If donating a kidney is so easy....

[circleNthedrain]

Lets not forget.....we call them "heros" for a reason.

[dwcrawford]

Yep.   Heros.   not employees

[Rerun]

I should have put "required" with a  symbol.  I did not mean that really.  More of a snide remark.  Sorry.

We need a smiley that says  "Geez Peez Louise"

[circleNthedrain]

You made a "snide" remark Rerun?  I think some of us suspected that.  Keep it up!

[dwcrawford]

Rurun, I definitely understand making remarks off the top of your head without giving them enough thought.  Of all people, I should not have jumped on that.  I am glad you didn't really mean it.  Hopefully, this thread can now go into the "blocked" column.

I totally believe in educating people about the importance of organ donation.  I totally believe in educating people about the seriousness of kidney disease.  I simply do not believe in criticising, condemning or ridiculing people who are not edcated toward that end.  There are other posts in here far worse than this one in that area.  It is just that I've learned to stop reading those.

Truce?

[Des]

After I read this .... I did some soul searching and I am so sad to admit that I would have been one of the millions not donating to a complete stranger. Yes I said it..... I would have definately donated to direct family but I hang my head in shame.... not a stranger.

I don't know why ? But I would not have been the person to contact a transplant centre and offer my kidney for another person.

I lived in my own little world and really DID not care about others the way that one should. (not anymore... I care about all of you)
Some doctors and nurses are "just doing a job" and I know someone is going to hit me for this (or donate me a finger) but very few REALLY care about us as people.

Just my 50c

[paris]

Des, that was a very honest post.  It is a rare person who will donate to a stranger.  Thank you for sharing your personal thoughts.   

[dwcrawford]

Oh, my Des.  I think you are in a majority.  I probably wouldn't have donated unless a family member or very close friend had needed one.  Aside:  Now I'd give my kidneys to most  anybody who wants them.

[Rerun]

For some reason I would have trouble donating my heart.  I know I'd be dead and YES I would do it but the thought of my chest cracked open just hurts. 

OK DW .... truce.

[Wallyz]

Instead of signing up to be a donor you only sign up if you DON'T want to be a donor

Greco, that's the opt-out policy, it has its detractors, but I am not one of them. Last I heard, they do this in Spain and it is very successful (only around 2% of people opt out). Britain has been discussing it off and on for years. For some reason, this country is fixated on creating a cash market for organs. I rarely hear opt-out mentioned by any policymakers, but I don't follow developments that closely. I think opt-out is far preferable to selling organs.

Wallyz, when you discussed donation with your doctor, were you asking him to donate specifically to you, or just asking him in general why he doesn't donate to someone? (Just wondering, if you are not comfortable answering, please forget I asked.)

He was talking with me (complaining) about the low live donation rate, and I just asked him if he had donated.  He came up short. He and I have a good honest relationship.  He tells me straight what is going on, and I tell him straight when he's doing annoying doctor stuff.

[Wenchie58]

LMAO @ "annoying doctor stuff"!  Love ya Wallyz!

[spacezombie]

My boyfriend complains about this (he donated to me in June of 2008). He says the operation wasn't that bad, he was back at work a couple of weeks later, and now he can't even tell the difference. I wish more people would donate.

[maritza0486]

The problem here is that it IS NOT at all easy to donate a kidney. The majority of donated kidnies are typically from cadavers. Of course that way is easy because the person has already left the world in peace. A lot of individuals do not donate because many fear surgery. Who wants to get cut open, get a body part removed, get sewn, then have to deal with the pain? Those that have donated or that plan on donating are courageous and are a blessing to us. My first transplant came from my sister because she hated to see me sick and suffering all the time at the age of 17. She was truly brave and was my hero, my angel. They had to cut a piece of her rib to get to her kidney so I know she was in a lot more pain than I was after the surgery. it is a scary situation for many people so I totally understand as to why a lot of people are hesitant to donate. My second kidney came from a 16 year old cadaveric donor. It is sad to know that such a young individual had to leave this world but then again the family was so generous and so giving and so amazing to have given someone an opportunity to live a healthier life. I could not be more grateful. Anyway, what I am generally trying to state here is that donating truly is an amazing thing for someone to go ahead and think about and actually proceed with...but overall, it is a very scary thing.

[Phraxis]

I had this discussion of sorts with my sister when we had our little "talk". And she put it like this "if I needed a kidney, would you step up? I replied, of course. She said enough said."  And that was the end of it. At least from her side.

But when I read this thread, I was forced to remember that I had refrained from signing a donor card for years because my Mom was afraid they would not do everything to fix me if they could harvest the organs. (I was a high altitude mountain climber and deep diver along with a few other riskier pursuits) And in light of how things turned out I feel somewhat hypocritical.

So now I am responsible to do everything in my power to preserve this gift my sister has given me. And with it work to balance the scales of Providence.

[Wallyz]

If providence needs us to balance the scales, we're in trouble. Say, rather, we'll work to help Providence unbalance the scales for some one else who needs them to be tipped in their favor.

[Falkenbach]

Just as an aside, in response to one of the earlier posts, I once brought up the "opt-out" discussion with some people I know. Gosh, did it create fury in one of them. She went ballistic at me. She's entitled to. However, I maintained my end of the argument in a calm and non-aggressive manner (unlike her), which I thought was odd considering *I'm* was the only kidney failure patient involved, and probably have far more reason for becoming emotional about it.