Blood & Organ Donation

[Prophet 451]

Modern medicine can look like a miracle to us. Through modern medicine, we can allow the blind to see, we can replace worn-out hearts and give a new lease on life to someone who, only twenty years ago, would have been waiting for death. We can really and truly save lives and medicine does so, every single day. But these miracles rely on the donation of blood and organs from people like you. Blood donation is relatively painless and takes about twenty minutes. What are you going to do with twenty minutes? Flick through your paper, maybe have a cup of coffee? Or you can help someone live. Organ donation doesn't happen until you die. You're not going to be using your organs but they can help someone else live. I'm not going to ask anyone to violate the tenets of their faith but this is life and it is precious and it is fragile and it is up to us to save it. Won't you please, give a gift of life?

US Organ Donor Register

American Red Cross Blood Donors

UK Blood Donors

UK Organ Donor Register

Australian Red Cross Blood Service

Australian Organ Donor Register

New Zealand Organ Donor Register

New Zealand Blood Donors

[Skittles]

1. 45 gallon platelet donor in this area

more if you count Austin, Texas, where I donated for uninsured musicans many times

[Prophet 451]

3. You're beating me

I was on twenty gallons before I had to go on hiatus a couple of years ago due to medication.

[Lady Freedom Returns]

2. Registered Organ Donor !

Have been since age 18! Most of my peers at that time though I was weird for doing it. Maybe that is why I first registered?

[RebelOne]

12. I registered when I renewed my driver's license.

That way my driver's license was half price. I won't need my organs after I am gone anyway.

[Warpy]

4. They don't want mine so I hope you do.

I am the grateful recipient of a donor cornea.

[WCGreen]

5. I am about to be put on the Lung Transplant List...

Looking forward to be able to breath again.

[Prophet 451]

6. Hope you're not waiting too long

Good luck to you.

[wackadoo wabbit]

7. Don't forget bone marrow donation!

For those with blood cancers, sometimes a bone marrow transplant is the only option.

Here's a link to the U.S. site, where you can register to donate if you're found to be a match for someone who needs a transplant:

http://marrow.org/Join/Join_the_Registry.aspx

[wackadoo wabbit]

8. More bone marrow donation links

Following the OP's example, here are the links for marrow donation in the UK, Australia, and NZ:

British Bone Marrow Registry: http://www.nhsbt.nhs.uk/bonemarrow/

Gift of Life Australia: http://giftoflife.org.au

New Zealand Bone Marrow Donor Registry: http://www.bonemarrow.org.nz/

[Prophet 451]

9. Shouldn't have forgotten that

Mucho apologies and thanks for the links.

[wackadoo wabbit]

10. No problem

Glad I could help.

[jeff47]

11. Don't just register

When you do pass on, your registration as an organ donor is actually meaningless. Your next-of-kin will decide whether or not to actually donate your organs.

So talk to your spouse and/or your kids, and let them know you want to donate your organs.

[Prophet 451]

14. Yes, always inform your next of kin

My SO and I have laready had that discussion and we're both agreed that the donor service can take anything they can use.

[Jim Lane]

13. K&R and add a note that YOU benefit from donating.

I donated blood often -- not as regularly as I should have, but when I remembered.

Then I needed multiple units myself. I tried to imagine how I'd feel if I were a complete moocher -- taking all this blood from people I didn't know. Cripes, I would've felt like a vampire.

As it is, I can hold my head up. I'm still a net donor.

[Prophet 451]

15. Thank you for your donations! n/t

[nadinbrzezinski]

16. Registered organ donor

20 pint club at the blood bank, not counting the 10 in Mexico. Had to stop due to medications.

[Prophet 451]

17. I sympathise

I'm in the same boat, not allowed to donate due to medications.