The Kidney Punch

83,540 people were waiting for an organ transplant as of 4 P.M. on Sunday. Every day, 68 of those people get an organ, while 18 of those people die waiting for one. The shortage of organs in this country has sparked nationwide concern, and the United Network for Organ Sharing -- a private organization under contract with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which supplies the only national patient waiting list and the above data -- is constantly seeking donors. Children and adults die on gurneys in hospital emergency rooms every day awaiting a transplant they'll never get.

More than 60 percent of the people on the organ transplant waiting list are in need of a kidney, one of the only organs that can be donated by a live donor. Nonetheless, few donate, and even fewer have designated themselves organ donors in the event of sudden or natural death.

This past week, dozens of Americans called the Kidney and Urology Foundation, desperately wishing to donate a kidney. No, they didn't suddenly have a change of heart. Rather, New Jersey Nets star Alonzo Mourning -- a prominent figure publicly suffering from an irreversible kidney disorder -- has had some kind of divine effect on people. Hundreds, if not thousands of children, are awaiting the same type of transplant that would save Mourning. But they seem to have had much less of an effect on dozens who are willing to give one of their blood filtering devices to a basketball star. On the upside, Mourning's need for a kidney has triggered dozens of people to call asking about organ donation in general, and it may have, even on the smallest scale, increased awareness about the need for organ donations nationwide.

For thousands of people in need of organ and tissue replacements, the current situation is a desperate one. Few people are aware of the importance of designating themselves organ donors, and even fewer know what organs can be donated.

When a person passes away, the heart, pancreas, lungs, liver, intestines, and kidneys can be donated. In certain circumstances, a healthy individual can donate a kidney to another. My 21-year-old friend recently gave one of his kidneys to his aunt, and he is in perfect health. A deceased person can also provide bone marrow, and other tissues such as heart valves, cornea, skin, and connective tissues. One person who has died can save dozens of lives with organs and body parts he or she will no longer need.

Even though a lot of good can come from donating organs, the procedure is very controversial. First, religiously, many believe such body "mutilation" is a sin, and is thus strictly forbidden. For those of you who fall into this category, it is no one's place to try and persuade you against your religious beliefs. But ask yourself if you believe God would prefer giving life or holding back. There is no greater mitzvah than helping others, and there is no greater gift than the gift of life.

For a family who has just lost a loved one, it is difficult to make a decision regarding organ donation. When it comes down to that last breath, it may not matter that you checked YES on your license or had the little red sticker saying "organ donor" on the front of it. It may not even matter that you are carrying an organ donor card -- in many instances, a grieving relative can easily nix any decision you've previously made. It is important to let your family know of your intentions to donate. Often, it is of great consolation to family members to know that they are carrying out your wishes, and that you, in a way, will go on living through others.

In addition to personal decisions, there are scientific factors that contribute to the success of organ donation. Organs that become immediately available are only viable for a few hours. But of those that do become available, not just any organ will be compatible.

Organ matches are based primarily on blood type and genetic similarities, which include race and ethnicity. Because certain minorities are more prone to renal and other organ diseases, the already narrow list of organ donors is narrowed even further before any recipient is able to find an adequate donor.

If you have never thought about donating your organs, think about it now. It is definitely a difficult decision for any human being to make. But look again at the statistics above. Donating organs doesn't require you to give your life. In most instances, your life is already gone. If an individual indicates that he or she is an organ donor, his or her medical insurance and treatment is not affected. Giving an organ is a choice you make prior to your death, but it is one that will affect the lives of many others after you have died.

At a place like Cornell, where many students are pursuing careers in which helping others is a focal point, it's important to realize that designating yourself as an organ donor is a simple, yet unbelievably important way to give to others. But for some, it isn't so simple.

It is the fear of death and the fear of the unknown that often makes many potential donors hesitate. To be honest, it's a difficult fear to address. But, for me, that fear does not interfere with my wanting to be an organ donor.

As finals time approaches, trivial concerns consume us. We all ask ourselves why we're taking this or that class, and why we ever decided to come to a school like Cornell. But, in the end, the answer always ends up having something to do with our future, our ambitions and our dreams.

Tell your parents you want to be an organ donor, and fill out an organ donor card for your wallet. The decisions you make often affect more than just your own life -- little kids with full renal failure have ambitions and dreams, too.



Josh Plotnik is a senior in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. He can be reached at jmp63@cornell.edu. I'm Sayin' appears Mondays. For more information about organ donation, visit http://www.organdonor.gov.

Archived article by Josh Plotnik