Organ Donation,raising awareness

As a family we have all discussed this and are all in agreement that our organs etc. should be donated. My eldest son is adamant that they can have everything including eyes, skin etc. Until he said this I hadn't realised how squeamish it would make me feel, so I'm glad we've had the conversation now. If he died suddenly I think I would manage the organ donation quite easily, but it would have been tough to make the decision about eyes etc. if I hadn't had a bit of time to get used to the idea.

Can someone please clear up a question that I have had for some time and not yet found a definitive answer. If you have been treated for cancer - are you still allowed to become an organ donor? I was stopped from donating blood after my cancer treatment but I'm not sure about organ donation although I did register with the NHS Organ Donation Campaign some time ago. Do they want bits of me or not

Probably not! Sorry. But do ask in case I'm wrong?

yogagran, check with the NHS. Because of the medication I'm on for congestive heart failure I thought I would be unable to be an organ donor, but my cardiologist said even though they can't use my heart, liver, kidneys etc. my skin and corneas would be acceptable.

In Australia we have the universal healthcare system called Medicare. My thinking is that regardless of religious beliefs or conscientious objections or any other delusional bullshit if you don't want to be an organ donor and/or you don't have your kids vaccinated you shouldn't have a Medicare card. No arguments, no exceptions.

I have only just looked on this thread. My friend had a lung transplant 6 years ago and it gave her 6 extra years with her family. Sadly she passed away on Saturday but if she had not have had the transplant she would have died many years ago.
I regisered with the NHS Organ Campaign a few years ago.

We have had a thread on Organ donation before and I was surprised how many of us have or have had partners/children/friends who have benefited from a transplant (including DH 15 years ago). It is such an emotive area and I could go on at great length, but won't! However as an afterthought, recently when DH was in the Royal Free Hospital in the Liver ward I saw at least 4 recipients of new livers and of those, 2 were in yesterday's clinic, looking surprisingly back from the brink, literally with a new lease of life. My prayers for your DIL nelliedeane

Nellie I'm sorry that your young DIL is so ill with CF - it's a truly horrible disease. I hope she gets her transplant soon.

I don't believe we should have an opt-out donor system ..... I think it should be voluntary.

Annika Kerry always says when one of her young CF friends dies ''breathe easy now as you fly'' so I am saying this to your friend,and sending flowers to you for the loss of your friend.

Gracesmum wishing continuing good health for your DH

Riverwalk thankyou

Big thank you once again on behalf of kerry and her family and all hopeful transplant patients on a waiting list to all my lovely GN friends am raising a glass to you all and [flowers for all of you wherever in the world you are
big hugs from Nelliexxxx

that didnt arrive xxxx

My sister is a double transplant recipient - liver and kidney, and a close family friend has had a liver transplant, so everyone I know is on the transplant register. I should mention that in both cases the liver disease was genetic not self inflicted.

My sister has lived 11 years after the op so far, and our friend 17 years. They are both around 60 now. My sister's donor was a 28 year old male motorcyclist: she lives in France and they tell you a little about the donor there, but no names of course.

One danger from being immune suppressed is cancer, but my sister keeps her health by the paleo diet. This means eating like stone age people did: lots of organic meat, fat, fish, raw milk, eggs, fruit and green vegetable. She adds olive oil, coconut oil, butter, cheese, coffee and tea.

The foods she avoids are wheat, other grains, starchy food such as spuds, sugar, and anything artificial or factory made such as processed foods, marge, transfats, soy and canola.

All the blood tests she gets show she is in tip top condition. I recommend such healthy eating for anyone after a transplant.

There is indeed a second chance at life after a transplant but of course it is not all plain sailing. Epstein Barr virus resulted in DH being diagnosed with Lymphoma 3+ years ago, but that is now clear after amazing monoclonic antibody therapy and the drug regime has also affected other organs like his kidneys. The disease which necessitated the transplant, Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis has returend to affect his new liver, but as yet in a relatively minor and only intermittent way. (Also not a "self-inflicted" disease)
But the bottom line is that we have to be prepared to donate our organs and those of our loved ones if transplants are to happen at all. There is no point in hoping "other people" will donate and to have an opt out system saves the newly bereaved an agonising decision. Under the current system, next of kin can over-rule the donor card, you know and it must be a heart-breaking decision to take AT THAT POINT. Much better to decide when you are hale and hearty and for next of kin to respect that decision. Nelliedeane and Kerry - and my very best wishes for a happy outcome.

Hi nelliedeane
I have been thinking about Kerry and just thought I would mention that it is Cystic Fibrosis Week this week! Here's the link if anyone wants to have a look.

www.cfweek.org.uk/

Thanks snoozy yes it is CF week this week and Asthma uk as well I believe.
I saw Kerry at the weekend [they live 130miles away] and DS told me kerry had been loaned a vest simply called THE VEST it carries out intensive physio whilst giving the wearer freedom of movement and it a lot more effective at shifting the sticky phlegm than manual physio...she has to return this in 6 weeks...so nellie is on a mission to do some fund raising etc to buy one for her they cost in the region of £8.000.00.....so any ideas of fund raisng events gratefully accepted ..one idea is it is my 60th birthday in December and am going to hold a party in a hall,and ask for money/donations for that in stead of gifts...afterall she may not get to 30 let alone 60...I believe there is a link on facebook if anyone wants to have a look

nelliedeane there is a thread on the CF Trust forum called "Opinions on fundraising for a vest" which is quite interesting, as people are discussing the pros and cons of the vest itself as well as fundraising ideas. Some people have had their vest funded by the NHS- is that not an option for Kerry?
I believe there are certain charities who will make a one-off grant for medical equipment, you could try googling for those.
I would also try asking the local paper to do an article or approaching a local team for sponsorship.

I'm all for opting out rather than voluntarily opting in. I carry a donor card. My DD realised the importance of donorship when her friend's father died recently and he carried a card which meant that so many people were able to be helped. It made the family feel something useful had come out of a tragic situation and felt comforted. When we're dead we don't need our bits but other people do and should have the chance to live.

thanks again snoozy I havent been on the website yet as other things have been happening,my son has said that she may get one as a donation and my thinking is any money will help another pethinkirson or the CF trust if kerry has one already,unfortunately we dont live near to them and our whereabouts are protected as we are in hiding from GD,s father so their local paper is the one he reads and our identities would be vulnerable,I will suggest this to Martin and ask him to speak to kerry's family and see if this is an option for thinking of usxxxxx

Just watched news about an 80+ chap who has donated a kidney! He's an absolute credit to our age group .

We've seen post war (2nd) difficulties, pit strikes, energy crisis, economic collapse several times etc etc and somebody at his age makes such a generous, selfless donation to help ,I presume a younger life.

I despair at certain elements of the very much younger generation, I hope they see this as a shining example and start to understand certain values of life.

The gift of life is the single biggest gift anybody can give.

It is quite amazing many would do well to consider that chap has looked after himself ( a doctor commented kidneys of a 40 yr old) and he just donates a kidney many 40 yr old's if not wouldn't, might not even bit fit enough to do so.

I'm speechless! Well almost,

Joan

PS love this site, back tomorrow

& good wished for Kerry & all the family. Will 'like' donation site on FB . Am registered for transplant .

I have just heard on The Wright Stuff that Wales is going to adopt an 'opt-out' system for organ donation.