If You Were a Perfect Match, Would You Donate a Kidney?
Yes I have thought about this many times.
What is the reason for this question you are wondering? The answer is simple, my grandfather. He was on dialysis for 9 1/2 years. The comment he out lived his doctors came pretty close to the truth.
They said he was too old for a kidney transplant / donation. At the time I was a junior in high school and would have stepped forward at the drop of a hat to donate one of mine.
I have known several folks on dialysis and the time involved to keep themselves alive. What I'm asking for is your opinion about donating a kidney. Or for that matter, any organ that could give life back to someone in need. May they be a relative or a complete stranger.
A couple of reasons I believe in donating.
Reason # 1:
As I stated above my grandfather was on dialysis and turned down for a kidney transplant because of his age. I remember sitting with him many times as he became attached to a dialysis machine. This was both at home and at hospitals. For the hospital he had to drive several hours sometimes to get to. Yes when I had gotten my license I steeped up to drive him back and forth. On the way there it was not so much but on the way home he was spent. It felt good to know that he was able to rest after four hours of sitting still and having the blood pulled out of and then pushed back into him. In fact it was because of this that Giving blood was not scarey for me. Comparing the needles used for dialysis vs the ones for the donation. Give me the ones for the donation any day. They are much smaller.
Reason # 2:
In college I had taken a public speaking class. One of the assignments was to do a speech to convince others to do something. In my case I pulled out my drivers license. Then worked on convincing others to check the little box to show that they were willing to donate their organs. I am unsure if any checked the box but it did feel better knowing that I had at least done my part and brought it up to them. Some people will plant the seed, some will water it and others will harvest. With that said I would be happy to have been the one who planted the seed. It meant that the folks in the audience were listening and thinking about what was being shard with them.
The image show is a dialysis machine. like the one my grandfather used.
Dialysis machine quiz
view quiz statistics
A bit more on the history
Dr. Willem Kolff's considered the father of dialysis. In the late 1930's the development of this machine was started. This was at the University of Groningen Hospital in the Netherlands.
Its time to voice your opinion - Or in this case to type it out.
If you are unable to add your opinion on this site please try a different browser to access this page.
If the need were there, would you be willing to donate a kidney?
What is your opinion on Kidney donation? - This section was added if you do not wish to leave a comment above.
Given the oportunity would you donate an organ.
Dr. McCoy had a solution for kidney failure - Part 1.
Dr. McCoy had a solution for kidney failure - Part 2
Here are a couple of sites worth looking into.
- National Kidney Foundation
Check out this site as they have information on donating to family, friends and complete strangers. - American Red Cross
I know that this is not about the donation of a kidney. However during surgery blood is usually needed.
Related
Please feel free to donate your comments to this page.
AUTHOR@charlie1232: I am glad to hear that a match was found. Thank you for sharing with ma and the others that will read your comment.
Thought provoking lens. My brother in law had a kidney transplant a couple of years ago and is life is so much better. Unfortunately no-one in the family was an exact match, but he was lucky to be given a second chance.
- AUTHOR
@NibsyNell: Its nice to others out there that have gone through this. And the hardest part of this is when you want to but can't.
Great lens! I've witnessed the effects of kidney failure and it's a situation I wouldn't wish on anyone. For anyone to risk their health for a family member is a heroic thing to do.
Thank you for the lens. Some great questions here! blessings.. xxo
- AUTHOR
@intermarks: I had a time where the doctors said no you can't donate. When the said I could again I went back and held out my arms and said which one is better. At this time I tend to go with the double red donations as I am not dizzy after the donation.
This is a great lens! And it is always something we should all think about. And hopefully everyone who could would at least be willing to donate to a relative.
- AUTHOR
@Wbisbill LM: Great to hear from both of you. It adds a lot to the saying in the Bible, "and the two shal become one" - Mark 10:8
Thumbs up! I am a kidney transplant survivor! My wife donated hers! Great lens!
- AUTHOR
@KimGiancaterino: Understood. I had a friend who donated a kidney to his son.
We have a good friend who donated a kidney to a relative. I passed out just looking at his surgery pics -- it's no small matter. He encountered a lot of red tape trying to do the noble thing. Hopefully live organ donors will be treated better in the fuure.
Congratulations for being featured in the Rocket Squid Ask-A-Question Challenge. Blessings.
Wonderful info on something so important.
- AUTHOR
@flycatcherrr: Guest book has been moved thanks for the sugestion. I had thought of it but never done it until now. Guest book away.
@PaigSr: I missed those links, too! I wonder if you might think about moving your guestbook down to the bottom, as readers tend to expect it to come last (we've been trained by years of reading blogs) and so don't always keep scrolling past the comments to see if there's more - just a little RocketSquid suggestion to consider. Good job on this, and kudos for championing the cause of organ donation!
- AUTHOR
@sockii: Down below I have the National Kidney Foundation.
At this time I had donated two cars that became Kidney Car.
I will look for others to add to that list.
Important topic and thanks for writing about it. Are there any charity/awareness groups you could link to on this page, for those who want to know how they could help out, or perhaps donate to a worthy cause?
I have been donating blood many years ago and now almost 12 times all together.
Thanks for the share...
Nice lens from a considerate person ready to help a family member if you were allowed. Nice to see.
I am an organ donor on my driver's license. Donating a healthy organ while you are alive and breathing is a very courageous and heroic thing to do. I would do it for my children in a heartbeat. I've never thought of doing it for other relatives or complete strangers, but I would probably do that as well. A healthy body is a real blessing...never take it for granted. Excellent lens and eye-opening question!
Great share!
I appreciated the personal story you shared as part of this lens. Well done z
- AUTHOR
@JoshK47: Thank you. its amazing how much easier it is to compose these sites when you have personal experiance. I had to include McCoy because the fit was right on. Also he is my favorite from all the different Star Trek's.
Very well put together lens, with a lot of great points - I love that you included that scene from Star Trek IV, as well. :)
Nice lens. Have a wonderful weekend!
What goes around comes around
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