Becoming An Organ Donor

For many people, getting an organ transplant is the difference between life and death. According to “Blood, Organ and Tissue”, about 4500 people in Canada are waiting for an organ transplant, and about 256 people have died due to waiting too long (“Blood, Organ and Tissue”). Waiting for an organ donation can make some people very eager for theirs. The need for organs around the world is constantly growing. Becoming an organ donor is a very simple and timeless process. it can take a suffering person who needs a transplant and save their life, and can impact the donor’s family once they will be at peace, because the life that was loss is has now saved another person. Becoming an organ donor is a very simple and timeless process. Becoming a donor
can impact someone’s life for the better, and the donor’s family will be at peace, because the life that was loss is now impacting someone else’s.

Many feel that donating an organ is a very complicated process, but in fact it’s not.
To become a donor, only few steps have to be done to become a potential donor. As stated in “How to Become”, to be recognized as a donor in Saskatchewan, one must place the orange sticker on their health card, which means “organ and tissue donor” (“How to Become”). This sticker means that when you no longer need your organs or tissue, and someone needs it to survive, they can be donated to them. It is important that you take time to talk to family members early on about what you want done with your organs once you are gone. According to “Canadian Transplant Society”, It is strongly recommended telling family members your wishes. A consent form signed by the donor and a family member is also required. Although the sticker is present on the health care card, it does not guarantee that they will be donated. One must discuss their wishes with their next of kin, because they are the ones that decide for you when your gone (“Canadian Transplant Society”). Although some people find talking about this a touchy topic, it is something that is important to discuss. If someone’s dies in a car accident, wouldn’t it be beneficial to give them their organs to better someone else’s life? Donating organs can result in saving someone’s life, “One donor can benefit more than 75 people and save up to 8 lives” (“Blood, Organ and Tissue”). "Blood, Organ and Tissue Donation." Government of Canada, Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada. Web. 9 Mar. 2016. Donating organs is a very safe procedure. Say someone needs a kidney transplant. According to “Frequently Asked Questions”, a kidney transplant is very safe and has a success rate is 90- 95%. Even if your donator is deceased the success rate is 85-90% (“Frequently Asked Questions”). “Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)." Organ Donation FAQ. Web. 13 Mar.
2016.

Today, Canadian donation rates are one of the lowest in the world. The amount of people needing transplants outnumbers the number of donator’s. According to “Canadian Transplant”, Many Canadians support organ and tissue donation, but in fact only about 25% actually plan to donate (“Canadian Transplant”). “Canadian Transplant Society." Canadian Transplant Society RSS. Web. 9 Mar. 2016. Every year too many people die while waiting. Becoming a donator can potentially change someone’s life. By becoming a donor, you have the power to save someone’s life. When a family member needs a transplant, a close relative is usually a match to donate. This can be great news; however, this person may feel obligated to donate their organs. When thinking about donating it doesn’t matter about your age, religion, or previous health care. The only thing that is taken into consideration is the health of your organs. It is also said that “Donors are needed for all races and ethnic groups. Transplant success rates increase when organs are matched between members of the same ethnic background” (“Facts about Organ”).

Although donating an organ can help a parent, child, friend, or even a stranger there are risks that come with the surgery. As stated by “Organ Donation Facts”, Donating an organ to someone is a very serious and major surgery. Complications may arise after the surgery such as; bleeding, soreness, blood clotting, and infection. One that donates their organ will also need to take time off work, and rest (“Organ Donation Facts”). Ones religion may oppose to donating organs; but, it is all up to the person and their personal preference. One may also not have enough background knowledge on organ donation to want to donate theirs. On the other hand, each and every person that donates or even thinks about donating their organs are making our world a better place. Everyone who donates an organ is impacting someone else’s life. A family that recently suffered a passing has the say in what to do next for that person; they can either have a funeral and celebrate that person’s life, or they can allow that person donate their organs to better someone else’s life. Although a family is still grieving over a loved ones passing, by donating their organs they can feel a bit better knowing that their loved one is changing someone else’s life. According to Brian Stouse, when his father, Ken passed away suddenly at the age of 51, he knew that donating his father’s organs could help others in need. His father always supported organ donation and constantly discussed his views on it. Although, his father’s passing was a difficult time for his family donating his father’s organs could help someone else. The donation of Kens’ organs saved the lives of four people and improved the life of one person. Ken’s kidneys were donated to two people from Alberta that were constantly on dialysis, a man from Alberta received kens lungs, another man from Alberta received his pancreas, and a person from Saskatchewan received his corneas. Ken’s organs improved the lives of five different people (Stouse). http://organ-donation-works.org/english/organ-tissue-donation/profiles-of-life/donor-family-thanked/.