I promised to be honest in this blog (I am often too honest, to my detriment, this is either a character flaw or a blessing, depending on the audience). I've been signed up to donate for as long as I can remember, but these are the very real reasons as to why it's so important now to me personally that people to sign up to the organ donation register;
It's more than likely that my son, my little Isaac, will need a lung (and/or liver) transplant in his lifetime (yep, CF is pretty shitty like that). We just don't know when. I can't tell you how much this scares me.
1 in 3 people on the waiting list die waiting due to a shortage of donors. When I think about this I feel like I am falling into a black hole of despair.
Regardless of being on the register, the ultimate decision comes from your next of kin, who, at that tragic moment, can override any decision made by someone in advance. You need to have that conversation with your loved ones. I know, it's not ideal teatime conversation, but nothing about transplantation or dying is ideal. 4 in 10 opportunities for organ transplantation are missed because of this.
Think; You are more likely to need an organ donation than you are to give one.
I miss Jayne. I miss her texts, and her blogs that made me laugh so hard I wet myself a little. I wonder if her transplant had come sooner if she would have been strong enough to survive? I miss Eva, and Toria, and Anders, and Emily and so many more. It's all feels so bloody unfair. And this is just within the CF community.
One person can save up to 8 lives, and change countless others.
What greater gift is there?
Please sign up here.
With love on National Transplant Week x
