Monday, February 22, 2010

Organ Donor Awareness Week 2010

 

This week is Organ Donor Awareness Week in Australia.
 
This is an extremely important issue and I hope everyone can take 15 minutes of their precious time this week to have a discussion with their loved ones regarding this issue. If you would like to be an organ donor, it is extremely important to be placed on the national register. It is even more important that your family and other loved ones are aware of your wishes as they will make the final decision.
 
I don't often preach about anything on this blog, but I have a chronic lung disease and will require a lung transplant at some time in the future. I have friends who have had transplants in the last couple of years (after waiting more than five years), and I have another friend who is currently on the waiting list.

There are some wonderful family resources on the Donate Life website, and some very interesting facts and statistics.
 
If you would like to sign up online as an Organ Donor, you can do so right here at the Medicare website.

29 comments:

Chasing Purple Dreams said...

I’m a card carrying member, all signed up. I have realised this week that although I have made my wishes clear I am not sure of the wishes of some of my loved ones and I plan to make time to ask them where they stand. I hope you are travelling well for now and that when the time comes that a perfect donor is available.

Lisa said...

Thanks for talking about a very important issue. After I had my daughter I developed a heart condition that thankfully fully resolved with medication but some other women aren't so lucky and need to have heart transplants. My husband and I have discussed it and are all for it but we do need to sign up on the register. No point taking things with us that we no longer need!

Thanks again
Lisa

I Purr-Furr to Craft said...

I am already with you on this point! thanks for reminding us all of this really important info. I hope you are able to get well soon.

PaisleyJade said...

Good on you for making others aware of this issue! My aunty was an organ donor and it's nice to know someone out there has benefited from her life in the physical sense!!

Lou said...

Very important reminder!

Michelle said...

When you first brought this up a couple of years ago, I signed up straight away. The main battle though has been convincing Scott that I am a donor, that I'm serious about it and I'll be haunting him from my grave if he doesn't let my bits go!

Little Cooties said...

This is a great thing to remind us all about. I hope this week brings more people onto the register. Thanks

Sandra @ Pepperberry & Co. said...

YAY! Everyone should be an organ donor. I've donated all my bits and bobs- skin, eyeballs and brains included :-) It's not like I'm going to need them, but other people sure will! Thanks for raising awareness. xxx

Sally said...

My partner and I are both all signed up and have made it clear to both our families that we wish to donate. When we signed up I had trouble registering the children but will take another look at how to do that today - regardless - our families are well aware that in the event of an accident where we could not make a decision we'd like the children's organs to be donated too.

ZippyZippy said...

Very important reminder. Our family are all signed up as doners.
We have an 11 year old niece with Cystic Fibrosis and also a cousins child (one of twins).
Australia needs more doners!

Melanie Gray Augustin said...

We're all signed up. While hubby and had always intended to donate when the time comes, it was your post a year or two ago that prompted us to make sure we were fully signed up. You're doing a great job at reminding everyone.

Christina Lowry said...

I didn't even realize you could register like this and I have just done so. Wishing you all the best Cam and thanks for bringing it to our attention. :)

Stacy Kraus McDonald said...

Very important cause and close to my heart too. Thanks for bringing attention to it.

Jacinta said...

Here here! Such an important cause and for me, an easy decision.
Cheers Cam.

Corrie said...

good on you for reminding us! I think we all need a reminder to check we're up to date (me included) and will donate our organs!!!!

Corrie:)

Cath @ chunkychooky said...

I am totally with you on this one- and everyone I know knows- they can take it all! I won't need it.
good reminder Cam.

Libster said...

I put a link for your blog on my blog so people can read about a very important issue. All my family are donors and will have their bits donated when and if they are needed.

posie blogs Jennie McClelland said...

As a scientist, i could never understand why people wouldn't openly discuss organ donation & donate!! Not like you need the organs!! Just saw the talking about it on the 7p.m. Project. Love Posie

Mookah Studio said...

Change of subject but thanks for my gadget pouch that arrived today. It was 'perfect' for my brand new Nokia E71 that I got on weekend. Posted a blog entry to show it off.

Can i ask where the fabric came from?

Annie said...

I'm all signed up for this one and am a firm believer.

julia said...

I am an organ donor. I have actually told my family that I want my whole body donated. Once all the organs are gone, maybe they can use my skeleton for teaching. My daughter is an oesteology student and she studies people's skeletons all the time.

Ginimira said...

Very important! Thanks for reminder..
ciao.. ;-)

Nikki said...

Organ donation has meant a lot to our family, at the pain and loss of another incredibly selfless family. We are on the list.

Cathie said...

definitely Cam!

Little mimoo said...

we are all signed up too and I just did a blog post last night too! Good luck :-)
http://littlemimoo.blogspot.com/2010/02/organ-donor-awareness-week.html

Evie said...

a subject close to my heart too. my whole family are signed up : ) thanks for posting this reminder. i wish you all the best for the challenges that lie ahead in your future. we are lucky in australia, i think, when faced with these challenges our outcomes, options, choices are a lot more positive than some may have. enjoy your week xx

Bec @ honi design said...

I'm a donor, and have been for years :) I'm listed for everything except my eyes - I know I won't need them but I just can't bring myself to tick that box.

sophie said...

I am absolutely a donor, it's something I feel very strongly about. Having a child with a chronic organ illness and being part of that community makes you very aware of how important and fundamental this issue is.

Gypsy said...

Don't take your organs to heaven...heaven knows we need them here.

Great post Cam, well done.