What do you think of when you see the words “organ and tissue donation”? Are you thinking, “tissue donation – is that dealing with kleenex?” Actually, tissue donation is about a life enhancing process. It helps your father who needs a vein after a triple bypass or your neighbor who was just badly burned. According to the University of Florida Tissue Bank, some of the things tissue donation can do are: restore sight, mobility and heart action; speed healing; repair damaged skin, bone and muscle; prevent amputation of limbs, which are damaged by cancer infection or injuries. Organ donation is a little more straightforward. A person’s life is saved after receiving a liver, kidney or another type of lifesaving organ from another person. Telling people about organ and tissue donation can increase the number of lives saved. Just think of it - your body could save someone’s life. According to the United Network for Organ Sharing website, more than 65,000
Americans are waiting for a life saving
organ transplant.
Hundreds of thousands more would
benefit from a life enhancing tissue
transplant.
Tragically, every day 12 people will
die while waiting for a transplant.
Every 16 minutes another name is
added to the waiting list.
Thankfully, one donor can help more
than 50 people in need.
By signing a donor card and telling your family about your decision to donate, you could save a person's life.Urban legends about organ and tissue transplantation are dangerous specifically because the success of organ transplantation depends on the participation and support of the majority of the population.
If you hear a myth about organ and tissue donation or receive a myth on your e-mail please do not pass it on. Check out the story with the originator or try to verify the story with authorities. You will probably find out that the story was not true. According to Maggie Canon of Computer Life magazine, trading urban legends is a new form of online entertainment. People trade the verified facts from the conventional news media for popular rumors, she said. The rising popularity of these legends may suggest a growing mistrust of the mainstream media. These myths are usually more for entertainment than truth, and people do not realize the harm that they cause. As with any new technology, myths or rumors emerge, sometimes positive, sometimes negative. Myths about transplantation have led to a decrease in a full support in donation, which in turn leads to the death of people who might otherwise be leading happy and productive lives.
Please feel free to e-mail me: Nicia Walsh.
