YOU HAVE THE POWER TO DONATE LIFE
“A man waits and wonders if and when the new heart will arrive. A woman walks without internal pain after the successful transplant and a child grows up with a new liver. A mother in the midst of a tragedy helps give life to others through organ donation”. These are the stories of humans who give and receive the gift of a lifetime.
Transplantation is one of the most remarkable success stories in the history of medicine. But despite continuing advances in medicine and technology, the need for organs is vastly greater than the number available for transplantation. You may need an organ transplantation if your organs have failed. This can happen because of illness or injury. People often languish for months – if not years – on organ transplant lists, as doctors must match donors to recipients to reduce the risk of transplant rejection. Sadly a greater number of them die waiting for a salvation that never comes.
Organ donation takes healthy organs and tissues from one person for transplantation into another. This procedure happens after the donor is declared dead by a group of medical specialists. On the other hand, there are also the ‘Samaritan donors’ who specifically choose to donate organs or tissues while they are alive (this choice is mostly taken in favour of family transplantees due to certain medical needs).One of the most positive aspects of organ donation is that it is not about death but about a gift of life. Without organ transplantation, many people will not have a chance to live a full life. The organ donation can extend the patient’s life, expand on the quality of life, and save loved ones the experience of an early departure.
People of all ages and backgrounds can become organ donors. It is emphasized that once you show your interest in becoming a donor, you inform your family and next of kin about your wish. Like this, there is less of a burden on the family to make the final decision. Some experts say that the organs and tissues from one donor can save or help more than 8 persons – and make a difference in the lives of many more. If you are under age 18, your parent or guardian must give you permission to become a donor. A donor can always change his mind and opt out.
Organ donation provides a second chance at life. You have the opportunity to be one of the individuals who make these miracles happen. By deciding to be a donor, you give the gif of hope to those individuals awaiting organ transplants and provide them with active and renewed lives. It is a little less high-profile perhaps but a decision that has the potential to save lives. To become an organ donor is to join a never-ending club.
FACTS
• Anyone can be a potential donor regardless of age, race or medical history. Patients of all ages require donated organs and tissues.
• If you are sick or injured and admitted to hospital, the number one priority is to save your life.
• When you are on the waiting list for an organ, what really counts is the severity of your illness, time spent waiting, blood type and other important medical information, not your financial status or celebrity status.
• Through the entire donation process the body is treated with care, respect and dignity.
• There is no cost to the donor or their family for the donation.
• Information about an organ donor is only released to the recipient if the family of the donor requests or agrees to it.
• Most deceased organ donations are anonymous and one can never choose to whom the organs will go.
• Certain organs are even flown to short distances abroad if there is need for them overseas and no patient is on the waiting list in Malta for that particular organ.
• An organ recipient can still be a donor upon their death.
• Corneas are not typically the reason people need glasses. Cornea donation can therefore still be made from those people who wear glasses.
• This miraculous gift is encouraged by almost all major religions.
TRANSPLANTEE
‘’I was reborn! Now I can live after years of waiting.’’
TRANSPLANTEE RELATIVE
‘’It is a torture to see a loved one in pain undergoing treatments while waiting for some hope every single second
that pass.’’
DONOR RELATIVE
‘’I see my lost relative still alive in the people who are still alive with the organs donated. It is the final act of love
and generosity towards others.’’
FUTURE ORGAN DONOR
‘’It is my wish to give myself to help others. I do not need my organs with me in the tomb but they need them to
live. Charity has no time. Be altruistic!’’
Compiled by Ms.ManolitaFarrugia
Coordinator Organ Donation Campaign
Order of Malta Volunteers in Gozo
