LETTERS: ORGAN-TISSUE DONOR AWARENESS

To the editor:

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

Organ-tissue transplantation is no experimental. It is a well-proven, successful medical therapy which usually offers the recipient of the transplant a second chance and a good quality of life.

We all probably know someone who's life has been saved by or improved from a transplant. One does not plan to need an organ-tissue transplant. It can happen to any of us at any time. Those needing transplants must depend on the generosity of families they do no know and who have to make the decision to donate in the midst of their grief and loss. Current transplantation statistics have shown that you have a greater chance of dying while waiting for a heart, lung or liver transplant than you have of receiving one, due to the shortage of donated organs.

Although I do not deal with the transplant aspect of organ-tissue donation, as an intensive-care unit nurse for many years, I have taken care of many critically ill or injured patients of all ages. Unfortunately, some of those died. No matter what their age, their death was still a tragedy to their family. However, when the death is a young adult or child or if the death was due to some freak accident or, even worse, a homicide or suicide, the effect on the family is even more devastating. Over and over I have found organ donation to be a blessing to many families. I have seen families get back in control and make something positive out of a tragedy and somehow make sense out of their loss. It is a way their loved ones live on in others and, by their death, provide life for many others. Organ donation does not take away the pain, but it helps families survive their loss. As I see it, that is the best reason for a donation.

Making the decision to donate or not, when faced with the death of your family member, can 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, discuss this with your next of kin, as they are the ones who must give permission to donate after your death.

In honor of National Organ-Tissue Donor Awareness Week, St. Francis Medical Center, Southeast Missouri Hospital, West Park Mall and Mid-America Transplant Services sponsored the 11th annual Donor Awareness Walk Tuesday at the Mall. The walk has proved to be very inspirational and positive for donor families, recipients and supporters of organ-tissue donation.

Organ-tissue donation is the gift of life. Pass it on.

CHERI HUCKSTEP REED, R.N., Clinical Nurse

St. Francis Medical Center

Cape Girardeau