Well, I don't know about you all, (or as they say in Pittsburgh, "Yens") but I could get used to not working weekends. It's only going to be for a few more weeks, alas, while I finish orientation. Meanwhile, while weeding through my stacks and stacks of emails I came across some stories on donation.
Starting off, this woman is celebrating her 22nd year with a donor kidney. While she reflects on all the good things that have happened in that time, it's also bittersweet thinking about the life that was lost.
Losing my religion: At first I wasn't going to even give this one any "cred", but I decided to link to it because this woman is becoming a thorn in my side(sorry, Jesus). She has a religious blog and uses her credentials as a paramedic to discourse on organ donation and other subjects. Seriously, this is why I don't go to church more often. On a lighter note, I came across what may be the funniest t-shirt I've seen in a while. Just don't let Father see.
I wish we would hear more about donor families. It is my sincere belief that donation doesn't just help the recipients, it helps the grieving families, too. Wondering what "presumed consent" is? Check back in a few days, I'm working up a post on it.
Wisconsin: It's more than just cheese! Wisconsin has the highest organ donor conversion rate in the country-83%. Twenty points higher than the national average. If memory serves, it was the Wisconsin governor's friendship with Tommy Thompson that brought about the HRSA breakthrough collaborative.
Over at Revive Hope, there's a call for people whose lives have been changed through organ donation. (BTW, cute baby picture, Steve. I notice the mouth is wiiiiide open. Hmmm.) Well, what are you waiting for? Get writing!
All right, enough for today, I still have to write my NJO post before the baby wakes up.
7 comments:
Just because we have opposing views on organ donation isn't a good enough reason to "lose your religion." Can't you handle different viewpoints than your own? And that article I published was from Dr Byrne, past president of the Catholic Medical Association. Newsflash!! I'm Catholic and hold Catholic viewpoints.
As for using my paramedic credentials- no, I use my moral conscience as a Catholic to guide what I write about. You are using a double standard here to judge me, my friend. Your own blog is one where you use your credentials as an Organ Procurement coordinator to guide your opinion.
And I don't have a problem with that. You're not a thorn in my side at all, and I'm certainly not going to stop going to Mass because we have different opinions. But I will remember you in my Rosary. God bless.
Hey TC!!!
I know you won’t – but don’t let the opinion of a few get you down, or cause you to lose your religion… And don’t EVER forget that the Catholic religion was adamant about the sun revolving around the Earth not to long ago, and anyone who believed otherwise was a heretic. They don’t change their beliefs easily regardless how incompatible they are with gained knowledge...
The questions at the bottom under “Something to Think About” are inflammatory questions aimed to sway less knowing people – virtually all of them can be answered by any first-year medical student or anyone with even a limited background understanding in biology or physiology (or in some cases, hospital or insurance administration.)
In His Encyclical letter, Evangelium Vitae (On the Value and Inviolability of Human Life), Pope John Paul II observed: "There is an everyday heroism, made up of gestures and sharing, big or small, which build up an authentic culture of life. A particularly praiseworthy example of such gestures is the donation of organs in a morally acceptable manner." Apparently, Dr. Byrne and many of his followers believe that there is no morally acceptable manner – but if that were the case, I don’t understand why Pope John Paul II wouldn’t have simply said it is not acceptable, period. Some Catholics elect not to follow the Pope’s feelings, or elect to interpret them as they see fit.
Loved the t-shirt!!! As for what WTF He would do – I think He would be a little embarrassed of Dr. Byrne.
Love,
Steve
Oh my, I read it too--about the organ donation and I couldn't help but comment. Absurd!
Steve, you're awesome! BTW, folks, "Losing my religion" is an EXPRESSION. To quote songfacts.com, it means "The title is a Southern expression meaning "At my wit's end," as if things were going so bad you could lose your faith in God. If you were "Losing your religion" over a person, It could also mean losing faith in that person. (thanks, doug - chicago, IL)"
Actually, my spiritual health has never been better. But thanks for the prayers, I'll take what I can get.
Just wanted to let you know that I went to paramedicgirl's website and read the organ donation article. I offered a response, but she chose not to post it. In her comments she called into question morals, so I asked a pointed, but civil, question regarding the morality of trying to scare people away from organ donation by referring to the "big industry" of it. I thought it might be more productive to stick with her religious concerns and questions about death and donation. And I mentioned that the "industry" actually served to save many innocent children, like my 13-month-old daughter. I guess she doesn't find that part of the issue suitable for discussion.
Hey wait a minute! I laughed like crazy at the T-Shirt and so would my brother-in-law, who happens to be a Holy Cross priest!!!
I don't check my sense of humor at the door because I'm Catholic! LOL! Heck, it's probably helped it along!
Jesus may have wept, but I pretty sure he laughed, too!
Is there any better way of showing love for one's fellow man than by donating an organ when you no longer have use for it? Is a donated organ any less of a miracle than when it was created in the donor themselves.
Frankly, I find the fact that we are able to transplant organs to be a miracle in itself.
PS - be sure to send your NJO column to Change of Shift and I'll make sure I link on Emergiblog,too.
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