organ/tissue donation

[zumalong]

I am giving a presentation for CEU credits about organ/tissue donation. I have a personal interest in this topic, because I was the one who made the decision to donate my brothers tissues after his death.

I am curious how other nurses feel about this. Some I have talked to are very much for organ/tissue donation as long as it is not from their loved ones. Many nurses (and physicians) don't realize that there is a difference between organ and tissue donation. (Organ harvesting has to be done with the patient "alive" on life support--but no brain activity. Heart, Lungs, Kidneys, Liver etc. are harvested in OR)(Tissue donation consists of skin, corneas, long bones etc. and can be done with most ages and after the death has occured)

In our city, there are two different organizations that are responsible for each type of donation.

So my question is: How do you feel about donating? Has anyone had a personal experience with donating a loved one? If you want to email me [email protected]. I don't know about other states, but in NY even if you sign your organ donor card, if your family decided against it, they will not honor your wishes. So I always teach my students to discuss how they feel + or - about this before anything happens. I am very glad that my bro and I did have a discussion about this several years before he died, then I knew what to do for him. It is difficult losing a loved one, but knowing he helped someone (or multiple someone's) out makes the loss somewhat easier.

I will share that I was not sure what to expect with an open casket. I knew they took his long bones, corneas, and some brain tissue to study for ETOHism. I felt his arms and legs to make sure there was something there. (I found out 3 years later that they place PVC tubing where the bones were.)

Thanks ahead to anyone who answers.

In memory of Danny 7/9/66-9/3/97:kiss :kiss

[hapeewendy]

this is a topic that is a definite hot button issue for me. My aunt, who was always like a mother to me , had a genetic liver disease, when she went to the dr the assumed she was an alcoholic, woman never had a drop to drink in her entire life.

Went thru a few dry runs where we thought she was getting the liver only to find out it wasnt a match or had to go to someone sicker etc etc, one time she was even in the OR before we found out the transplant wasnt a go, she woke up and thought she already had the transplant, was very tough to explain that she hadnt.

then on mothers day my aunt, my pseudo mother, got her liver, worked like a charm, but she developed complications unfortunately, trache had to stay in then after a few months on the anti rejection drugs they discovered a brain tumour, inoperable of course.

she died that september, and from that moment on I have made it my point to educate people on the importance of organ donation.

I am often met with the opinion that that should be a families decision, to which I agree, the problem comes in when a persons family is not aware of their wishes. I've seen that personally and as a nurse.

Please make your wishes known.

the roller coaster I went through with my loved one was enough to convince me that whatever can be used from this body of mine , will be.....

Its an interesting experience to go through, meeting other transplant patients and their families, there are some really happy endings

but unfortunately many more people die while on the transplant list.

I have heard stories of over eager organ retrieval folks , but honestly, I think thats rare, and their feelings have to come from a good place. I really believe that.

someone cared enough to sign their donor card to give my vibrant 54 year old , nicest person in the world you could ever meet, good christian, good friend , more like a mother, aunt a second chance.

it didnt work, but I'm still so thankful.

the saying is true

please dont take your organs to heaven

heaven knows we need them here on earth...

[judy ann]

I also am all for donation. My family and friends all know this as well as my lawyer and pastor. After all, what am I going to do with those "parts" when I get to Heaven? (Yea, I'm sure I'll get there somehow) I might as well leave them for someone else to use.:)