LETTERS: CONSIDER ORGAN, TISSUE DONATION AS A GIFT OF LIFE

To the editor:

April 16-22 is National Organ-Tissue Donor Awareness Week. During this week, we honor those families who have given the most precious and rare gift in the world, the gift of life, through organ and tissue donation. At this time we also recognize the importance of organ-tissue donation and the critical shortage of organs and tissues available for transplant.

Organ-tissue transplantation is not experimental. It is a well-proven, successful medical therapy which usually offers the recipient a second chance and a good quality of life.

Organ donation does not take away the pain, but helps the families survive their loss. As I see it, the benefit to the donor family is the best reason for donation.

Making the decision to donate, when faced with the death of a family member, must be very difficult. It is made easier if families discuss this option before they are put into that situation. If organ-tissue donation is something you want to do when you die, discuss this with your family. They are the ones who must give permission to donate after your death. The most important part of deciding to be a donor is to tell your family.

You never know when you or a loved one may need a transplant to live. Please consider the option of organ-tissue donation. Give the gift of life to others, just as you would want that precious gift given to you or your family.

CHERI HUCKSTEP REED

Cape Girardeau