Why You Should Be an Organ Donor
April is Organ Donor Awareness Month. I honestly had no idea until I passed one of the electronic billboards outside Willis Knighton hospital that told everyone this month is in fact organ donor awareness month. According to Donate Life, "95% of Americans are in favor of being a donor but only 54% are registered."
I remember someone coming to my high school to talk about the importance of being an organ donor, and thinking why does this have to be discussed-be an organ donor. Being a high school student I thought everything was black and white, but life is actually a vast spread of colors. Everyone has their reasons to do what they want and what they choose to do during and after life. If you want to be an organ donor than sweet!
If you choose that being an organ donor is not the thing for you- then sure. Who am I to tell you you are wrong or to sway you into a different opinion, but I do have a few key points on why being an organ donor is so important. The facts listed below are derived from Nebraska Medicine.
- It is socially responsible.
- You can save or improve the lives of up to 50 people.
- Becoming a donor is super easy.
- The organ waiting list is growing my the minute. The more people become organ donors the more people can be helped.
- There is no age limit.
- You will not be charged for donating your organs.
One of my biggest fears is that the doctors will give away my organs before I die, and I think that is a huge fear for anyone who is considering being an organ donor. This is just a myth. According to Donate Life, "Your life always comes first. Doctors work hard to save every patient’s life, but sometimes there is a complete and irreversible loss of brain function. The patient is declared clinically and legally dead. Only then is donation an option."