Young baseball star dies, saves eight others

[Frank the Tank]

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Baseball/C...77076-sun.html

An uplifting story about the tragic death of a 16 year old Mississauga boy and how his parents came to terms with his death and donated his organs.

Obviously a subject that is very very close to my heart. One death can save as many as eight lives. Although my cousin died after her kidney transplant, she surely would have died without it.

Canada is statistically one of the lowest donating nations at about 14 per million, which I always find surprising.

[jolinar of malkshor]

I think is should be a reverse donor system. If you don't want to donate your organs then you have to sign something....otherwise they can be used.

[V]

I agree.

I lost my brother-in-law a couple years ago, and chances are he'd still be around if he could've gotten a heart.

[Eastern Girl]

That is a bittersweet story indeed. Reading all the goals he had, it's really sad.

It's nice though that his mother was able to convince his father this was a good idea.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by jolinar of malkshor

I think is should be a reverse donor system. If you don't want to donate your organs then you have to sign something....otherwise they can be used.

very much so, I think mostly people would gladly donate their organs, they just don't know how to go about it, or really bother to do so.

[Agamemnon]

Originally Posted by Table 5

very much so, I think mostly people would gladly donate their organs, they just don't know how to go about it, or really bother to do so.

I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of people are worried that the doctors will start stripping them down when there's still a chance of saving/resucitating the person. I've heard several people speculate that they don't want to be 'harvested' if they've still got even a small chance to make it. I'm one of those people.

That said... with great difficulty... I just signed mine. Not sure why its such a difficult thing to do, I guess its like writing a will, people don't really want to plan on death.

So when I go, little Billy had better put my lungs to better use than I did! That kids in for a surprise...

[Frank the Tank]

Originally Posted by Table 5

very much so, I think mostly people would gladly donate their organs, they just don't know how to go about it, or really bother to do so.

Its as simple as making your wishes known to your family members, as they have the final say when you kick it.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by Frank the Tank

Its as simple as making your wishes known to your family members, as they have the final say when you kick it.

sure, that maybe be true when you're older or dying from an illness, but how many 20 year olds go around planning for an unfortunate accident? I would assume that most young people just don't think about that stuff, or if they do, don't pass that information on to their loved ones. And I'm also going to assume (becasuse i play a doctor on the web) that younger body organs are more valuable then older ones, so if more young people were made aware of this, it would save even more lives.

[Nicole]

My nephew recieved a kidney transplant 2 years ago when he was 19 months old .. he was the youngest patient ever in Alberta to recieve a kidney transplant (it was living donor - from my brother). After seeing what it did for him and how much his quality of life has changed, I would never have a problem allowing my organs or those of my immediate family to be used for donation if it came down to that.

Seeing where he is today, compared to where he was 2 years ago, it is an absolute miracle.

[Sylvanfan]

In B.C. it was something they asked you when you renewed your drivers licencse, but I don't recall being asked that the last time I renewed my license here in Alberta. I know when I lived in B.C. I had the organ donor thing on my license, but now that I think about it, I'm not so sure thats the case anymore.

[Superflyer]

Organ donation is a great thing, I have already signed up for it. I figure if I am gone I don't need them anymore so someone else may as well take them.
Here is a link for more info LINK

Also has anyone seen the ads on the busses latley for using your seat belts. They say "If your not going to buckle up then at least sign your organ donation card"
I like that.