation is also managed, giving thousands the gift of sight.
As amazing as that is, there are just simply not enough organs to match the need for transplants. Every ten minutes, a name is added to the national transplant registry, and each day, 22 patients die waiting for a transplant, due to lack of available transplant organs. Just one donor can save up to eight lives and improve the lives of up to 75 people. So, who exactly can be an organ donor? You can! When it comes to becoming an organ and tissue donor, everyone is a potential candidate. Many people hold the mistaken belief that certain medical conditions, age, or other factors exclude them from joining the registry, but that’s not the case. While not every organ or tissue may be suitable for donation, every gift can have a life-altering impact. The donatable organs – lungs, liver, pancreas, heart, kidneys, and intestines – can be lifesaving, while donated tissue, such as tendons, skin, and bone, can be used to rebuild joints, restore mobility, and repair burned tissue. The most commonly transplanted tissue, the cornea, can restore vision to those with various eye issues. I have a friend from high school who received a cornea transplant within the last year-and-a-half, and she shared her journey through her Facebook posts. She was nervous and scared to go through the procedure, but her vision had gotten so bad that she had lost her night driving privileges and just couldn’t put it off any longer. She finally had the transplant, and her vision was restored. Once she passed the vision test, her night driving privileges were reestablished, and she had her life back. The transplant gave her a second chance, and she was grateful for that. I followed and responded to her posts, supporting her along the way. I remember thinking how brave she was and how selfless the donors wee who gave her the gift of sight. After researching this article, I wondered what would keep someone from choosing to be on the organ donor registry, so I reached out to Valerie Canary, Organ Donation Liaison at Hurley. Valerie is a Hurley employee who works closely with Gift of Life Michigan and has been in this role for seven years. Her role is to work closely with Gift of Life Michigan to ensure the hospital offers patients or their families the option of donation. In cases where organ or tissue donation is chosen, she also facilitates the donation process.
Check out this viral video from Hurley Medical Center, as they honor the helpers. Alisa Stewart devoted herself to the wellness of this community, even after she passed away. Gift of Life program is the most precious gift that can be shared.
LINK TO WATCH VIDEO NOW: bit.ly/HurleyGOL
When I told Valerie it was an easy decision for me, she said it is for some, and not for others. Some may have apprehension due to lack of information on the subject. I found some frequently asked questions that may clear up a lot of uneasiness. Religion, age, and medical history should not have an impact on your ability to become a donor. Taking the initiative yourself also takes the burden off family members, should they find themselves in the position where they are being asked to decide. REGISTER The first and most important thing you can do to support Gift of Life Michigan is register for the Michigan Organ Donor Registry. In fact, you can do it right now! It is simple, quick, and you can save up to 8 lives and improve the quality of up to 75 more with one click. Have your driver’s license or state-issued ID ready and set aside about 60 seconds of your time. GIVE Financial contributions can be made by visiting Gift of Life Foundation, the non-profit organization supporting Gift of Life Michigan. Gift of Life Foundation funds educational grants focused on promoting organ and tissue donation and transplantation in the community, offers monetary assistance for qualifying transplant recipients and waiting candidates, and provides support to donor families following the donor experience. Your contribution is tax-deductible, and no gift is too small.
FUNDRAISE ON FACEBOOK Even COVID-19 can’t slow down fundraising efforts when it comes to the internet. Facebook fundraisers are a perfect quarantine-friendly way to raise money for your favorite cause. A very close friend of mine became a donor and honoring him along with his family and friends would be a great way to carry on his legacy and bring light to the amazing gift he gave two complete strangers.
HURLEY MEDICAL CENTER NAMED DONOR HOSPITAL OF THE YEAR FOR 2020
Hurley received a great honor in October as they were named Donor Hospital of the Year by Gift of Life Michigan. The hospital earned the distinction by continuously going above and beyond to educate the community about the benefits of ogan and tissue donation, encouraging registration on the Michigan Organ Donor Registry, and providing the option of donation to patients and their families. This achievement would not be possible without the collaborative efforts of the entire Hurley team, as well as the generous donors and families whose selfless gift gave others a second chance at life.
BY JENNIFER BOICE Kudos Magazine 7.1
About The Author
Jennifer is a writer and editor whose passions include loving and laughing as much as possible, finding the bright side, and helping others. She lives with her husband, four children, pets, and foster pets, and runs Boice Creative Services, where she can turn your experiences into stories.
