PSA: ATTENTION. WANT TO BE A MIRACLE?

ATTENTION POTENTIAL VIEWERS OF THIS BLOG.  AS OF TODAY THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 120,000 INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE ON THE WAITING LIST FOR BEING POTENTIAL DONOR RECEIVERS (www.lifepassiton.org).  WITHOUT YOUR HELP THIS NUMBER WILL ONLY CONTINUE TO INCREASE.  WITHOUT YOUR AID AND SUPPORT THESE PEOPLE MAY NEVER BE ABLE TO SEE TOMORROW; THESE PEOPLE WILL NOT ONLY HAVE TO COPE WITH THE NOTION THAT DEATH IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER, BUT MOST OF THEM WILL HAVE TO EXPERIENCE AND WITNESS FEAR THROUGH THEIR OWN EYES.  IF YOU HAVE THE CHANCE TO SAVE A FAMILY MEMBER, A LOVED ONE, AND/OR A STRANGER WOULD YOU DONATE KNOWING THAT YOU WOULD GET SOME SORT OF COMPENSATION FOR YOUR ACTIONS?  DO YOU WANT TO BE THE MIRACLE AND BE LIKE GOD AND SAVE A LIFE?  DONATE NOW IF YOU DO.  IF YOU DON'T AND ARE HAVING CONTEMPLATIONS, PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING ANNOUNCEMENT.

Believe it or not, there are people living within this country, within this nation, within this world that contemplate whether to become an organ donor everyday of their lives.  Some people believe this kind of life saving question should not even exist as a question or a matter of questioning, but others believe that it should be of question because of certain ethical, moral, and religious beliefs.  I, in fact, am one of those individuals who remain on the fence about whether to become an organ donor or not. Even after researching this topic through personal stories, religious beliefs--such as is it right to act like God according to the Bible to save the life of another--and what the future has in store for organ donation, I am still on the fence.

But before we get into what I found,  the websites lifepassiton.org and organize.org provide statistical information that notifies the general public about the life of organ transplantation/donation. According to  lifepassiton.org,  "a single organ donor can potentially save eight lives, one tissue donor can save and/or enhance the lives of 50 individuals, and more than 90% of American adults approve of donation as a viable, life giving source" (lifepassiton.org).  Out of those 90 plus percent Americans who support organ donation only 40% of them are actually organ donors (www.organize.org).  Also according to this website, you are 6 times more likely to need a transplant than be a donor, which explains why there are approximately 120,000 individuals  waiting to, essentially, be saved by your willingness to give a part of you to them.  Only 40% are willing to give, to be a donor, to be life-saver.  What about the other 60%?  What is holding them back?

First off, some people are a little skeptical about the whole idea of saving the life of someone they do not know.  To fix this problem, people have been using social media to post or blog about how organ donation has changed their lives for the better.  For example, a young women recently shared her perspective of organ donation on my Facebook page.  Here is her account and perspective of how organ donation has changed her life: "Before my mother passed away because of cancer, she decided that she wanted to  give her corneas to her mother (the young woman's grandmother).  And because of this selfless action, her grandmother is able to see; color for color, flower for flower."  This is just one example of how being an organ donor can change the life or lives of many individuals whether they knew them directly or not.  On the other hand, some people just give to let themselves feel good about themselves.  They don't give to save a stranger's life, a family member's life or even the life of a loved one: they give so they can have a way to benefit their own life.  Is that right?  Should someone choose to save a life just to save their one?  Furthermore, should individuals be granted the opportunity to receive compensations for being willing to save a life?  Now, are people donating to save or are they donating to get paid?

Secondly, the concept of ones religious beliefs and morals come into practice when deciding to become an organ donor.  Some Christians believe that saving a life means acting like God and in turn they are replacing God and his idea of faith with science and medicine.  These individuals are also facing the fact that if they do become a participant of organ donation, their organs may potentially be going to an individual who is not Christian, doesn't believe in God, and may have been an individual who has severely done wrong in their life.  This bothers Christians who believe that God is the only "life-saver" of ones life.  For those other Christians who believe that organ donation is right in the eyes of God and humanity, the verse that they choose to follow comes from Matthew 5:43 which states, "Love your neighbor."  With this motto, Christians choose to save lives day after day and choose to act like God to anyone who needs help or attention no matter of one's past or present sins.  A life is a life.  And a life in need, is a life worth saving. (www.christianliferesources.com)

Thirdly, and finally, people are worried about what the future has in store for organ donation.  To tell you the truth, although organ donation  is a positive action that sends a profound and powerful message, it will always be a topic of controversy and contemplation because of one's ethical, moral, and religious belifs.  The future of organ donation lies on the shoulders of everyone, but for now those approximately 120,000 people who are on the waiting list will have to wait until someone takes a stand and becomes a life-saver and a miracle for a family member, a loved one, or a stranger.  For me, I'm not ready to be that miracle.  Are you?

THIS HAS BEEN A PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT.  YOUR PREPAID PROGRAM WILL RETURN MOMENTARILY.

Images:

http://www.unitypoint.org/desmoines/filesimages/Articles/organ-donation.jpg

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http://www.logodesignlove.com/images/logos/organ-donation-logo-2.jpg

http://www.scientificamerican.com/sciam/cache/file/17E818BB-E1E2-4F72-BACB57B83EF8EC93.jpg