10 Reasons Why You Should Become An Organ Donor | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Student Life

10 Reasons Becoming An Organ Donor Should Be A No-Brainer

You could heal 60 lives, and change countless.

15737
10 Reasons Becoming An Organ Donor Should Be A No-Brainer

More then 120,000 people in the United States alone are waiting for their second chance at life, an organ. On average, 22 people die a day waiting for that chance. Additionally, every 10 minutes another name is added to the national transplant waiting list (https://www.donatelife.net/statistics/). The reasons to become a donor are endless, but here is my personal list of reasons why you should save a life.

1. 60 is the number

Up to 60 people can benefit and heal from your combined donations of tissue, organs, and corneas. You have the power to give a mother, father, grandparent, friend, and a child back to their loved ones for a second chance at life. Most people know the story of Jeni Stepien who asked the man who received her father's heart in a donation to walk her down the aisle on her wedding day. This story shows how the memory and a piece of a loved one can live on and make a difference in someone else's life. You can learn more about their story here.

2. Movement is magical

By your donation of tissues, ligaments, and bones you are able to give the gift of movement back to a person. Think of a child taking their first steps, a mother being able to run, and a friend being able to dance. The gift of movement changes a life.


3. Age is just a number

Legally, you have to be 18 to sign up by yourself, but with parent consent, anyone under 18 is eligible to donate. Also, there is also no age limit! In 2016, the world's oldest organ donor donated her corneas at age 107.

4. FREE & EASY

It is absolutely free to sign up to be an organ donor at http://www.organdonor.gov/becomingdonor/. Follow their three steps of registering to become a donor, inform your family and friends of your decision, and share with others of why you became a donor.

5. It could be you in need

It could be you, or your family members. Wouldn't you want the gift of life to be given to you or your loved ones? To be given a chance at life again? Life is unpredictable and you never know when an emergency or health condition will arise.

6. There is a gap

According to Donate Life's article, 95% of Americans are in favor of organ donation but only 52% are registered. This is surprising because as I already mentioned, it is free and easy to sign up. Also, all major religions accept donation and some even encourage it.

7. The list is blind

Unlike what most people think, the organ donor list does not prioritize the famous or the wealthy. You can be from any state, from any racial background, or male or female. According to Trans Web's article, "Organs are allocated according to strict rules that take into account physical matching, tissue and blood type matching, medical criteria, waiting time, severity of illness, etc."


8. Tattoo? No problem

According to The Wall Street Journal's article, "Anyone who dies can be considered as a potential donor, and tattoos don't preclude organ donations... Potential donors and organs are tested by doctors before a transplant is made."

9. Live donations? Possible

One of the most needed organs are kidneys. Over 3,000 people are added each month to the waiting list and 13 people die a day waiting for a kidney (National Kidney Foundation). As long as one kidney can support your bodily function of removing waste, you can donate one kidney while you are living. You are also able to give two lobes of your liver because over time your liver is able to regenerate itself (Organ Donor Gov)!

10. Not ready to donate life?

A less major donation you can make is a blood donation. Every two seconds in the United States someone is in need of blood. To put it in perspective, Red Cross Blood states that a single car accident victim can need up to 100 pints of blood, while the average donation is only one pint. Donating blood is a completely safe process. Your body will replace the blood lost in only a matter of hours.

"The measure of life is not its duration, but its donation" — Peter Marshall

So why not become a donor today at http://www.organdonor.gov/becomingdonor/?

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

180139
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

7216
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

452452
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

23269
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments