Organ donation after death: thoughts and experiences?

Harold Cook2 said:I mean, obviously I’d donate. Why wouldn't you want to help someone out?
I'm finally gonna get a donor card sorted. Been planning on doing this forever but just kept putting it off. Where can I actually go to look into this? Who even issues those things?

You can find all the details you need right here😉.

velvetmoose9 said:You can find all the details you need right here😉.

thanks😉
so even a regular doctor can sign off on this stuff?

Honestly, having a donor card is mostly just about showing your support and making your stance known—it doesn't actually change the mechanics of things. Having the card doesn't mean you're giving permission for organ harvesting on the spot... it really just makes it a little easier for the family to make that final call during such a heavy moment. At the end of the day, even with the presumed consent laws we have here in the States, the family always has the final say, and nothing happens without their green light.

There's going to be a rally at the Park protests this Saturday (10/12) for European Organ Donation Day, so feel free to swing by if you have questions, grab a t-shirt, or just check things out...

Douglas Gray8 said:How exactly do you plan on donating a brain?🤔

You don't donate brains.

And you can't donate arms and legs.

I guess I could donate my brain to a medical school for research purposes or something, rather than for a transplant.

Here is my take on the matter...
To be perfectly clear, I am firmly opposed to any kind of explantation, implantation, transplantation, or amputation.
And before anyone accuses me of being selfish—which would be quite the contradiction, given that (believe it or not...) I am a regular blood donor.
Why limit myself to just blood?
Because blood is something the body can actually replenish.

If the Architect who designed us had seen fit to include a mechanism for replacing or donating organs, they probably would have built in some sort of biological "reset button" alongside all our other gifts; perhaps organs would simply regenerate, making the whole concept of donation obsolete.

Instead, we were left with the umbilical cord. It’s a bit poetic, really—we are essentially living on a timer that starts ticking the very moment that cord is cut at birth.

So, I don't see people who agree with me as being selfish. If anything, the true selfishness lies with those who try to bypass the natural order through transplants, desperately attempting to artificially extend a deadline that was clearly set long ago.

shadownomad43 said:Here is my take on the matter...
To be perfectly clear, I am firmly opposed to any kind of explantation, implantation, transplantation, or amputation.
And before anyone accuses me of being selfish—which would be quite the contradiction, given that (believe it or not...) I am a regular blood donor.
Why limit myself to just blood?
Because blood is something the body can actually replenish.

If the Architect who designed us had seen fit to include a mechanism for replacing or donating organs, they probably would have built in some sort of biological "reset button" alongside all our other gifts; perhaps organs would simply regenerate, making the whole concept of donation obsolete.

Instead, we were left with the umbilical cord. It’s a bit poetic, really—we are essentially living on a timer that starts ticking the very moment that cord is cut at birth.

So, I don't see people who agree with me as being selfish. If anything, the true selfishness lies with those who try to bypass the natural order through transplants, desperately attempting to artificially extend a deadline that was clearly set long ago.

Does that mean if you or someone close to you needed an organ, you would turn it down and choose death over receiving a transplant to stay alive??

shadownomad43 said:Here is my take on the matter...
To be perfectly clear, I am firmly opposed to any kind of explantation, implantation, transplantation, or amputation.
And before anyone accuses me of being selfish—which would be quite the contradiction, given that (believe it or not...) I am a regular blood donor.
Why limit myself to just blood?
Because blood is something the body can actually replenish.

If the Architect who designed us had seen fit to include a mechanism for replacing or donating organs, they probably would have built in some sort of biological "reset button" alongside all our other gifts; perhaps organs would simply regenerate, making the whole concept of donation obsolete.

Instead, we were left with the umbilical cord. It’s a bit poetic, really—we are essentially living on a timer that starts ticking the very moment that cord is cut at birth.

So, I don't see people who agree with me as being selfish. If anything, the true selfishness lies with those who try to bypass the natural order through transplants, desperately attempting to artificially extend a deadline that was clearly set long ago.

Would you really feel the same way if it were your child dying, and they could be saved by someone else's kidney, liver, or bone marrow?

You mentioned you're against implants and stuff like that. So what, you don't go to the dentist? No fillings? No crowns? That's basically just putting something artificial into your body to extend the lifespan of a tooth. It's the exact same thing.

Thomas Jackson9 said:Does that mean if you or someone close to you needed an organ, you would turn it down and choose death over receiving a transplant to stay alive??

Exactly. That is precisely the point.
The mere thought of someone else's heart beating inside my chest feels, quite frankly, revolting.

As a side note, I have a pretty extensive medical history—which translates to a significant amount of "hospital experience"—and I am actually facing my 12th surgery in a few days.
Fortunately, or perhaps by the will of God, I don't suffer from any actual organ failure; my issues tend to be more "mechanical" in nature.
However...
Since every surgical procedure (especially those involving general anesthesia) carries its own inherent risks, I took the time to draft a three-page summary of my medical history. I wanted to make things a bit easier for the doctors as they navigate the complexities of my anatomy.

In that document, I made it explicitly clear that I do NOT consent to any amputations, transplants, removals, or implants under any circumstances.
At the same time, I gave them the green light to resuscitate me if things go south, provided they exhaust all efforts while respecting the boundaries I established in the previous sentence.
Essentially, I am fine with being treated using modern medical technology, appropriate medications (assuming they exist), and the specialized knowledge gained through years of schooling. But when the time comes for me to pass away—which, like everyone else, will eventually happen—I want to go out whole. Exactly as I was born.
Whether I am 5, 15, 50, or 155 at the time doesn't matter to me one bit.

I haven't checked the boards in a while, so I'm completely out of the loop on how this conversation has evolved,
but I have a suggestion: let's pivot this thread—or rename it entirely—to focus specifically on donation acceptance and everyone's personal experiences with it.

Anything else is just noise and a waste of time.

melloworca6 said:Would you really feel the same way if it were your child dying, and they could be saved by someone else's kidney, liver, or bone marrow?

You mentioned you're against implants and stuff like that. So what, you don't go to the dentist? No fillings? No crowns? That's basically just putting something artificial into your body to extend the lifespan of a tooth. It's the exact same thing.

You’re comparing apples to oranges here.

A child who is "dying" isn't going to save anyone's kidney or liver, nor does it guarantee them a long, high-quality life.
At most, it might marginally extend their time, but those "extra" days are often spent under constant medical supervision in a hospital setting, frequently tethered to a variety of machines.

So, let me flip the question back onto you:
Would you truly be at peace watching your own child barely "survive" their childhood while trapped in constant, agonizing pain?

Patrick Young2 said:I haven't checked the boards in a while, so I'm completely out of the loop on how this conversation has evolved,
but I have a suggestion: let's pivot this thread—or rename it entirely—to focus specifically on donation acceptance and everyone's personal experiences with it.

Anything else is just noise and a waste of time.

I noticed this was structured as a poll-based thread, so I simply shared my thoughts and cast my vote. Now, I find myself popping back in just to address a couple of direct responses sent my way.

Where on earth are you getting the idea that transplant recipients are living in some kind of constant agony? People live perfectly normal lives—they work, they have sex, they have kids, they hit the gym...

In what way is their quality of life any worse than yours? You’re out here saying you’ve got twelve more surgeries ahead of you. It seems pretty selfish to extend someone else's life with a donated organ, so how exactly is what you're doing not selfish?
I'm quoting you here: but actually, the selfish ones are those who try to "forcefully" and "artificially" extend that expiration date we were all assigned at birth, at any cost, including through organ transplants. So why undergo surgery? Why bother improving your quality of life or extending it at all?

Look, let's be clear: I'm totally fine with someone choosing not to donate organs or refusing to receive one. But this whole stance of yours feels a bit hypocritical. On one hand, you're calling others selfish for wanting to stay alive and feel better, yet on the other, you're doing the exact same thing just through a different method.

melloworca6 said:Where on earth are you getting the idea that transplant recipients are living in some kind of constant agony? People live perfectly normal lives—they work, they have sex, they have kids, they hit the gym...

In what way is their quality of life any worse than yours? You’re out here saying you’ve got twelve more surgeries ahead of you. It seems pretty selfish to extend someone else's life with a donated organ, so how exactly is what you're doing not selfish?
I'm quoting you here: but actually, the selfish ones are those who try to "forcefully" and "artificially" extend that expiration date we were all assigned at birth, at any cost, including through organ transplants. So why undergo surgery? Why bother improving your quality of life or extending it at all?

Look, let's be clear: I'm totally fine with someone choosing not to donate organs or refusing to receive one. But this whole stance of yours feels a bit hypocritical. On one hand, you're calling others selfish for wanting to stay alive and feel better, yet on the other, you're doing the exact same thing just through a different method.

You’re speaking without any real foundation here, mostly because it seems you haven't the slightest clue what chronic illness actually entails. It’s likely you’ve never had to face a tragedy of that magnitude in your own life. You should be thanking God for that.

melloworca6 said:Where on earth are you getting the idea that transplant recipients are living in some kind of constant agony? People live perfectly normal lives—they work, they have sex, they have kids, they hit the gym...

In what way is their quality of life any worse than yours? You’re out here saying you’ve got twelve more surgeries ahead of you. It seems pretty selfish to extend someone else's life with a donated organ, so how exactly is what you're doing not selfish?
I'm quoting you here: but actually, the selfish ones are those who try to "forcefully" and "artificially" extend that expiration date we were all assigned at birth, at any cost, including through organ transplants. So why undergo surgery? Why bother improving your quality of life or extending it at all?

Look, let's be clear: I'm totally fine with someone choosing not to donate organs or refusing to receive one. But this whole stance of yours feels a bit hypocritical. On one hand, you're calling others selfish for wanting to stay alive and feel better, yet on the other, you're doing the exact same thing just through a different method.

Once again, you're comparing apples to oranges.
Managing physical pain is not the same thing as an organ transplant.

melloworca6 said:Where on earth are you getting the idea that transplant recipients are living in some kind of constant agony? People live perfectly normal lives—they work, they have sex, they have kids, they hit the gym...

In what way is their quality of life any worse than yours? You’re out here saying you’ve got twelve more surgeries ahead of you. It seems pretty selfish to extend someone else's life with a donated organ, so how exactly is what you're doing not selfish?
I'm quoting you here: but actually, the selfish ones are those who try to "forcefully" and "artificially" extend that expiration date we were all assigned at birth, at any cost, including through organ transplants. So why undergo surgery? Why bother improving your quality of life or extending it at all?

Look, let's be clear: I'm totally fine with someone choosing not to donate organs or refusing to receive one. But this whole stance of yours feels a bit hypocritical. On one hand, you're calling others selfish for wanting to stay alive and feel better, yet on the other, you're doing the exact same thing just through a different method.

It clearly hasn't clicked for you yet that for many people awaiting a transplant, there is no "quality of life" left to speak of.
I would suggest taking a walk through the nearest hospital, perhaps spending some time near the pediatric ward if you can manage it.
Maybe then the distinction between "selfishness" and "empathy" will finally become clear to you.

I’ll let you in on a little secret. This is an online forum. You have zero clue who is actually sitting on the other side of the screen, what their life story is, or what kind of hell they’re dealing with every single day. 😉

Look, it's fine if you're getting surgery to manage your own pain. But apparently, it's "wrong" for someone battling leukemia to receive a bone marrow transplant to cure them and finally stop hurting? That's some top-tier logic right there. 🙏 It's the same deal with kidney failure—people suffer immensely, and a transplant can fix it. Does that not count? Or does the math only work when it's your pain on the line?

shadownomad43 said:Exactly. That is precisely the point.
The mere thought of someone else's heart beating inside my chest feels, quite frankly, revolting.

As a side note, I have a pretty extensive medical history—which translates to a significant amount of "hospital experience"—and I am actually facing my 12th surgery in a few days.
Fortunately, or perhaps by the will of God, I don't suffer from any actual organ failure; my issues tend to be more "mechanical" in nature.
However...
Since every surgical procedure (especially those involving general anesthesia) carries its own inherent risks, I took the time to draft a three-page summary of my medical history. I wanted to make things a bit easier for the doctors as they navigate the complexities of my anatomy.

In that document, I made it explicitly clear that I do NOT consent to any amputations, transplants, removals, or implants under any circumstances.
At the same time, I gave them the green light to resuscitate me if things go south, provided they exhaust all efforts while respecting the boundaries I established in the previous sentence.
Essentially, I am fine with being treated using modern medical technology, appropriate medications (assuming they exist), and the specialized knowledge gained through years of schooling. But when the time comes for me to pass away—which, like everyone else, will eventually happen—I want to go out whole. Exactly as I was born.
Whether I am 5, 15, 50, or 155 at the time doesn't matter to me one bit.

Everyone has their own perspective, but thank God that so few people hold views quite like yours... Even the Catholic Church supports organ transplants, teaching that it is a sin to bury something that could save a life. It makes me wonder, though, how you managed to be a blood donor given all those diagnoses you mentioned??

Thomas Jackson9 said:Everyone has their own perspective, but thank God that so few people hold views quite like yours... Even the Catholic Church supports organ transplants, teaching that it is a sin to bury something that could save a life. It makes me wonder, though, how you managed to be a blood donor given all those diagnoses you mentioned??

Well, because of those specific health issues, I no longer qualify as a "suitable" blood donor, though I did manage to "gift" quite a few liters over the course of my life before they became an issue.

As for the Church acting as an "institution," that’s a whole other conversation entirely.
In my view, it doesn't really belong in this particular discussion.
That said, since you decided to bring up the "Church," it is curious that you didn't mention things like pedophilia or the Inquisition, among many other historical realities...

But, since you consider yourself such a devout believer, I would suggest you sit down and reflect—deeply, not just superficially—on what is actually written in the Gospels...

To get you started, here is one particularly striking passage:

(Gospel Luke 14:26-27)

"If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for my sake will save it."

melloworca6 said:I’ll let you in on a little secret. This is an online forum. You have zero clue who is actually sitting on the other side of the screen, what their life story is, or what kind of hell they’re dealing with every single day. 😉

Look, it's fine if you're getting surgery to manage your own pain. But apparently, it's "wrong" for someone battling leukemia to receive a bone marrow transplant to cure them and finally stop hurting? That's some top-tier logic right there. 🙏 It's the same deal with kidney failure—people suffer immensely, and a transplant can fix it. Does that not count? Or does the math only work when it's your pain on the line?

Well, you hit the nail right on the head there... BINGO!
Do you actually know...?

melloworca6 said:I’ll let you in on a little secret. This is an online forum. You have zero clue who is actually sitting on the other side of the screen, what their life story is, or what kind of hell they’re dealing with every single day. 😉

Look, it's fine if you're getting surgery to manage your own pain. But apparently, it's "wrong" for someone battling leukemia to receive a bone marrow transplant to cure them and finally stop hurting? That's some top-tier logic right there. 🙏 It's the same deal with kidney failure—people suffer immensely, and a transplant can fix it. Does that not count? Or does the math only work when it's your pain on the line?

Come on, please, just give me one single example. I’d love to hear about one specific person suffering from leukemia who, after receiving a bone marrow or stem cell transplant, was suddenly "cured" or found their pain completely "resolved."
Or perhaps it would be more insightful to consider those individuals who believe they have "conquered" their pain or finally found "healing" through a kidney transplant or some other organ replacement...
From what I've seen, the reality usually boils down to two scenarios: either the body treats the donated organ like a foreign invader and rejects it outright, or you get a temporary reprieve where the transplant actually takes hold for a year or two before the immune system eventually catches up, forcing the whole grueling cycle of transplantation to start all over again.
So, what exactly do you think happens there? Do you honestly believe people can just drift from one organ transplant to the next, "enjoying" life while being completely free of pain? Come on. You’re living in a total fantasy land.

I don't know about that.

Since you claim to know these cases, then I guess that's just how it is. There aren't people out there getting better because shadownomad43 doesn't know any. 👍 Honestly, for someone claiming to be a sick person, you show zero empathy for anyone else dealing with different conditions that don't look like yours.

And I'm done arguing with you. Whatever, go ahead and decide everything for yourself—as if everyone else gets a say in whether your life is artificially extended just so you can live in agony. My God, this forum... you really have to love it. 😁

My son received a liver from a young man who passed away around age 25. I find myself thinking about his parents all the time—how, in the absolute darkest moment of their lives, they chose to show such incredible humanity and ended up saving several lives in the process. It feels like a moral duty to me, a real obligation, to make sure I sign my own donor card too.

On another note, regarding pediatric transplants... there are people out there today living perfectly healthy, normal lives because they underwent liver transplants as children twenty years ago. We don't see many older recipients because, frankly, those procedures weren't even attempted much back then. But transplant medicine today? It’s nothing short of miraculous—the techniques and medications have come such a long way.

I’m not going to waste much breath on user "shadownomad43"... I'll just leave this here. ☕

shadownomad43 says:

If the One who created us had intended for us to have the ability to swap or donate organs, He probably would have thrown in some patented zippers along with everything else He gave us—or maybe He would have just given our organs the ability to regenerate so we wouldn't even need donations in the first place.

Maybe the One who created us actually wanted us to learn how to step up ourselves—as human beings—and figure out how to replace an organ when it starts to fail.