Accidents Happen

A common myth is that more suicides occur around the holidays. This is totally false. The majority of suicides occur during the spring months. Something that is not a complete farce, however, is the fact that there are more traffic accidents around holiday time due to more people being on the road, whether alcohol is involved or not.

Sadly, a lot of these accidents are fatal. People are rendered in comas and families are devastated, but the one thing illuminated in this ill-set light is hope. Not of the family of a brain-dead person, but of the family of someone waiting for an organ.

There are roughly 82K people waiting for an organ this very minute. There are 74 organ transplants done a day, while 19 die waiting for one. This is every day. In 2004, around 27,000 people received organ donations.

Why should you donate your or your family member's organs?

Because one body can help up to 50 people.

Organ donaters declared 'deceased' with viable organs are immediately entered into a national database. Their blood type, weight, height, and location are all inputted and it immediately spits out a list of the best possible matches for their heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, and pancreas. Shortly thereafter, matches are found for their corneas, skin, and bones.

Donating your organs normally doesn't delay funeral arrangements nor does it make open-casket funerals impossible.

After organs are donated, your family is kept in the loop. You find out where your organs have gone and who they helped, minus personal contact info. You are able to receive updates on those who's life you have gifted.

Another possibility, aside from death, is life. Donating umbilical cord blood after your baby is born can save lives. In recent years, 20K people were saved due to umbilical cord blood donations. The blood is used to help treat people with leukemia, lymphoma, sickle cell anemia, and a host of other diseases. There is no centralized database for umbilical cord donations, but more and more hospitals are doing it, so please contact yours for more info.

So, in short, giving during the holidays doesn't stop at Macy's. Remember to check that box the next time you renew your license or make sure your family knows you want to give, even after you are gone.


Other reads:
Organ Donor
Life Gift