~ donate life ~

 

Its donate life week.

Some time ago I promised another blogger that I'd write about organ donation.  
Its particularly pertinent to her as she's on the list for a double lung transplant.

I think its important for all of us.

When I was in fifth year medical school I spent some time at a small (ish) country hospital.  There was lots to learn - not least the nitty-gritty of being part of a small community and being kind of apart from it as well.

One of my most profound memories from that time is of a young man we treated there.  I didn't really meet him...he had tried to commit suicide and was in the ICU (or equivalent) being kept alive by machines.

I was part of the medical team speaking with his parents about organ donation.

They were in shock.  They were devastated.  At times they were barely coherent.  They were adamant that his organs should be donated.  Other family members vehemently disagreed with this.

I've never really mastered the whole detached professional thing.  I certainly hadn't as a 22 yo student.

I have very clear memories of sitting next to his mum crying with her as the debate went on.

He did go on to donate organs.

I was allowed to watch the harvesting (a huge privilege).

I cried then too.

I saw his mum a few weeks later.  Gaunt and hollow eyed.  She made a point of saying that the only good thing to have come out of the whole event was that other lives had been saved/changed.

This was despite the fact that her own mother was still upset by the fact that she felt she didn't get to say goodbye properly; that he was with strangers in an operating theatre when he died.

I've since been lucky enough to look after patients who have had successful transplants and seen their lives transformed.  

Hope manufactured from the depths of despair.

I was always a believer in organ donation.  I still am.

I carry my card.  I've registered.  I've discussed it with my loved ones.

Have you?

 ♥

 http://www.donatelife.gov.au/decide