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It’s Urgent! Become an Organ/Tissue Donor Now!

Frank Sinatra is quoted as having said to a sick friend, “I hope you live to 125 and that mine is the last voice you hear.”  I feel that way about all of you…and me, of course.

About 46% of Americans are organ and tissue donors while surveys indicate that around 90% of us think organ and tissue donation is a good idea.  So, why the gap?   Why are so few of us donors when we all seem to think it’s a good idea?  I think it is because people feel no sense of “urgency” to become donors.  No one thinks they are going to die any time soon, so what’s the rush?  To me, that is an understandable reaction.  Combine that with the fact that people generally don’t like to spend much time thinking about their own demise and you have the formula for low organ donation rates.

When you think about it, there’s some justification for the delay.  Because of medical, scientific and technological advances we are all living longer.  According to the National Vital Statistics Report from September of 2011 for all races and both sexes, American men will live to be 75.4 years old and American women will survive to 80.4 years (read the full report at http://tinyurl.com/6ok8lkp).  That’s a long time so putting off becoming an organ donor makes some sense (unless you are the person waiting for an organ).

But…as the commercial says…”But wait….there’s more!”  Those numbers are averages and they really don’t tell you much.  I’d like to delve into this a little more and show you why there is some urgency to your becoming a donor now.

While the life span look encouraging, we face hazards on a daily basis that may make you think a little about becoming a donor now.  I wish everyone a long and healthy life but here are some staggering facts we all should face.   Here’s some data on deaths that are preventable.  Does any of this fit your profile?

The Preventable Causes of Death in the United States: Comparative Risk Assessment of Dietary, Lifestyle, and Metabolic Risk Factors

Smoking and high blood pressure, which both have effective interventions, are responsible for the largest number of deaths in the US. In 2005 http://tinyurl.com/da8ky7

1. Tobacco smoking  467,000 deaths
2. High blood pressure 395,000 deaths,
3. Overweight–obesity 237,000 deaths
4. Physical inactivity 222,000 deaths.

How about accidental causes of death.  Accidents happen — and they also kill enough people to rank as the No. 1 cause of death for those ages 1 to 42, according to the National Safety Council.  Here’s a countdown from the top four:

5. Choking (Approximately 2,500 deaths per year)

4. Fires (2,700 annual deaths)

3. Falls (25,000 annual deaths)

2. Poisoning (39,000 annual deaths

1. Motor Vehicle Incidents (42,000 annual deaths)

What about your job.  Are you safe there?  Does it present a hazard?  Here’s a list of the most dangerous jobs (full report at http://tinyurl.com/6lnz3to ).

1. Fishermen “this occupation is characterized by strenuous work, long hours, seasonal employment, and some of the most hazardous conditions in the workforce.”
2. Logging workers This occupation repeatedly takes a spot in the top 10 as not only one of America’s, but the world’s, most dangerous jobs.
3. Airplane pilots and flight engineers It may be hard to believe that working as a police officer is safer than flying a plane, but according to the BLS, this is true. The bureau states that there were 78 fatal work injuries for this industry in 2010.
4. Farmers and ranchers
5. Mining machine operators The most infamous accident within this industry is undoubtedly the Upper Big Branch Mine explosion in April of 2010, which claimed the lives of 29 out of the 31 miners on site.
6. Roofers Just three weeks ago, four roofers in San Francisco were seriously injured when the roof of a six-story apartment complex collapsed under them.
7. Sanitation workers
8. Truck drivers and delivery workers
9. Industrial machine workers Police officers In 2010, there was a nearly 40% increase in line-of-duty deaths among U.S. law enforcement.

And one more…hot dogs can be a quick, easy — and deadly — meal. Hot dogs are the perfect size, shape and consistency to block a child’s airway, and a WebMd report rates hot dogs as the top choking hazard for children. Choking killed about 2,500 people in 2009, according to the National Safety Council, and kids ages 3 and under are at the highest risk.

I know these data are depressing but so is the fact that 7,000 people die each year because there are not enough transplantable organs to go around.    I’m sure there will be a good number of people who will take issue with this post, saying that I’m trying to frighten people into becoming donors but I’m not.  This is reality.  Bad things can happen to good people.  I’m hoping that at least a few non-donors will be motivated to take action sooner than they had planned.  My new heart came from a 30 year old donor.  I’ll bet he didn’t plan to die that young but he became a donor anyway and because of it I’m here today writing this blog.  Please…become a donor.  It is a very urgent matter.

Consider what I’ve written, discuss it with friends, join discussions on Facebook’s Organ Transplant Initiative and comment in the space provided here.  When you have decided what you think is the best solution to the organ shortage contact your elected representative or U.S. Senator and let them know your feelings.  Change has to begin somewhere, why not with you?

You may comment in the space provided or email your thoughts to me at bob@baronson.org. And – please spread the word about the immediate need for more organ donors. There is nothing you can do that is of greater importance. If you convince one person to be an organ and tissue donor you may save or positively affect over 60 lives. Some of those lives may be people you know and love.

Please view our new video “Thank You From the Bottom of my Donor’s heart” on www.organti.org This video was produced to promote organ donation so it is free and no permission is needed for its use.

Also…there is more information on this blog site about other donation/transplantation issues.  When you leave this site go to our Facebook group, Organ Transplant Initiative and join. The more members we get the greater our clout with decision makers.

Too Few Organ Donors — Inadvertent Terrorism

Each day 19 people die because there are not enough transplantable human organs to fill the need.  The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) which coordinates all transplants in America maintains a list of people who need life-saving transplants.  As of today, January 2, 2012 the numbers are:

Waiting list candidates                                 112,702

Transplants January – Sept. 2011              21,354

Donors January – Sept. 2011                       10,558

Right now, as you read this a patient, maybe a child, is near death.  She needs a heart but there won’t be one. As the electronic monitors beep and chirp, the family is devastated, inconsolable in the frustration over the lack of organ donors and the imminent death of their loved one.  The best medical care in the world is at their fingertips but they are helpless without an organ donor.  The patients vital signs are dropping more rapidly now, the Doctors aren’t holding out much hope.

Right now as you read this, another patient not too far away has already been declared brain dead as the result of an auto accident.  He is surrounded by a grieving family.  It is not known if the patient is or wanted to be an organ donor.  The family is considering a request to donate his organs but the decision must be made soon and they don’t know what to do, their loved one never told them of his wishes.  Through tears and indescribable grief they discuss, they argue and then decline.  Both patients die.

Each year Americans bury or cremate more than 20,000 transplantable organs – 20.000.  Surveys continually indicate that over 90 percent of Americans approve of organ donation but in one of the greatest mysteries ever, only 46 percent actually make the commitment to do so.  This inaction, this procrastination is causing people to die, families to grieve and patients who are awaiting transplants to live their lives in absolute terror.  People who are not organ donors are not evil, they are not bad, they just don’t understand that their lack of action causes terror among patients as great as that caused by the real terrorists of the world.

Most people who aren’t donors, “Just haven’t gotten around to it.”  After all, there’s no rush for them.  Organs are recovered after a person dies and most potential donors are in pretty good health.  The problem is that the patients who need the organs are not in good health.  Everyone who is on that UNOS list mentioned earlier, is dying.  Without a transplant they will die.  Period. End of story.

Well, let’s make the donation process really simple, so simple you can do it from home, your office, on your I-pad or Kindle in your doctor’s waiting room anywhere.  You don’t even have to get up.  Just go to www.donatelife.net and follow the instructions then tell your family what you have done.  It only takes minutes.  Then make very sure they clearly understand that you want to be an organ donor.  “That means when I die I want the medical people to take as much of my tissue and as many of my organs as they need to help save or enhance the lives of others.”  Those are my distinct wishes please respect them should the time come.

That’s the first step to saving lives by helping to increase the number of donors.  The second step, just in case you like this cause and want to do more, is to spread the word to convince others to do the same.  “So,” you say, “How do I do that, how do I spread the word?”  Here are ten easy tips, I’m sure that if you think real hard you might be able to come up with ten more.

1. 150 words is about a minute’s speaking time.  Write out about 150 words on why organ donation is important to the donor…the donor and then post it everywhere you can think of on the internet.
2. Call your local Organ Procurement Organization (OPO) and volunteer to speak on behalf of donation.
3. Buy the green “Donate life” wristband at www.donatelife.net and wear it every day.  If someone admires it give it to them and ask them to wear it.  What’s a few bucks to save  some lives?
4. Ask your pastor to give a sermon on organ donation…offer to help gather the information for him/her.
5. Write a letter to the editor…actually send it to every editor you can think of.
6. When some radio talk show host least expects it…call about the importance of organ donation
7. Offer to speak to a local service club about donation/transplantation issues (Kiwanis, Rotary, Lions etc).
8. Add a short note about organ donation to the signature of every email you send “Did you know that one organ/tissue donor can save or positively affect up to 60 lives?”
9. Talk to a public school class about donation/transplantation
10. Start a blog…it’s really easy.  Just Google “free blog sites” and go for it.

You may comment in the space provided or email your thoughts to me at bob@baronson.org. And – please spread the word about the immediate need for more organ donors. There is nothing you can do that is of greater importance. If you convince one person to be an organ and tissue donor you may save or  positively affect over 60 lives. Some of those lives may be people you know and love.  Please view our video “Thank You From the Bottom of my Donor’s heart.” Just go to www.organti.org and click on the title.  This video was produced to py romote organ donation so it is free and no permission is needed for it’s use.  You’ll also find other useful information on this web site about other donation/transplantation issues.

We would love to have you join our Facebook group, Organ Transplant Initiative (OTI) The more members we get the greater our clout with decision makers and the more clout we have the more likely it  is that we’ll be able to increase not only organ donation but the many alternatives that science and technology people are working on.

A Promise Broken — The Arizona 98 Video

Today, January 6, 2011 we learned of the death of another of the Arizona 98 — now there are 96.  Out of respect for their memory we will continue to call our organization “Save the Arizona 98.” 

Early this morning I finished production on a six minute slide show called “A Promise Broken — Life Denied.  It tells the story of how the 98 found themselves without promised Medicaid coverage for the life saving transplants they so desperately need.

Also included in the slide show are the criteria for qualifying for an organ transplant and why these 98 needed Medicaid to help them because they had already used up all their resources to stay alive.

You’ll find another section “Arizona – 100% Fact Free”  which clearly shows how the claims made by Governor Jan Brewer have been distorted.

Finally you’ll find some suggestions on what you can do to help.  There really is no need for anyone else to die because of lack of  money.  

If you go to www.savethearizona98.com you’ll find some links on the left side of the page.  Click on “A Promise Broken” slide show and let it roll.  The slide will change automatically.  When you’ve finished vieweing it you are invited to tell others about it.  I did not copyright the show so no permission is needed for it to be used by others.  Also, we’d appreciate if you returned here to Bob’s NewHeart and wrote a comment about what you’ve seen.

Please visit and join my Facebook site, ORGAN Transplant Initiative http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=152655364765710  OR — my Facebook home Page http://www.facebook.com/?sk=messages&tid=10150094667020070#!/ . 

 The more members we get the greater our impact on increasing life saving organ donation

Please comment in the space provided or email your thoughts to me at bob@baronson.org.  And – please spread the word about the immediate need for more organ donors.  There is nothing you can do that is of greater importance.  If you convince one person to be a donor you may save or positively affect over 60 lives.  Some of those lives may be people you know and love.

How Alcohol Can Kill Your Liver — And You

The response to my blog; Should Alcoholics Get Liver Transplants, was overwhelming.  I’ve been posting for a little over a year and no other blog has generated a response as heavy as this one.  Because so many people were interested in the effect of alcohol on the liver, I decided to offer a brief expansion of the topic.

I think it is important to point out here that while I am a recovering alcoholic I am not anti-alcohol.  There are, though, some instances where abstinence is absolutely necessary.  Such is the case with liver disease.

According to the American Liver Foundation (ALF), (http://www.liverfoundation.org/education/info/alcohol/)

the liver breaks down alcohol so it can be eliminated from your body. If you consume more alcohol than the liver can process, the resulting imbalance can injure the liver by interfering with its normal breakdown of protein, fats, and carbohydrates.

The ALF says there are three kinds of liver disease related to alcohol consumption:

Fatty liver is marked by a build-up of fat cells in the liver. Usually there are no symptoms, although the liver may be enlarged and you may experience discomfort in your upper abdomen. Fatty liver occurs in almost all people who drink heavily. The condition will improve after you stop drinking.

Alcoholic hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver. Up to 35 percent of heavy drinkers develop alcoholic hepatitis. Symptoms may include loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and tenderness, fever and jaundice. In its mild form, alcoholic hepatitis can last for years and will cause progressive liver damage. The damage may be reversible if you stop drinking. In its severe form, the disease may occur suddenly, after binge drinking, and it can quickly lead to life-threatening complications.

Alcoholic cirrhosis is the most serious type of alcohol-induced liver disease. Cirrhosis refers to the replacement of normal liver tissue with scar tissue. Between 10 and 20 percent of heavy drinkers develop cirrhosis, usually after 10 or more years of drinking. Symptoms of cirrhosis are similar to those of alcoholic hepatitis. The damage from cirrhosis is not reversible, and it is a life-threatening disease. Your condition may stabilize if you stop drinking.

Many heavy drinkers will progress from fatty liver to alcoholic hepatitis and finally to alcoholic cirrhosis, though the progression may vary from patient to patient. The risk of developing cirrhosis is particularly high for people who drink heavily and have another chronic liver disease such as viral hepatitis C.

The ALF makes it very clear that if you have any liver disease you must stop drinking, period!   “Your doctor may suggest changes in your diet and certain vitamin supplements to help your liver recover from the alcohol-related damage. Medications may be needed to manage the complications caused by your liver damage. In advanced cases of alcoholic cirrhosis, the only treatment option may be a liver transplant. However, active alcoholics will usually not qualify as suitable organ recipients.”

Once people become aware of the dangers alcohol poses to the liver, the first question they ask is, “Can I drink at all?  Is there a safe level of drinking?”  Here’s ALF’s response:

“For most people, moderate drinking will not lead to alcohol-induced liver disease. Moderate drinking means no more than one drink a day for women and two drinks a day for men. (A standard drink is one 12-ounce beer, one 5-ounce glass of wine or one 1.5-ounce shot of distilled spirits.) However, for people with chronic liver disease, especially alcohol-induced liver disease, even small amounts of alcohol can make the liver disease worse. Patients with alcohol-induced liver disease and those with cirrhosis from any cause should stop using alcohol completely.

Women are more likely to be affected by alcohol-induced liver disease because women can be affected by smaller amounts of alcohol than men.”

Finally The American Liver Foundation says:  “Serious complications from alcohol-induced liver disease typically occur after many years of heavy drinking. Once they do occur, the complications can be serious and life-threatening. They may include:

·         Accumulation of fluid in the abdomen

·         Bleeding from veins in the esophagus

·         Enlarged spleen

·         High blood pressure in the liver

·         Changes in mental function, and coma

·         Kidney failure

·         Liver cancer”

The basic philosophy behind this blog is to advance organ donation but because there is such an organ shortage it is important, too, to protect our organs.  Steps can be taken to avoid needing an organ transplant.  Moderation of alcohol consumption is one of them.

Please comment here or email your comments to me at bob@baronson.org. 

Please read and comment on my World Wide Issues blogs on http://blogsbybob.wordpress.com.   Also…visit and join my Facebook site, Organ Transplant Patients, Friends and You at  http://tinyurl.com/225cfh  OR — my Facebook home page  http://www.facebook.com/home.php 

McCain; Organ Transplants a Luxury?

In the last Presidential debate Republican Candidate John McCain observed that cosmetic surgery and transplants are luxury health insurance items.  He indicated that people don’t need, “Gold plated, Cadillac insurance policies that cover cosmetic surgery and transplants and all of that.”  In other words, there is no real difference between removing an unsightly wrinkle and saving a life with a heart transplant.  A You Tube clip of the comment can be found at (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snGr0JcS2xw&feature=related).    

I’m sure the hundred thousand people on the organ transplant waiting list along with their families and friends are buoyed by McCain’s commitment to them.   If he really believes that a wart and a diseased kidney should be treated the same then he is totally out of touch and living in a world far different from the one I know.  

About thirteen months ago I received a new heart at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida — the entire procedure was paid for by Medicare.  Will a President McCain change that?  Will a President McCain also change Medicare so that it no longer pays for life saving anti-rejection drugs, too?

Apparently the news media missed McCain’s comment but if you review the debate section on health care plans you’ll easily find it.  I don’t know of anyone who ever died because a wrinkle was not removed but I do know that thousands of people have died waiting for organ transplants. 

McCain’s comment is a clear indication of his total disconnect with the realities of today’s society.  Organ donation/transplantation is one of the most important issues facing us today and for it to be treated in such a cavalier fashion is reprehensible.