At the Australian Rotaract Conference in Melbourne earlier this year, I was privileged to be in the room to hear Allan Turner, founder of Zaidee's Rainbow Foundation, share his heartfelt story.
His daughter Zaidee – aged 7 years died suddenly in 2004 from a burst blood vessel in her brain. At the time of Zaidee’s death the Turner family had been registered Organ and Tissue Donors for 5 years. As a result Zaidee donated her Organs and Tissues at the Royal Children’s Hospital, as were her wishes at the time. From this gift, the lives of up to seven other people were improved or saved. She was only 1 of 6 children nationally to donate their organs.
Listening to Allan talk about his journey since losing his daughter - a journey of hope as they run a foundation aimed at inspiring discussion about organ and tissue donation - it reminded me that it is not enough to just be a donor. Your family needs to know your wishes as well. Many donors' organs are not used, because their families did not know their choice, and when under the gun in a situation where they are about to lose a loved one, they chose not to give their organs.
Zaidee’s gift of her organs to others will allow them to have another birthday. 1 in 5 people on the transplant waiting list will never get the chance to have another birthday if people do not become registered donors.
In 2004, 130,000 Australians died. Only 218 were Organ Donors whose families also knew their wishes.
Now is the time to become an organ donor.
Some see it as giving part of themselves
so another can live.
Others see it as another allowing you to live on.
Whatever way you see it,
it's your chance to make a difference to another human.
There is no greater gift.
Make sure you tell your loved ones of your decision.
Ask them to honour it.
Think about giving this gift to others so they can live a better life and in some cases, have a second chance at life. Once you've made your choice, discuss it with your family. I am an organ and tissue donor, and my whole family knows about it. What about you?
'You give but little when you give of your possessions.
It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.'
Kahlil Gibran
1 comment:
A very important issue, that close family/friends need to be aware of... Your life could save 9 others, through organ donations! People should discuss their wishes, incase something happens!!
-Trace
Post a Comment