The world lost a wonderful person yesterday. He was given a second chance at life and did his best to make the most of it every day. He knew his time on Earth was limited and dedicated himself to trying to build something to leave behind. It was very common for people to call him looking for accessories for their cars and find themselves with a new friend an hour later. While we never met in person, I'm thankful for the impact he had on my life, and that was made possible by an organ donor nine and a half years ago. Without that person, their family, and of course Wilbur the pig (fka Sweetie Pie), he would never have had the chance to touch many lives.
The biggest hurdle facing organ transplantation today is education. A lot of people think that anyone can donate organs and don't really think about it, but that is not the case. Organs can only be harvested from brain dead donors. It's uncomfortable to plan for this because doing so forces you to consider your own mortality, but taking time to consider it now can save lives later. Remember that merely deciding you'd like to donate your organs should you end up able to do so is not enough. Your loved ones need to know so that they can consent to it. Talk to them. Include it in your living will. Knowing your wishes will take that uncomfortable decision out of their hands, may prevent a dispute among your grieving family, and will ensure that your last opportunity to do something good for your fellow man is not wasted.
For more information about organ donation, please visit the Southwest Transplant Alliance at
www.organ.org.