By: Hana Whatmough
Hey Jags, did you know that once you turn sixteen you can become an organ donor?
For some people, this could be a scary topic to think about, and for others, it could be a no-brainer. Donating organs is a difficult thing to consider, but it can help so many people. Organ donors have no extra obligations in their daily lives; it is only at the time of an organ donor’s death when they are needed for this process. If organs are suitable for transplantation, then they will be harvested and placed into a recipient as soon as possible. If they are not suitable to donate to those who need them, then they could be used in research if the donor additionally consented to it. It only takes two minutes to become an organ donor, and you can save up to eight lives and improve 75 more. Registering to become a donor shows people on transplant lists that you care, that you would help them if you could, and most importantly, it gives them hope. Becoming a donor also takes the burden of deciding off of your family after you pass.
If something is holding you back, here are some facts that could help you out
Current and past medical history does not always disqualify you from becoming a donor; potential donors can be evaluated if necessary to see if they fit the criteria
Every major religion either respects an individual’s choice, or directly supports organ donation
It is possible for organ donation not to affect funeral plans; open casket funerals are still an option
Registration is completely confidential, it is only accessed at end-of-life
You can change or completely withdrawal your decision at any time
This process is entirely voluntary and free; it costs nothing to register or resign
Riley, a girl in Ontario, needed a heart transplant when she was only two months old. This procedure saved her life and she has never looked back since. Her mother values the significance of what this transplant did for her child, and said that when you’re gone, “you don’t need what's in this body anymore… If you would take one to save your life, why wouldn't you share yours with somebody else to save [their] life?” This is a very good thing to question; if we needed help we would most likely take everything we could get, but we cannot give back in the same way unless we are a registered donor.
Over ninety percent of people in Ontario support organ donation, however only thirty-five are registered. We can get this number to be higher if we start spreading awareness in our community, and to friends and family. As teenagers, there’s a good chance that we are either too busy or too lazy to really get involved in our community and help out those who need it. Becoming an organ donor is one thing we can do to ensure that we make a positive difference and help change lives. In Canada, we are lucky enough to have this privilege where we can save the lives of people we don’t even know because of organ transplants. However, we are only lucky if more people become donors. To check out Riley’s story, or to become an organ donor yourself, visit https://beadonor.ca/
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