TAKE MY ORGANS
Right now in the UK there are 6,000 seriously ill people are awaiting a life saving transplant.
Only 42% of people in the north of Ireland are organ donors, yet 78% of people would accept an organ donation if they needed one
Only 42% of people in the north of Ireland are organ donors, yet 78% of people would accept an organ donation if they needed one
14 people died last year in the north of Ireland while waiting for an organ transplant
I am a proud organ donor...I feel proud to know that when the time comes that I no longer require my organs, that I can give them to someone that desperately needs them, I could save or improve up to nine lives.
Why do 58% of our population feel the need to hold on to organs that they do not, and will never, need again?
Why do 58% of our population feel the need to hold on to organs that they do not, and will never, need again?
Is this the case? Or are people simply not aware of what organ donation could do for someone? Are people to lazy to go through the process?
I am making this blog post to spread the awareness of how organ donation affects those who need it. I also want to make people aware of how easy the process to becoming an organ donor is.
What is organ donation?
Organ donation is giving an organ to someone else who needs a transplant. Organ donation can save thousands of lives in the UK every year. However, it depends on the donors and their families agreeing to donation.
96% of families would agree to the organ donation of a loved one if they knew that this was their wish.
Why should I be an organ donor?
After we have passed away or even during our lives, our organs, such as the kidneys, liver, heart, lungs, pancrea and tissue etc. can be donated to someone who can better use them, in order to drastically improve or even save a patients life.
More than 50,000 people are alive today, due to the generosity of organ donors and their families, in the UK.
How do I donate?
Currently in the north of Ireland we have to register online to become an organ donor, this takes no more than 5 minutes.
I involves filling out a form online at this link and requires some personal information, such as your name and gender, some contact details and a tick box of which organs you wish to donate. This will then allow you to be added onto the Organ Donor Register, after which you will recieve your organ donor card in the post.
However, Northern Ireland is currently debating the possibilty of changing Organ Donation Legislation to a 'soft opt-out system', meaning everyone would be presumed to have giving consent to organ donation, unless they choice to opt-out.
This legislation have not yet been pasted, however, I feel that this is the best possible solution to getting as many people as possible to donate their organs after death. This will elimante the problem of people not having time to register as only those who have a strong opinion against organ donation would opt-out.
It's as easy as that!
That is the end of the whole process!
After you have made your decision to donate, you should speak to your family about this, to make them aware of your wishes for after death in relation to donation.
Then you never have to think about it again if you don't want to...but you will know that you will make a change to many people's lives after your passing.
To me, this is the most rewarding thought. The best thing that could come from my passing. My organs will be put to good use...and so could yours.
More information...
Thank you very much for reading this blog post. This is something that is important to me and close to my heart. Please consider, if you are not already, registering to be an organ donor. It really is that simple.
Siobhan McKerr x
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