The Gift of Life

Today marks the tenth anniversary of the date that I signed on to be a bone marrow donor. I’ll never forget it. There was a little boy in Fenton who needed a transplant, so there was a drive at to help find a match. There wasn’t a moment of hesitation. I drove straight to the school, gave a blood sample, and donated funds to the cause. Today, the test is as simple as swabbing the inside of the mouth.

The gift of life is the most important contribution one can give. There are numerous options and you can sign up to donate all, some, or just one:

• Blood donation: This is the most non-committal form of life-donation available, as long as you’re not terrified of needles and blood. Because our blood regenerates so well, we’re able to give blood a couple times a month, assuming we meet the requirements.
• Bone marrow donation: Many people are afraid to sign up to become a bone marrow donor because they think of the procedure involved. What you need to think of instead, is the life you could be saving. Whether it’s your next-door neighbor’s infant, your 16-year old niece, or a complete stranger, a little bit of short-term pain is nothing compared to the day when you get that phone call and you’re told you have the opportunity to save a life.  
• Cord blood donation: If you’re planning to give birth, the cord blood from the baby can be donated to retrieve invaluable stem cells used to treat disease, or for life-saving research. The procedure is painless to the mother and baby and most hospitals will collect the cord blood free-of-charge.  
• Donating your body to science: Want your body to be used for research to help cure disease? Donate it to science so that the need for organ, bone marrow, and tissue donation isn’t as dire. There are many companies, universities, and hospitals that take this type of donation. Just make sure you know up front whether or not there are any costs associated with the gift.
• Organ donation: Many of us have already told our loved ones that we’d like to donate our organs in the event of our death. However, have you actually registered to donate them? The process is easy and then there’s no second guessing for your family members and medical team.
• Tissue donation: Most people are familiar with organ donation, but did you know you can also register to donate tissue in the event of your death? This includes corneas, bone, ligaments, skin, heart valves, and other soft tissues.

Maybe the blood, needles, and such just isn’t your cup of tea, or maybe your ineligible to donate for whatever reason. No worries! There are countless other ways to help make a difference:

• Organize a blood drive
• Raise money and awareness for a particular Life-Giving cause 
• Get your local university or college campus involved by arranging a “life-a-thon” 
• Educate people on the need for these life-saving donations

What good are our organs and tissue doing in a grave or in our ashes anyway? Every ten minutes, another name is added to the national organ transplant waiting list, yet there aren’t nearly enough donations to around. Doesn’t it seem absurd not to give them to someone who truly needs them? And why wait to save a life until ours has ended? By donating blood, bone marrow, and cord blood, we can save countless lives during our own lifetime. If you haven’t already done so, please consider registering to become a life-giving donor. Lives literally depend on it.