An Athlete's Story: Erik Compton

There are many different characteristics of a personality that make a champion. For Erik Compton, it’s perseverance. For Jannine and Isaac, two donors who have saved Erik’s life, that characteristic is selflessness. Both Jannine and Issac were young adults who signed up to be organ donors before their lives were cut short.
It is because of their willingness to become donors that Erik, a PGA pro-golfer who just made the cut for the Honda Classic, is able to continue playing golf and raising his two month old daughter, Petra. He is able to continue loving his wife, Barbara, and he treasures each new day because it truly is a gift. Erik lives not only because of his own personal strength and endurance, but also because two individuals made one incredible decision. They didn’t hesitate. They registered to be donors.

Wanna do it?
www.doitnowohio.org/onu

You can find out more about Erik Compton in this week’s Sports Illustrated: http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1154479/1/index.htm

Written by Evan Roberts

Myths, Misconceptions & the Reality of Organ Donation

With our closing event coming up soon, Lauren Fitting, a speaker for Lifeline of Ohio came to talk about the myths that drive people away, to help boost interest in becoming an organ or tissue donor. Over 100,000 people are on the waiting list and myths such as ‘A patient won’t get proper medical treatment’ or ‘Only the rich get transplants’ are driving potential donors away.

These myths are FALSE!

Doctors are here to save lives and the hospitals do not even know whether people are organ donors or not at the time of treatment.  Transplants are not based on economic status, either, but rather how compatible someone is with the donor. By becoming an organ donor you can save up to eight lives! You will become the hero to eight people by giving them a second chance at life.

The opportunity to do voluntary donation, which is donating organs like kidneys, liver and tissue through surgery while the donor is living, was also part of her presentation. A cool fact Lauren brought up about live donation was that a liver can actually regenerate itself. Now how cool is that?!

Wanna Do It?

Don’t let the myths scare you away, sign up to be an organ and tissue donor today!

Do It Now!

www.doitnowohio.org/onu

Written by Kelsey Giesler

Closing Events

Join us for our closing events!

If you haven't signed up to be an organ and tissue donor there is still time!

Check out our Facebook page for more information.

Wanna Do It...

                  ...Do It Now!

The Recipient's Journey

A friend text me the other day to say her uncle, after five years of being on the national donor waiting list, had finally gotten the call to receive his new heart.
Five Years.

This made me think of what five years meant to me. If you haven’t been convinced that you could one day help someone by becoming an organ donor today, think of what five years means to you. Now think that my friends’ uncle has been sick most of his life and has lived over 40 years knowing one day he would need to depend on a stranger’s kindness. When the fight begins for those who are critically ill, most are given many medical opportunities before they are added to The National Waiting List as a last resort. It is a long and trying journey for a recipient.

First, the patient’s physician must give a referral and contact a transplant hospital. Patients and their doctors discuss which of the 200+ transplant hospitals in the United States fits their needs; including insurance, location, finances and even support group availability. An evaluation appointment is then scheduled to determine if the patient is a good candidate for a transplant.

During the evaluation at the patient’s selected hospital the transplant team agrees whether or not the patient is a good transplant candidate, they will add the patient to the national waiting list. The transplant hospital notifies the patient within 10 days to inform the patient of the date of listing. And then the the real journey - the wait - begins.

The surgery took over 10 hours and now my friends’ uncle is recovering because of a stranger’s generous act. What will the next five years mean for him?

Wanna Do It…
...Do It Now!

www.doitnowohio.org/onu


Written by Madison Bender

Source: http://www.transplantliving.org/beforethetransplant/list/list.aspx

My fear of Eyes

I am an organ donor. “Take everything but my eyes,” I have always told my mother and sister. My eyes are mine.
You are not the only one, this idea makes no sense to anyone. But to me it doesn’t have to, I just know I want my eyes left with me. I have begun to think this campaign is my opportunity to learn more and maybe figure out why I have such uneasiness with this scenario.
The eye donning process starts with a call to the eye bank from the hospital with a possible donor, much like in other organ and tissue donation processes. With eyes however, the next of kin consent and recovery surgery must take place within 12 hours of death. After the family’s consent and a thorough medical-social history, the donor’s eligibility process begins. In this process the eye bank pays close attention to the cause of death, any medications the donor may have been on and if there was any blood loss due to the risks these could cause a recipient.
If the donor’s eyes are cleared, meaning there aren’t any medical problems, an eye bank technician performs a physical inspection of the donor. This process screens for signs of infectious disease and a sample of blood is also drawn to be tested for HIV I and II, Hepatitis B and C and Syphilis.
Finally, after this examination and approval the corneas can be surgically recovered. After removing the cornea, it must be kept in a storage container, which keeps the tissue viable and sterile. Technicians evaluate the cornea again to make certain that it meets the criteria for transplantation. Next, the eye bank's medical director reviews the records for the donor and makes a final eligibility determination. After authorization, the cornea is then sealed and packed in a container of wet ice ensuring it remains between two to eight degrees and does not freeze, this it is transported.
So is there a reason for me to be completely unnerved by this process? Not really. My body would no longer be functioning in this world so I wouldn't actually have any fears at that time and this type of donation has a huge effect on a recipient's life. 

Just close your eyes for five minutes.

Wanna Do It...
                        ...Do It Now!

www.doitnowohio.org/onu 

Written by Madison Bender

Source: http://www.restoresight.org/donation/

"My Religion Won't Allow Me To Donate"

A frequently asked question about organ and tissue donation deals with a conflict between religious beliefs and donation. It’s good to know that all major religions support organ and tissue donation.
This Web site offers a list of many different religions and their stance on donation. Most find donation an act of charity and neighborly love, but if you are concerned it is suggested you talk with your minister, pastor, rabbi or other religious leader.
Organ and tissue donation is not just a faith-based issue. To be able to help others in need of organs or tissues, regardless of faith, is something that all people are able to participate.
Wanna Do It…
…Do It Now!

www.doitnowohio.org/onu

Written by Cynthia Cultright

Informed Consent Information

Joining the Ohio Donor Registry to become an organ or tissue donor is quite simple. Visiting www.doitnowohio.org/onu is one way. Your BMV is also a common place to sign-up whenever you renew your license. Once registered, donors automatically and legally give consent for donation upon death, for any purposes authorized by law.

So what can be donated?

Organs which can be donated include:

• Heart
• Liver
• Kidneys
• Lungs
• Pancreas
• Small intestine
• Tissues which can be donated include:
• Corneas
• Skin
• Bone
• Tendons and ligaments
• Heart valves
• Vessels

Once registered the details of consent can be modified to include only specified organs and/or tissues (or only specified purposes) according to the needs/wants of the registrant.

Wanna Do It...