There’s been a lot of talk lately about organ donation. I’ve heard my favourite radio station hosts, Roger, Darren & Marilyn from ChumFM, talk about it, I’ve heard it on the news, and I’ve heard it in general conversation throughout my days. I always thought I was a donor…but today I found out I was wrong!
Perhaps you’re like me and thought the last time you got your driver’s licence, you filled out a form and that was it. Voila, you were a donor! Well, you may very well be one and you may carry your card but I don’t even know where mine is and if I don’t have it with me when my number is called, my wishes may not be carried out. My daughter has always known I want to donate whichever organs are viable (after all, I won’t be needing them where I’m going) but without being registered, it probably wouldn’t happen.
Today I went online and remedied that and got a wonderful feeling of knowing that I may be able to make a difference in the lives of up to 8 people. How incredible is that?
When my daughter was 9 months old, she was in The Hospital for Sick Children having surgery for a fractured skull. Obviously we weren’t involved in any kind of transplant but we were devastated, we were scared and we were looking for answers. Fortunately, the answer for us lay with a dedicated, skilled surgeon but for so many other patients, it takes more than that. It takes some involvement from us regular folk so that those in the medical field can pull off their miracles.
To this day, I remember the absolute relief and infinite joy I felt when my daughter was in the recovery room and if I can be responsible for allowing another person to experience that relief and that joy, why wouldn’t I? Why wouldn’t you?
Today I met a man who, 7 years ago, had a heart transplant and I literally had to lift my chin off the floor as he told me his story. I’ve never met anyone that had anything transplanted. A grief-stricken family, and the person they lost, gave an incredible selfless gift to this man, and his line of work is a heartfelt fitting testament to the second chance he was given. They would be proud to know that he values his heart and is handling it with care.
That meeting is what compelled me to give the gift of life today, and not tomorrow. The cost of this gift is 2 mins of your time. No stressful trip to the mall. No wrapping or bows required. Simply give it with love and take comfort in the fact that one day it will be appreciated more than you will ever know.
Will you give the gift of life this Christmas?
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