My daughter threw me for a loop.

[vandie]

My fifteen-year-old daughter went yesterday to get her permit to drive.   Very exciting day for all.

When we were filling out the application, it has a spot for organ donation.   I thought it was a no brainer, but Jenna asked me if she should check the box.   
We have had dozens of conversations about donation in our home.  I was surprised at her question.  I told her that her gift could save many lives.   She has offered to give me her kidney, so I was a bit surprised because I know she understands the need for organ donation.
Later on the way home I found out that her biology teacher has told them on more than one occasion that organ donation is horrible and they should never sign up to be a donor.  He got into a graphic display of supposedly what is done to someone who donates. 
I believe he was talking about tissue harvesting and donating a body to science, but I am not sure. 

[livecam]

Yes the teacher was talking about tissue harvesting for sure.  It is a for profit business and the harvesting is often done in non medical settings such as funeral homes by non medical professionals.  Often times body parts are removed without the consent of the deceased or family members.  It is a disgusting, grisly business.  The parts that are removed end up as cosmetic implants etc. and sometimes aren't involved in saving lives.

Organ donation on the other hand is done exclusively in a medical setting and is not disfiguring.  What possible donors need to know is that they should specify solid organ donation only and specifically forbid the harvesting of "tissue" which can mean skin, bone, and other body components.  The same goes for family members in a position to give consent to organ and tissue donations.

You may remember Alistair Cooke, the longtime host of "Masterpiece Theater" on PBS.  When he died at age 95 his body parts were stolen in a funeral home harvesting session.  He died of cancer and parts of him likely ended up in many unsuspecting patients.

NO TISSUE DONATION!

[Sluff]

Our children do listen even when we don't realize it. On many occasions my son will do something totally against what I taught him and all he says is my teacher says to do it a different way.

[Zach]

This is where the rubber meets the road.

http://organdonor.gov/donation/what_donate.htm

http://www.donatelifeny.org/organ/t_process.html

and this one:
http://www.osteotech.com/corpover.htm

[okarol]

I recently took Jenna to get her permit at the DMV and there were the choices on the form: "To be a donor" and "To donate $ for organ research" - so Jenna asked the guy behind the counter if she could donate, even if she is a transplant patient. He said yes. She was so happy. I have another friend, also named Jenna, who just passed away at 17 years old (her transplanted kidney and intestine rejected) - her mom posted on their website:

SATURDAY, MARCH 24, 2007 05:55 PM, CDT

There is no easy way to say this, Jenna got her angel wings at 12:15 this afternoon. I was with her holding her hand. She passed quietly and gently. I just know she's happy to be with her dad again. I will miss her very, very much down here but I'll still talk with her every day.

Jenna will now be an organ donor too. I just talked to Valerie from CORE and she said Jenna's corneas will go to two people tomorrow and her muscle and tissues can be used to benefit about 200 people. This was a wish that she'd be able to be a donor when the time came.

I told my other kids about this, but you never really know what they hear!

[MyssAnne]

Wow. It is so important that people realize they CAN be a donor, of something. At least someone can have my
eyes, or liver or heart. That would make me feel that life is worth it all, worth the struggle, to know I have
helped someone in a very concrete way.

[goofynina]

My fifteen-year-old daughter went yesterday to get her permit to drive.   Very exciting day for all.

When we were filling out the application, it has a spot for organ donation.   I thought it was a no brainer, but Jenna asked me if she should check the box.   
We have had dozens of conversations about donation in our home.  I was surprised at her question.  I told her that her gift could save many lives.   She has offered to give me her kidney, so I was a bit surprised because I know she understands the need for organ donation.
Later on the way home I found out that her biology teacher has told them on more than one occasion that organ donation is horrible and they should never sign up to be a donor.  He got into a graphic display of supposedly what is done to someone who donates. 
I believe he was talking about tissue harvesting and donating a body to science, but I am not sure. 

Vandie, Girlfriend?  You tell your daughter, Jenna, she is ace in my books   (and she has a terrific mom too)  
  So what are we to do with these teachers nowadays?  One minute we are preaching about the importance of donating is and on the other hand, we have these "teachers" who are supposed to teach our kids right from wrong, telling the kids that it is wrong or "bad" to donate?  Who is on who's side here?   Lord, i've gone cross-eyed again. 

[okarol]

This thread is filled with Jenna's!     

[Falkenbach]

Gosh, your daughter's teacher is way, way out of line.

[Rerun]

The person is dead anyway.  Take what you want.  If you are cremated who will know?  Now, it should still be done in a medical sterile setting so the recipients are guaranteed a good organ or tissue.  No stealing at funeral homes!   

[goofynina]

The person is dead anyway.  Take what you want.  If you are cremated who will know?  Now, it should still be done in a medical sterile setting so the recipients are guaranteed a good organ or tissue.  No stealing at funeral homes!   

Rerun, girlfriend, i sure have missed you   I love your way of thinking my friend.