New hens not going into Eglu Go Up

[Space Chick]

I think its wierd to think about but think I'm happy for people to recycle my organs, have just have never signed up.

Was about to do it but though I should tell the parentals first!

 

 

You're a grown man you don't need to tell your parents before... Tell them after

[C&T]

All signed up here for everything - but like others, except the eyes...

 

I know the rational part of me says they will be useless to me after I am gone, but they just feel so personal for some reason - something about them being the window to your soul!

[Couperwife]

ive signed up too (they can have what they want from me, im short sighted, but thats got to be better then no sight

 

I had a donor card, but i seem to have misplaced it, so i assume that they will send me another.

 

Im on the Anthony Nolan register too.

 

I used to give blood until I fainted one time so ive not been back, i should go really, its silly not giving blood to save someones life just cos im a bit scared of fainting

 

feeling rather proud of myself

 

cathy

x

[ClaireG]

We're all signed up etc to Unfortunatly, as much as i'd like to give blood, they won't except me being diabetic and on the drugs i'm on.

[Chickvic]

We all signed up on the NHS register a fair few years ago, I registered my children at the same time. They can have anything they like when I'm gone cos I won't be needing it!

[The Dogmother]

I looked into donating blood - my family carries the rare ABneg blood type, and when my uncle was very poorly with leukemia I looked into donating to help them get enough blood for him, but they said that you have to be over 8 stone to donate (didn't know this ) and they wouldn't even consider taking a half pint My mother is ABneg and always used to donate until she picked up some nasty tropical bug when they were travelling.

[Olly]

I've been a blood donor since my 18th birthday, sadly some of my donations records have got lost, and I've missed donating at various times for health reasons - otherwise I'd be due for a special award by now!

 

It's such an easy thing to do, and it makes me very proud that here in the UK we can organise something like this and supply (just about) the country's needs with donated blood. Almost every other country has to pay people for it. I learned last time that there's now no upper age limit for donating, as long as you keep going and don't have any health problems. When my late mother was in hospital after a heart attack, she received a donation and the difference it made to how she felt (and looked) was amazing.

 

I'd urge anyone who is in good health to sign up. Luckily for me I weigh slightly more than 8 stone. I'm not saying how much more!

[Couperwife]

I weight slightly more than 8 stone aswell

[PurpleTree]

Hubby & I have been signed up to the organ donars register for as long as I can remember. You used to be able to pick the form up in the library.

 

I've never given blood as I always faint when it's taken. I now can't as I ended up having a blood transfusion after having Ben. I'm very grateful to whoever donated that blood My dad has given blood for many years, he's O neg (so am I) which apparently is much sought after as it's a sort of universal blood group. Hubby also donates regularly, he works in the hospital so doesn't have to go far.

[Woodcat]

i went down on the list as soon as i could. i agree with the, if you are willing to accept an organ you should be willing to give as well. I wish i could give blood or marrow but health reasons mean they won't accept me. So i just badger people around me to do it.

 

 

I don't know a great deal about him personality-wise but I did find out recently that he donated his body to medical research. Something I had never previously considered as an option.)

 

My grandmother has done all the forms for this and she is hoping that they will have her. From what i've gathered from her she did it because they will pay for the funeral if they take her.

[snowberry]

I signed over everything except my eyes; somehow I am of the view that life can go on even if you're blind....

You can sign up to the NHS bone marrow registry if you give blood. The advantages are that if you went through Antony Nolan, then there are fees involved for their registry & the NHS one has a higher age to sign up.

[Chook n Boo Mum]

I signed up for the organ donation when I got my provisional licence *mumbles* years ago....also on the AN register.......and really need to get back into the blood donor habit

[Bramble]

Blumin 'eck, wouldn't be surprised if my donating arm weighed 8stone by itself without taking the rest of me into account

[Looney]

I have given blood since age 18. I think it is such an important thing to do if people can. I would expect there to be blood available if I ever needed it, how many non-donors (who have no reason why they can't donate) expect the same thing? Probably all. I know a few people that have required blood transfusions and without the blood would have died. It's a no-brainer - everyone should give blood if they can! And yes, I do nag people about it!!

[majorbloodnock]

Does anyone know if you have to be a certain age to be a donor (I'm assuming you have to be at least 16 or 18 )

 

Also, are you allowed to do it if you've had major surgery in the past? Maybe they won't accept that particular organ but will accept the rest?

 

No, there are no age limits; there are babes needing organs too. As far as major surgery is concerned, it depends on your history as to whether organs are actually used or not, but if you don't at least check to see if you can donate, they certainly won't get used.

 

To those who're not sure they like the idea of organ donation, let me tell you a little story. When my father was a child, he contracted a disease that weakened his heart, although he didn't realise it at the time. He seemingly recovered and had an active childhood and young adulthood, but had a heart attack when I was only a babe, and that was when the full ramifications of his disease became apparent. He received a pacemaker and was put on a fairly extensive regime of drugs, meaning he was able to lead a fairly normal life, so long as it didn't involve strenuous exercise (the pacemaker only had one rate, so the heart wouldn't speed up with activity). This meant, of course, that he didn't feel he was the father he wanted to be. I grew up with normality being a father that couldn't run and spent a good deal of time in various hospitals. I didn't care, but he did.

 

In time, of course, his heart deteriorated to such an extent that it was obvious it wouldn't last all that much longer. This was in the early 80s, so there weren't many options left. In fact, the only possibility was the then highly experimental procedure of heart transplantation, so he was referred to Papworth and, after tests, accepted onto the waiting list. By this time, we had moved to a bungalow, and the trip from his bedroom to the bathroom required him to sit down for a rest halfway along the corridor. We were lucky, since in due course we received the phone call, he went in and received a new heart - there had been fewer than a hundred like him in the UK before. We found out shortly afterwards just how lucky this was, since post-op tests on his old heart revealed he would perhaps have had another week to live.

 

When he woke up from the operation, the difference was astounding; his first rational comment was that he could breathe. Within a year, he participated in the Transplant Olympics - at his age, he didn't expect to do well, but entered simply because he could. Shortly afterwards, he and several other transplants from around that time organised a charity golf do which turned into an annual event, always raising around £10,000 a year for Papworth. More importantly to him, all this time he was doing the things with me that he'd always felt a father ought to.

 

In the end, he died when I was 18, four and a half years after his transplant. Simple maths shows that four and a half years is a hell of an extension to one week. However, no television programme and no explanation no matter how eloquent can convey just what that meant and means both to him and to us, his family. It wasn't just prolonging the time we had with someone we loved; it was a completely transformed life. In allowing him a second chance at good quality life, it enabled us all to explore a completely new aspect to our relationship. In short, it gave a wife her husband back, it gave children a father they'd never realised existed and it gave a father back his dignity and self esteem.

 

And that was in the early days when they were working by trial and error. Since then, they've learnt so much, and long term success rates have risen dramatically. I will never suggest anyone should donate their organs, but if you choose to do so, you cannot imagine the effect you'll have on more than one person's life.

 

I'm not sure why I've written all this. I'm usually a very private person, so my apologies for this lapse into indulgence.

[Space Chick]

Major - thank you for sharing x

[Yorkshire Pudding]

Thank you for the reminder - I've used the link to update my details. They can have any or all of me! I've carried a donor card since I was 12 and signed up to every register I can find. I also give blood (I'm O neg - universal donor) although had to take a break for a few years while I has children.

 

I know someone who received corneal transplants and had his sight restores. For this reason I have always said they can take my corneas, although the idea isn't entirely comfortable - I won't know a thing about it!

[Chucky Mama]

Thanks for sharing Major let's hope your story inspires more people to sign up.

[lillybettybabs]

I can't donate blood due to having thick blood, I'm not sold on the organ donation due to some

of the programs i have seen over the year. But that may change.

It does fascination me when they say the person that has received the organ sometimes starts to behave

in some ways like the donor.

[Chook n Boo Mum]

Major, that was not an indulgence, it was showing an relatively "unknown" subject from your own very personal perspective..........by unknown, I mean from personal experience rather than lack of information available.....

 

Thank you xx

[laurmurf]

i'm pretty sure the age you can start donating blood is 17. I do know the ED and I traipsed down to the centre very shortly after her 17th birthday to do a joint 'birthday' celebration donation.

[The Dogmother]

Thank you Major - I am glad that your Dad was able to enjoy life more fully.

 

As (another) aside; he may well have worked with my aunt - she was a leading light in cardio-thoracic physio in those days and worked on the early heart transplants at Papworth, writing a lot of the training papers, many of which are still in use. She saw many a life turned around by transplants, and despite being retired is still asked to lecture and edit new papers.

 

Small world...

[PapaJuliet]

Also, are you allowed to do it if you've had major surgery in the past? Maybe they won't accept that particular organ but will accept the rest?

 

They won't take my blood any more because I had an operation / blood transfusion in 1981... well 2 actually. I received 13 pints of blood in total. I have since given it all back (well, you know what I mean) but they have since decided I can't give blood because I am at risk of passing on CJD.

 

Well, I don't know about you, but it seems to me that this means that I am at (higher) risk of developing CJD... but "Ooops, word censored!"ody has actually mentioned that to me. That makes me a bit mad (a mad cow, actually )

 

Anyway, I have always assumed I'd still be able to donate organs. I am on the register and OH knows I don't want my bits any more when I'm dead. Whether they'd take them is another matter but if it is a choice of 1 week left or accept an organ with a slight chance of it causing CJD? What is the answer to that?

 

PJ

[Yorkshire Pudding]

Interesting question, PJ, I bet someone here will know!

 

A friend recently moved to the US and is not allowed to give blood there because she lived in the UK and ate beef between certain dates, in case she carries CJD. She has donated pints in the UK but I suppose a British recipient would be likely to have the same chance of CJD as the donor

[Chucky Mama]

I might be wrong but I believe that someone did contact CJD from donated organs that were 'infected'. No history is taken when you register online so I can only assume that tests are taken prior to organs being used