Bob’s NewHeart

100,000 people waiting for organs, 18 dying every day and too littlle help is available.    Why is it that so many people are not organ donors?  How can these thousands of cries for help be ignored by so many when the effort to correct the situation is so small.  Just say, “yes” to organ donation when renewing your drivers license, it is that simple.

All of us ask ourselves what more can we do to increase organ donation.  Well, let me offer a few ideas on how to more agressively pursue the goal of zero deaths from lack of available organs.

1.   Ask your friends and neighbors if they are organ donors.  If they are not urge them to do so by helping them commit through Donate Life America or your local OPO (organ procurement organization). 

2.   Write letters to the editor of your local paper about the need for organs.

3.  Ask  your priest, pastor, Rabbi or other clergyman to include organ donation in a sermon or in the church bulletin.

4.  Write to, or talk to your elected representatives to encourage them to promote organ donation in all of their contact with constituents.

5.  Talk to your employer about including a note on organ donation in pay envelopes or in the company newsletter.

6.  Call  your local OPO to see how you can volunteer to increase organ donation.

7.  Call your nearest transplant center to see if you can be of help in increasing organ donation or volunteering your services to help transplant patients.

Because UNOS (United Network for Organ Sharing) is unlikely to change it’s policies regarding organ donation it it important for us to do whatever we can to encourage people to become donors.  The suffering of people who need organs is unnecessary.  If everyone became a donor we could end the suffering, the dying and the agony of the friends and families involved.  Please, reader, do your part.  I have offered but seven ideas, if you have more let’s hear from you.  This is a matter of life and death and allowing it to continue is a disgrace to all of us.