Become an Organ Donor (The Gift That Keeps on Giving)

EDIT: Speech audio now available: http://www.rhapsody.com/goto?rcid=alb.70975452&variant=play


Below is an outline of a speech I did at my college tonight, the speech will be available January 18th on iTunes, etc.... The file is too big to upload anywhere else though, so here is this for now. It is not exact as somethings change when you get up there to talk. The speech by David Moore will be available on iTunes, etc so it is probably better you listen to that.


I. Introduction

A. We’re all going to die, whether it’s while we’re shopping at Costco tomorrow or if it’s when we’re old and grey. What are you going to do with this information? Cry about it or use it to make an impact? If you know you’re going to die, then why not use this information to save lives?

B. Today, I hope to convince you to become an organ donor. I will cover the problems that prevent people from becoming donors such as:
1. Religious beliefs that prevent it
2. Procrastination in signing up to be a donor
3. Fear of being harvested for your organs before death

C. I will also discuss solutions to these problems and why it is important to
register as an organ donor now instead of later:
1. The Good it can bring to others
2. Death and its terrible timing
D. And finally I will explain how:
1. You can guarantee that your life makes a difference
2. And how your decision will affect many generations to come

II. Body

A. Problems that prevent organ donation:

1. Some people are religiously against being donors, others are afraid of the idea for various different reasons. If you believe in a soul like I do, or even if you don’t believe in life after death… Put some faith in your beliefs and become an organ donor. According to OrganDonor.gov, “18 people will die each day waiting for an organ.” If you believe in the human soul, then you likely believe that after you die the soul departs from the body. 2 Corinthians 5:8 of The Holy Bible states, “We are confident, [I say], and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.” So, your soul doesn’t need those organs anyway! Likewise, if you believe in a soul, you might also believe in being judged for your actions, whether they are good or bad. So, why not make your last deed count? Greg Easterbrook of beliefnet.com states in his article, Organ Donation: Where Your Religion Stands, “All mainstream American Protestant denominations approve of organ donations. In a typical example, the Lutheran Church (ELCA) endorsed the practice in 1984, calling such acts ‘expressions of sacrificial love for a neighbor in need.’” If you don’t believe in a soul, then you probably believe that when you die there is nothing, you’re just gone… Again, if you’re just gone, you have no need for the organs: In this regard, religious people and non-religious people have some common ground. According to OrganDonor.gov, “1 organ donor can save up to 8 lives.” So, whatever you believe put some faith in it! Why let perfectly good organs go to waste when you could save up to 8 lives?

2. Many people plan on registering to be a donor, but never get around to it… because death is so unpredictable. We never plan on dying… We don’t wake up in the morning and say, “I’m going to get some breakfast, go to work, and on my lunch break I have an appointment with death, so I better find time to register as an organ donor!” I wish it worked like that, I really do! According to Webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/organ-donation-facts, “Organ donors are always in short supply. There are far more people in need of a transplant than there are people willing to donate an organ.” Everyone is so concerned with recycling and being green, but when it comes to human organs they do not have the same outlook, even though it could actually save lives! My father-in-law, John, contracted Hepatitis C in Vietnam, where he did two tours as a Green Beret. Doctors didn’t know what this disease was back then, it was fairly new and they called it “Hepatitis Non-A, Non-B.” In 2001, he was in desperate need of a liver transplant. The VA hospital told him he would get it faster in Oregon. So, he traveled from Martinez, California to a VA hospital in Oregon, where he would get a liver. The very night before he was to get his new liver, he died. Someone who served his country in two violent tours, when most soldiers went home after one tour… couldn’t get any special treatment, he couldn’t get the liver he needed in a timely manner simply because there are not enough registered donors. He got the disease while fighting for us and he died hoping that someone would have helped him in return.

3. People are afraid that they’ll end up helping others prematurely; there is this false belief that once you become an organ donor, if you end up in the hospital for any reason, they are going to start harvesting your organs because for some reason your life isn’t as important as someone else’s. According to Mayoclinic.com, “Although it's a popular topic in the tabloids, in reality, people don't start to wiggle their toes after they're declared dead. In fact, people who have agreed to organ donation are given more tests (at no charge to their families) to determine that they're truly dead than are those who haven't agreed to organ donation.” So, to me it sounds like we get a little extra insurance that we’re actually dead before they start taking our goods.

B. Solutions

1. If you lack the courage to register as an organ donor, then think about all the good that you could do and the lives you are saving. Also, think about how the last thing you ever did on this earth was make a difference and save lives. In other words, talk yourself into it.

2. Because death is so unpredictable, we never know when we’re going to die… According to TheNationalNetworkForOrganDonors.org: “Signing up to be an organ donor is one of the most generous things you can do — especially when you consider that a single donor can potentially save eight lives.” Valerie Vaughn, a recipient of a heart transplant, received her new heart, 13 years ago when she was only 15. While most girls her age dreamed about meeting prince charming, she dreamed about seeing another day. That was made possible by one generous donor. She not only survived this procedure, but she also graduated college like many of you will and has a career in marketing and in public relations. Valerie told me, “I can say that I'm more than grateful. It's hard to say anything about it, but nothing is good enough. No words can capture the gratitude I have for my donor family.” For her full story, you can visit her blog at hearttxxx.wordpress.com. So, don’t put registering to become a donor off until tomorrow, register today because Proverbs 27:1 of The Holy Bible, states, “Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.” This very well could be the last chance you get. You can register online any time at http://donatelife.net/register-now/ or at your local DMV. When you get your driver’s license renewed, make sure the pink dot is on your card to show that you are a registered donor.

3. We all want to leave our mark on the world to make an impact. It is very difficult to do something that truly makes a difference, but by becoming an organ donor, we can make a guaranteed impact.
4. Your decision to become an organ donor will affect generations to come, maybe even generations of people that wouldn’t be here if not for your decision.
III. Conclusion

A. I strongly believe in preserving life, and I am more than happy to say that when I die, it won’t be in vain. I will be making a difference. There are few things in life that we can do that makes a big impact, so if you’re not so sure you’ve made an impact in life, you can guarantee that you make one in death by becoming an organ donor. Nobody wants to end their life on a sour note; we all want to make a lasting impact.

B. If you’re not convinced, just think about this one last thing: What if your organs could save a family member or a young child? This would allow them to grow up and do what no one thought possible; have a family of their own and their children would carry on your legacy by having a family of their own too. In fact, you could give life to generations of people; maybe one of them will change the world by curing cancer or ending world hunger. Who knows what difference you could make? It’s like giving a gift to the world, all wrapped up and nobody knows what’s inside. You can have peace in death, knowing that your death is giving life to many. If that is not enough to convince you, then I don’t know what is. I understand you don’t want to face your own mortality and admit that one day you’re going to die, but do it just this one time and then put it in the back of your mind. You don’t have to think about it every day; you only have to register once.

C. Remember how important it is to get over your fears. Take that leap and register to become a donor. People are waiting and counting on you. Do not procrastinate because tomorrow may be too late. Malcolm X once said, “The mind is a terrible thing to waste.” Today, I tell you… so are the rest of your organs.