The Gift of Life
By Rear Adm. Joyce Johnson, D.O., M.A.

The holiday season is a good time to consider giving the “gift of life,” in the form of tissue or organ donation. H Blood and blood products are the most commonly donated tissues. During the summer and winter holidays, blood supplies are low and donations are most important. If you would like to donate whole blood or blood products, many military bases have blood donation drives, and military treatment facilities often have on-site donation centers. Or call the American Red Cross at (800) give-life (448-3543) to locate a blood donation center near you.

Bone marrow, which can save the life of patients with leukemia and some other cancers, also is a desperately needed tissue. To donate bone marrow, you must have a blood sample taken and tested for tissue typing. This places you in a donor pool. If someone needs an organ that matches yours, you will be contacted for additional tests. If there is a good match, you could be asked to donate. Living donors also can donate a kidney or part of a liver. Medical costs for living donors are borne by the recipient or his or her health insurance, at no cost to the donor. Donors of all racial and ethnic groups are needed, because the best tissue match often is with someone of similar heritage.

Many people also plan to donate tissues and organs, such as their bones, heart, lung, and pancreas, after death. If you are considering this decision (and everyone should), discuss it with your family, your doctor, and perhaps a religious counselor. Family members will appreciate having a clear idea of your wishes.

If you decide to be an organ donor, you may sign an organ donor card. Keep the card with your driver’s license so it is always with you. Some states allow you to state your intent to donate when you renew your driver’s license. No medical testing is necessary to sign up to be a donor, but before your organs are used they will be tested for HIV, hepatitis, and other infectious diseases.

Sometimes people ask if agreeing to donate after their death will cause them to receive less aggressive medical treatment. Doctors will do everything possible to save your life. Only after they determine further efforts would be futile does a transplant team become involved. Some people also ask if organ donors can have open casket funerals; they can.

More than 87,000 people are on waiting lists and in need of a tissue or organ donation, and 16 of these patients die each day. You can help prevent these deaths. For more information, visit www.organdonor.gov or call (888) 894-6361.