When thinking about why someone may remove themselves from the registry, age is often a topic of discussion. Donate Life California gets numerous calls of Californians thinking they are too old to donate. The truth is, don’t rule yourself out! Every person is different and because of this we have had organ donors at the age of 93 and older become donors. Let the medical professionals at that time determine if you would be a suitable donor.
Not Satisfied? Meet Carlton
Carlton lived in Texas, a retired teacher and devoted father. His friends and family would describe him as a remarkable person who never stopped teaching his family about the many wonders of the world. Just nine days shy of his 93rd birthday, he became an organ donor. Carlton’s wife and children made the decision to donate Carlton’s liver following his death from a brain hemorrhage.
Thanks to that decision, a 69-year-old woman suffering from end-stage liver disease is alive. Carlton is the perfect example that age is no barrier to register as an organ, eye and tissue donor.
Think about Carlton next time you are considering your options and reflect on how important it is to register as an organ, eye and tissue donor regardless of age. To register today or check your registry status go to: www.donateLIFEcalifornia.org or you can call our hotline at 1-866-797-2366.
The decision to be an organ and tissue donor does not go away. If you are not registered or remove yourself from the Donate Life California Donor Registry, the decision is left to your family. This is why it is so important to have the conversation about your wishes with them. Although this conversation can be difficult, it could give your family comfort in knowing what you would have wanted.
Here are some ideas on how to approach the conversation using common situations:
I just went to the doctor and I need to talk to you about what I would want if something were to happen to me.
After watching that movie and seeing what a beautiful memorial they had, I really want to talk to you about what I would want.
Did you know that one person can save eight lives as an organ donor? What do you think about being a donor?
Have you gone to the DMV recently? I saw the question they asked about being and organ or tissue donor and I wanted to talk to you about my decision.
I know you don’t want to think about anything happening to me, but I feel like it is important for you to know what I would want if I wasn’t here to make these decisions.
Here are some great resources for a living will or advanced care directive:
Now, if you are registered on the Donate Life California Donor Registry, the organ procurement organization staff who would approach your family is able to search the registry. With that search, a Document of Gift is generated from the registry that explains the legally binding decision of what your wishes are. This document also includes any specific organs or tissues that you may not want to donate. If you are wondering how to make these limitations, you can go to www.donateLIFEcalifornia.org and click on “Your Registration” and then “Update Donor Profile Page”. You can then be specific in what you do or do not want to donate.Once you have had that conversation with your family and you wish to register, go to https://register.donatelifecalifornia.org/register.
Beginning today November 9th and thru November 11th, Donate Life California invites you to join us in celebrating National Donor Sabbath! Every year, we celebrate National Donor Sabbath for persons of all faiths to honor donors who have saved lives through organ, eye and tissue donation.
Along with taking a moment to pause and honor all the donors who have saved lives, National Donor Sabbath also looks to spread the word about the importance and need of organ, eye and tissue donation across all faiths and congregations. With over 114,000 people waiting for a life-saving organ transplant, the need for new organ donors remains critically important.
National Donor Sabbath Encourages Education on Organ Donation
When it comes to registering as an organ and tissue donor, many mistakenly believe that their religion prevents them from being an organ and tissue donor. In fact, most religions support and even encourage organ donation.
Over the past five years, key religious figures such as Pope Francis and the Dalai Lama have vocally expressed how organ donation is one of “the greatest service(s) to mankind.” Many religions believe organ donation to be a final act of kindness and generosity. If you are interested in checking out the views of various religions on organ donation, please click here.
National Donor Sabbath encourages all faith leaders and followers to research his or her religious group’s tradition and position on organ and tissue donation and transplantation, as well any other ethical issues that may be of concern. In addition, each faith leader should be mindful of any new resolutions or positions adopted at his or her religious group’s national assembly. The group’s position is also subject to change at any moment.
How You Can Help This National Donor Sabbath
For all those attending religious congregations on this National Donor Sabbath weekend, we encourage you to strike up conversations about organ and tissue donation with your fellow parishioners. Additionally, discussing the matter with your leaders of faith may encourage them to bring up the topic of organ, eye and tissue donation during your service. And as always, we encourage you to share our message of saving lives through your own social media outlets. For additional information on National Sabbath, please click here.
Before we let you go, here are some quick facts on organ donation that you can share with members of your congregation:
Almost 35,000 patients began new lives in 2017 thanks to organ transplants (about 92 every day).
Nearly 22,000 people in California – over 114,000 people nationally – are currently waiting for an organ transplant.
Sadly, over of 20 people die every day while waiting, because the organ they needed is not donated in time.
A living donor can save a life by donating a kidney or a portion of their liver, lung, pancreas or intestine. For more information on living kidney donation, go to Living Donation California.
On average, there are more than 30,000 tissue donors and more than 1 million tissue transplants are performed each year; the surgical need for tissue has been steadily rising.
Approximately 40,000 patients have their sight restored through corneal transplants each year.
Carlton lived in Texas, a retired teacher and devoted father. His friends and family would describe him as a remarkable person who never stopped teaching his family about the many wonders of the world. Just nine days shy of his 93rd birthday, he became an organ donor. Carlton’s wife and children made the decision to donate Carlton’s liver following his death from a brain hemorrhage.
