Donation Misconceptions are not Always Negative

In the spring of 1994 my friend, Linn, needed a heart transplant. She had just had triplets and developed cardiomyopathy after their birth. She was put on the transplant list, and I just knew she would be fine. After all, I thought everyone indicated their wish to be a donor on their driver license, meaning they would be an organ donor upon death. I could not have been more wrong.

Linn died nine short days after the birth of her sons. I am a pretty positive person so I expected Linn to get a heart transplant and live happily ever after with her husband and three new baby boys, but it wasn’t until I started working at Lifeline of Ohio, that I began to I understand why Linn did not get the heart she so desperately needed.

I started at Lifeline of Ohio in a temporary role in the beginning of April 12 years ago. It was National Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Week (what is now Donate Life Month) and I learned quite a bit in my first few days. I was aware of organ donation but I had very little knowledge about the subject. I had the organ donor heart on my driver license and made that decision when I got my very first license because, even though I didn’t have the facts about donation, I knew it was the right thing to do.

I learned while working at Lifeline of Ohio that only a small number of people who die are even able to be an organ donor. I did not realize that in order to be an organ donor, a person would have to be pronounced brain dead. I did not know what tissue donation was and I had no idea that there were thousands of people desperately awaiting the gift of life. Most of all, I learned that there are many reasons why people say “no” to being a donor. I just figured everyone would say yes to that question.

Over the next few months, the misconceptions I had about donation were cleared up. I also learned how to answer the questions people had about donation. Twelve years later, I am armed with stories of heroes, hope, and life. I can most assuredly say I have made an informed decision by joining the Ohio Donor Registry and it is the right thing to do. I hope everyone else does the same so no one else dies while waiting for a transplant, like my friend, Linn.

-Diane Loomis, Lifeline of Ohio recovery secretary

By admin on 4/21/11, In Uncategorized