For most people, February 14th is spent celebrating Valentine’s Day with the ones they love. What a lot of people may not know is February 14th is also the day that some families celebrate the ultimate act of love, the gift of life, on National Donor Day. For people fortunate enough to receive this gift, National Donor Day is a day of celebration! For those on the transplant list, it’s another day they pray they’ll get that phone call that changes their life. I’m fortunate that I don’t have a personal donor story to share with you today. But I do have the perspective of having had a front row seat to the moments that change families’ lives for better or for worse.
As a Trauma ICU nurse, we often find ourselves present for the worst moments of people’s lives. Trauma is something that happens very suddenly, and it affects not only your own life but everyone around you. It, unfortunately, affects a lot of young people, many of whom haven’t given a thought as to if they would like to donate their organs. It’s not just a question at the DMV. It’s an extremely personal decision that you need to discuss with your family.
In trauma, we never got to see the side of people receiving organs on the best day of their lives. We knew the pain of working so hard to save someone’s life, and ultimately it just wasn’t enough. But the most beautiful thing I gained from those experiences is when we got to honor them as they donated to give others the chance of life. If you’d like to see what a Walk of Honor looks like, this is a beautiful video from right here in St. Louis: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=L1JsOp5C0Rw.
Beyond my experiences as a nurse, there are many reasons why I choose to be on the donor registry. First and foremost are my children. Like every parent, I pray for my children’s continued health and that they never need an organ transplant. But if they ever do and I am not a match, I would hope someone else has made the same decision to be on the donor registry for my kids as I would be for theirs. I also want to live a long life and witness all the moments to come with my daughters. I know other parents pray for the same, so I chose the donor registry to give us all a chance to be present for our families for many years to come.
It’s important that you speak openly about your decision with your family. It can often be hard to have these discussions before your spouse or children feel like it’s “time.” From my professional experience, I can tell you that time is never guaranteed; every day is a gift. My family knows it’s in my heart to donate, and I have inspired my family members to do the same. This National Donor’s Day, I encourage you to visit MidAmerica Transplant’s website to learn more about organ donation and read some of the inspiring stories from organ recipients: www.midamericatransplant.org. They also offer a great informational Youtube video that you can access at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMAxI73vLJg. IG: @donatelifeamerica #donatelife .
