Organ Donation | Teen Ink

Organ Donation

April 4, 2016
By Jaide BRONZE, Lake City, Florida
Jaide BRONZE, Lake City, Florida
1 article 0 photos 0 comments

Organ donation simply put is the procedure of giving an organ to another person. In order for this process to work successfully, both blood and oxygen must be flowing through the organs until the time the organ is recovered. A patient must be declared brain dead, after all measures possible are taken to save their life, before becoming an organ donor. The 8 organs that can be donated are the kidney, pancreas, liver, left lung, right lung, heart, and the intestine. The cornea of the eyes, skin tissue, and blood can also be donated.
    

More than 120,000 people are on the waiting list for an organ. About 22 people die everyday waiting for the organ that could save their life. Just one donor can save up to 8 lives and impact up to 100. Every 10 minutes, someone new is added to the list.
    

This being noted, it is crucial to communicate with your family about your views and wishes for when you were to die. If you aren’t registered, which you can do online or when you get your license, then it is up to your family. Talking about this tough subject will make the burden of answering the daunting question “Do you want to donate?” much easier for your loved ones. 


The author's comments:

I've been enrolled at the health academy at my school since my freshmen year. This has made me an avid supporter of organ donation. I don't want people to feel pressured or obligated to become an organ donor, but I want them to feel comfortable enough to voice their wishes along with understanding the importance of organ donation.


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