Organ & tissue donors needed
I am writing to urge the Latino community and all Coloradans to register their decision to be organ and tissue donors. Nationally, nearly 16,000 Latinos are waiting for an organ transplant. In Colorado, nearly 400 Latinos are waiting, including both my wife and me.
My wife and I have waited more than a year for kidney transplants and have been told that we may be waiting for five years. Suffering from kidney failure, we both undergo grueling dialysis treatments to stay alive.
Historically, the Latino community says yes to donation less frequently than other ethnic groups. There are several misconceptions that keep our community from donating. Myths include the belief that doctors will not work as hard to save the life of a person who has indicated he or she wishes to be a donor. This is untrue. The first priority of a medical professional is to save lives. In some cases, such as when a kidney transplant is needed, living donors are able to donate their organs. Another myth is that the donor family is charged for donating their loved one
In Colorado, 22 percent of the more than 1,700 people waiting for an organ transplant are Latino. Save a life. Talk to your family about organ and tissue donation and register your decision at www.coloradodonorregistry.org or by calling 888.256.4386. You can also register by going to the DMV when you obtain or renew your driver
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Jesus would not approve! Todays Christians should never have a transplant from a dead person. It's against God's will.
Posted by Right Wing Nut on September 26, 2007 06:52 PMBuilding on what Mr. Garcia has stated, there are over 97000 people in the United States on the organ waiting list, some of who (sadly) will not make it. There is a lot of misinformation about donation, which prevents people from offering the gift of donation. Many don't realize that this gift can mean up to 8 organs per donor, saving the lives of up to 8 people. In addition, from one donor dozens of people can benefit from tissue, skin, stem cell, and cornea recoveries, not to mention research. All this by simply saying yes to donation.
You want real heroes? Picture a family having just lost a loved one, setting their grief aside long enough to say yes to donation, then all the people who potentially can be helped through this selfless act.
I strongly recommend that all people become familiar with the facts involving donation. There are a number of excellent organizations right here in the Denver area: Donor Alliance, AlloSource, Rocky Mountain Lions Eyebank, Rocky Mountain Tissue, and not to mention the hospitals and research being performed here.
Please go on line and learn about the miracle of donation. Just learning about it can make a HUGE difference in both your and in someone else's life.
Screw you,
God gave them the organs they need in the first place, if those organs failed, those people must be evil in some way. Besides, we all know that all brown skinned people are illegals anyway, they don't get my organs, no way!
Plus, this is America, it's every man for themselves, don't bother me with things like general welfare or anything like that. I got my organs, let the poor and disadvantaged suffer. It's the Christian Republican way.
Have a nice day, I have a klan, errrrr....republican forum to attend.
Posted by A Republican on September 27, 2007 11:10 AMSince Bush and all of the Democrats love the Hispanics (especially illegals) so much let them donate the needed organs.
I would only donate my organs to a true minority...... a Caucasian!
Posted by on September 27, 2007 01:25 PMA Republican, sir, hold on. Take your lynching and noose-toting buddies like CSU Prez Penley, Ritter, Stanley Jordan, Skaggs, Tancredo, Allard, and Shamnesty Salazar wit ya!
Posted by draftdodgingisntafamilyvalue on September 27, 2007 01:28 PMIt would be nice to see a post here without all of the racial undertones, as well as actually see someone post something related to the topic of the letter. The September 27, 2007 01:25 PM poster can't resist slamming illegals because the letter writer is Latino and he is talking about Latino organ donation. Never mind that the letter writer could be a fourth or fifth generation Latino American whose ancestors were here long before this ignorant poster's ancestors were. I wouldn't want this poster's organs. I'd probably catch a case of his ignorance.
I am the recipient of a kidney transplant that was done on 7/7/07 (actually my second one) and I am also a registered nurse who has cared for organ transplant patients. The letter writer is thoughtful and very straightforward in his letter. Anyone, regardless of race, is a true hero for choosing to be an organ donor. My donor was a 17-year old girl, whose other kidney, liver, both lungs, heart, and pancreas went to different recipients. Without her heroic choice, at least three of the recipients would not be alive today. Organ donation is one of the most selfless acts one can do. None of the world's major religions condemn it (most view it as an ultimate act of kindness). There's no real reason not to donate your organs. You certainly can't take them to heaven with you.
The most effective thing any of you can do is register as an organ donor yourself and encourage all of your friends and family to as well. We can alleviate the shortage or available organs, but only if more of us donate. So...done vida or "Donate Life."
To the letter writer...your wait for a kidney will depend on your blood type and HLAs (Human Leukocyte Antigens). AB blood type people wait the shortest amount of time and O blood type people tend to wait the longest usually. I hope that your transplant happens soon. They told me the wait could be 4-5 years as well. I waited 2 1/2 years for my 1st and just 7 months the second time around. I sincerely hope you get that phone call soon and I will keep you in my prayers. God bless.
Posted by Ethan Hatchett on September 27, 2007 02:57 PMOn the one hand, it would make sense to ignore two-thirds of the reponses to Mr. Garcia's email, and just pray that the hate reflected in those do not represent the American people.
People don't realize what is involved in donation. The love and generosity of donor families and the miracle of an organ recipient's transformation is something incredible.
I have to believe that the VAST majority of the people out there recognize the beauty of this and that it will overwhelm the hate that the other responders are displaying. How sad your lives must be.
To Tony (Ethan already knows this), there are people in the recovery/transplant community who are dedicated to do everything we can for you and all who need the gift of life.
I don't mind who gets my body parts when I am dead.
Glad to help out.
NOTHING against organ donation, but as I read these blogs I can't help but see where illegal immigration and the way this government has ignored the pleas of the people to enforce the immigration laws has made people bitter and nasty.
Organ donation is a wonderful thing regardless ethnic background, but when someone mentions Latino, people tend to bite back.
Pathetic what is happening isn't it?
Posted by c on September 29, 2007 07:49 AMA Republican and 1:25,
I'm sorry...
You may have been serious. But your post cracked me up. I knew ..illegal..would come out somewhere when you mention the word "Latino".
But.. Me and my family have that little heart on our drivers license, so who really cares what hapens to our organs when we die,
we're dead. Although.. There was a one hour special..nightline ..that some hospitals and organ donation organizations are letting people die if they need a certain organ, and it costs someone sells and buys. them. Now, that's scary.
I do hope The Garcias get the organs they need. I wish my husband would have..he didn't and he died.