Don’t Be Afraid to Give Up Your Organs

This is one of our more serious posts here at TSB Magazine. It is something that has affected several people around me over the years… and something I was finally influenced into writing about

Real Men Save Lives

We try to give you guys many tips and tricks to act like an alpha male, to get more women, be more successful, and lead more rewarding lives… but in the end, if that’s all you’ve achieved, you will more than likely feel a bit empty and hollow towards the end of your life.

Every massively successful person knows that at some point, you hit a crossroad, and in order to feel wholly complete -you need to give back.

Some people give back in the form of charitable donations, some people teach, some people help others find spirituality… but there is no greater gift you could pass on towards the end of your life than the ability to extend someone else’s life.

Organ Donation

Every day, 18 people die because they could not get the organs they needed to survive. Organ donation gives those people, who would not otherwise survive, a new chance at life.

There are over 100,000 men, women and children on the waiting list for organ donation. Those on the list range from infants to the elderly. Organ donation saves lives of those who would otherwise die. While organ donation is at a high, only 35 percent of license and state-issued identification holders list themselves as organ donors.

On an average day, about 77 people receive organ transplants. But thousands more never get that call from their transplant center saying a suitable donor organ — and a second chance at life — has been found.

It can be hard to think about what’s going to happen to your body after you die, let alone donating your organs and tissue. But being an organ donor is a generous and worthwhile decision that can be a lifesaver. Understanding organ donation can make you feel better about your choice.

I read through these myths about organ donation and became more knowledgeable myself… I ask you to read through them too so that you can make a more informed decision about what you should do with your organs upon your death. You will find that many of the beliefs you might have about the subject are false.

Why You should consider it

Well, besides the fact that I know at least one good man currently on the list… and several who wouldn’t be around if it wasn’t for the love of someone who donated…

Being an organ donor can make a big difference, and not just to one person. By donating your organs after you die, you can save or improve as many as 50 lives. And many families who have lost a loved one who became an organ donor say that knowing their loved one helped save other lives helps them cope with their loss.

It’s especially important to consider becoming an organ donor if you belong to an ethnic minority. Minorities including African-Americans, Asians and Pacific Islanders, Native Americans and Hispanics are more likely than whites to have certain chronic conditions that affect the kidney, heart, lung, pancreas and liver. Certain blood types are more prevalent in ethnic minority populations. Because matching blood type is necessary for transplants, the need for minority donor organs is especially high.

How to Donate

Contrary to popular belief, signing a donor card or your driver’s license does not guarantee that your organs will be donated. The best way to ensure that your wishes are carried out is to inform your family of your desire to donate. Doing this in writing ensures that your wishes will be considered. Hospitals seek consent of the next of kin before removing organs. If your family members know you wanted to be a donor, it makes it easier for them to give their consent.

If you have no next of kin or you doubt your family will agree to donate your organs, you can assign durable power of attorney to someone who you know will abide by your wishes. A lawyer can help you prepare this document.