Organ Donation, Sign up takes literally two mins.

[Travelling Sam]

Incredible? Isn't it. Huge offer eh. I do know what you mean though and hey, I know you've been on the Organ Donor register for a long time - if I could put a row of thumbs ups here I would!!!!! I think if everyone signed up the world would be a finer place for a hell of a lot of people. Hey, as you know, I'm one of those. Life had got pretty grim to say the least. Now - smiling Thanks for doing what you do. Glad to know you.
PS Not certain about the liver but I'd put money on your thought... yes, I did say that! :whistle: hmy:

[Breva]

Speaking from personal experience I needed a transplant back in 2003 so I know what its like to be on a waiting list, 3 years on dialysis really messes up your and your close family lives up.I got my transplant and I/we will be forever grateful to the donor and his family. Just remember to let your family and friends know of your wishes because I believe they can still refuse permission. Before anyone asks,yes I was already on the organ donor register before my illness, so please sign up now, you never know when it might be you or one of your family that needs help.

[guyinthejungle]

Registered and so has my wife...

Good thread!!!!

[davsato]

there is a desperate shortage, i dont think it'll be long before its....... cant remember what its called properly, the thing where everyone is assumed to be a donor unless they opt OUT.

sam- just read this on NHS website;
"Living donor liver transplant
During a living donor organ transplant, a section of liver is removed from a living donor and is used for transplant.
Because the liver can regenerate itself, both the transplanted section and the remaining section of the donor’s liver are able to regrow into a normal-sized liver."

good stuff eh? i just thought it was that chewy shoe leather crap they make you eat in school dinners

[Travelling Sam]

Afternoon all Great to see your posts guyinthejungle and Breva.

I REALLY hope that the Opt Out system will be brought in soon. Frankly I don't really understand why it hasn't already but I suspect it'll be down to tabloid shock horror and the Govt's unwillingness to stand up for what is right. Oh and sensible eh. Quite a few countries on mainland Europe have already adopted the system... I think the point that everyone seems to ignore is that if a person is genuinely anti-transplant then they will make the effort to opt out. Any issues are solved.

The Welsh are well down the line to setting the system up. The odd thing is that one of the senior members of the church in Wales was anti the idea because he said it was against human rights. Went on TV to say it too. I feel awfully thick. Don't understand the concept...

Dave, really good to see the info re liver transplants. I gather that this is even more vital than kidney transplants - harder to get a match? Not sure. But isn't how it works amazing.

'chewy shoe leather crap they make you eat in school dinners'? What an image that conjures up!!! :S You and I weren't at the same school were we?

I ended up having an interesting but intense conversation with a chap at the London Bike show. He'd just finished reading Tortillas to Totems where I write a bit about this. He told me that he thought that transplantation was all wrong and that the rest of the country shouldn't have to shoulder the costs. He did think that people have the right to have their stomachs stapled on the NHS because of the long term savings... It hadn't clicked that a transplant is far cheaper than ongoing medical treatment for those in need.

But that's what I love about topics like this being discussed. Did anyone watch the series on ITV the other week about Organ Donation? Didn't they do a cracking job. They answered lots of key questions didn't they. I was really impressed that a main TV station would take up prime time tv hours for this. Maybe it is the first real step towards an Opt Out system but in the mean time, if you are reading this an aren't on the register... :whistle:

Oh gosh... Sam's got on a hobby horse again :dry:

[gazxt1200z]

Well i hope that the opt out system WON'T be brought in,i for one do not want my organs being used to maybe help out some immigrant not everybody wants to donate people iv'e text since this thread has started have said they wouldn't either.

[Shunt]

Would you receive a donated organ?

[gazxt1200z]

No for the same reason i wouldn't give one.

[Travelling Sam]

No for the same reason i wouldn't give one.

Isn't that just the beauty of living in a country as we do - no one 'has' to. But having an opt out system? It can keep everyone happy. And more people not struggling on suffering. And more families not having to deal with the stress and worries. Yep, that's the beauty.

I sure as hell don't think that everyone should be forced into donating organs once they are dead. That'd be like living in a dictatorship. Thank god we don't! But I do strongly believe (as you've guessed by now : ) that the system should be made more positive, and easier.

I knew a chap who had spent the bulk of his life doing things to help other people. He never got rich as a result of spending his time and money on others. Great mechanic. If your bike had a problem, he'd work with you in his workshop. Broke? He'd lend you a bob. Nice bloke. Not judging or sanctimonious at all. He just saw people that needed help, he could, so he did. Lots of stories about the things he did. I know he was hugely looking forward to retirement. This was when he was going to set off to ride around the world. That was his dream and he had it all planned out. 8 weeks after he retired, he had the bike (Super Ten) and it was all kitted out, had even bought his visas etc, then things went wrong. Liver. The guy didn't even drink. No transplant available. He died. Some reward eh.

[Breva]

Thanks to all that have signed up