First we are born, then we live and then soon we die. Everything gets over very quickly. Each day many children are born and everyday many die too. Whoever lives for the good of others, worries about others and comes forward to help those who live in the edge of danger, for those people their death becomes meaningful and they become part of history. Their lives are later celebrated by people for many years. Hithendran and many after him, who have donated their organs, likewise, have got a place in history.
“In today’s world there are millions of people who are waiting for organ donors” says Vikatan.com, a popular Health News website. In the past only blood and eyes could be donated, but now with the advent of medical science almost all body parts could be taken from one person and be given to the ones in need.We can take the organs of people who are brain dead and people who are dead and can transplant them to the bodies of the ones who are in need of them. We can also donate our bodies for the purpose of educating doctors. Instead of burying our body or burning it we could donate it to someone who needs it. In the advance nations the awareness about organ donation is very high. Around eighty percent of people there are willing to donate their bodies after their death. But here it’s less than one percent.
In India, once in every ten minutes someone dies unable to find replacement for a dysfunctional organ. At the same time lakh’s and lakh’s of organs are either burned or buried and are getting destroyed. The reason for this is the lack of awareness about organ donation.
(Infographic courtesy of Vikatan.com)
As far as organ donation in India is concerned, Tamil Nadu is in the number one position. This year alone hundreds of people have already donated their body organs already. But still the need for organs is much greater than the actual organ donations happening each year.
Dr. Arunachalam explains about organ donation in a very brief manner. “Many still believe that only blood and eyes can be donated. People are still unaware of organ donation. After someone suffers natural death his whole body could be donated for research and for educating medical students or they can donate their organs alone. People who are healthy and are between 18 to 60 years old can donate some body parts during their lifetime. The person could go to a government hospital and get his wish to donate organs after his death, registered.
Who can donate their body organs?
People with high blood pressure, diabetics, cancer, heart disease and AIDS can’t donate their organs. The rest can donate their body parts.
What are the organs we can donate when we are alive?
A person can donate one of his kidneys, a part of the liver, lungs, intestine and pancreas, and also his blood and bone marrow. There is no harm in donating a part of our body organs. Our body is fully capable of adjusting with one kidney if we choose to donate the other and the same is true for the liver and the lungs. There is no need to take any extra medication after the organ donation is done.
What are the organs that can be received for organ donation?
Cornea, cardiovascular valves, skin, bones, protective muscle fibers, cartilages, nerves, and arteries can be donated.
What are the organs that can be received from brain dead patients?
From brain dead patients kidneys, liver, lungs, pancreas, gastritis, small intestines and larynx can be taken. From women their uterus, eyes, nipples, bones, cartilage, skins, nerves, arteries, hands, toes and skin can be taken. In the same way the bodies of people who are dead can be donated for research purpose. No matter what kind of a death a person undergoes, his bones and tissues can be used for transplantation. This way, twenty five different types of organs and tissues can be received through organ donation from an individual. One person can donate his organs to ten different people.” says Dr. Arunachalam.
After we die we can’t take our wealth and our belongings with us and they are not going to be proof of the life we lived. It is a great thing to do, to give life to people, even in our death. Register today for organ donation and make life meaningful.