I'm about to get personal here

Are you a donor? An organ donor? I've mentioned here before the fact that one day I will likely need a double lung transplant. So organ donation is a subject close to my heart.  I will  tell you my story, in another post. For now I want to share the words of an amazing young woman on the other side of transplant. She just received her new lungs two weeks ago. I'll just give you a little back story first, but after you click over to read, I imagine you'll want to stay a while and get to know her story for yourself. I only know her through her blog and only found it recently. It's one of those blogs you get lost in, reading the archives, learning more and more until you feel like you've made a friend. I have to confess, I was a blog stalker, never commenting, but praying for her and rooting her on as she waited for the gift that would save her life.

It is not unusual to experience what is called a dry run when waiting for transplant. It's when you are called but for some reason the organs are deemed not viable and the transplant is called off. An emotionally draining event, no doubt. Piper endured four or five of these, one time making it to the operating table and being put on a vent and under anesthesia, only to be told it didn't happen when she awakened.  What a roller coaster ride.  

Reading her blog has been inspirational and educational. I don't know her, but I do know she is a beautiful person whose life was saved by a stranger. Someone whose life was cut short, but in life had made the decision to be an organ donor. In death, they gave the ultimate gift, so that another may live. 

Piper's blog is A Matter of Life and Breath. Her writing is always from the heart, but this post titled "Scars" really spoke to me.

**about the shirt I'm wearing above. Piper's sister originally designed shirts for  "Team Piper"  for the Great Strides Walk to benefit Cystic Fibrosis research. I jumped at the chance to have one of my own when she offered to print more and make them available on her blog.

Comments

[mindy]

Going there to read now. I look forward to hearing your story.

I am an organ and bone marrow donor.

My daddy lost his lung last November due to cancer. We take simple things for granted. Praying for you sugar.

[Kimberlee]

Yes ma'am I am an organ donor, with my families consent. Actually we are all planning to donate. People need to remember that their family members will have to consent upon death, so they need to talk about it with their families, not just put it on their driver's license.

[Lera]

I'm an organ donor, too!

Nearly two years ago, a young girl from church was killed in a car accident. She was kept alive long enough to have her organs donated. On the year anniversary of the car accident, her parents met the recipients. They visited our church that day. It was the sweetest thing to know that Caitlin was living on in someone else's body.

[Mitzi Cardona]

I will go and read her blog. I was curious about the shirt, thanks for sharing, I would love to have one.

Thanks for bringing attention to lung transplant. I am a Respiratory Therapist and too often the lungs get overlooked because of the publicity of heart disease and cancer. What many people don't know is that Asthma is the number one chronic condition in children and accounts for the most missed school and work days each year. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease is the number four (quickly becoming number three) cause of death in the US, and lung cancer kills more people than colorectal, breast, and prostate cancers combined. Cystic Fibrosis affects the entire body, but is most detrimental to the respiratory and digestive system.

I have known about your family's rare respiratory disease for many years, but do not know what it is called. I would love to know more about it when you feel like sharing.

[Elaine]

I'm an organ donor. Been one for years. My cousin's wife who is also a friend of mine from childhood has been on the list for heart transplant for almost a year now. She has artificial heart...not the internal one but carry it like a purse. She had to have a defibrillator put in last week. Last Feb she was first on list for a while. They keep telling her on her weekly visits we thought we had one last week but this or that wasn't right. They tell her she's the healthiest person they have ever had who was in need of a transplant. Her heart started dying...

Will be checking the blog you told us about..

[Miss Mustard Seed]

Wow...I look forward to hearing your story. I am an organ donor and firmly believe in it. It could be the answer to someone's prayers and I wouldn't want something useful to go to waste. Great post.

[Nina]

oh yes, I am an organ donor for sure!! And I look forward to hearing your story. I'll go check out your friend right now...

[UK lass in US]

I carry an organ donor card, but I'm not sure if they would take my organs here. They don't allow me to donate blood, because I lived in Europe (I'm guessing it's because of the Mad Cow Disease outbreak they had). My little newborn nephew didn't manage to survive the wait for some lungs.

[Sarah E.]

I didn't realize that you would need an organ transplant one day, I guess I have looked over that in the posts. My aunt died last December as she was waiting for a double lung transplant. She was number 2 on the list for a month but her body failed quickly from a rare lung disease. I always was a believer in organ transplants but I'm definitely one now! Thanks for promoting it!

[Jenny Limb]

I am an organ donor, and have a dear friend who has gone through a liver transplant and had the many false alarms also. He is doing great now. So organ donation is close to my heart.

[Sew Create It - Jane]

Your post reminded me to add my name to the donor register. I think my name was already on it, but I re-registered to make sure. A friend of mine's father just had a liver transplant and it is wonderful to see her smile when she talks about how he is getting stronger each day.

[Ali]

I am a donor. And I strongly believe that organ donation should be mandatory unless you opt out. I cannot understand folks who would accept a donation should they need one and yet would be unwilling to make that gift themselves.

I am off to read that blog.

[Wylie]

Autum, my next door neighbor is a heart recipient, and she is still struggling through the transition. My husband's cousin's son was just born at Easter, and he has cystic fibrosis. Pray for all those struggling with these tremendous life-shaking situations.

[Sharly]

Yes! We are donors at our house. What an important post - thanks for sharing :)

[Amie]

I'm glad to see you blogging again, missed seeing what your working on :o) Also, I wanted to say that I am so very sorry about your babydogs. I lost my Jack a couple years ago, still stings. Amie

[Annie]

I'm a donor! I've had a lot of conversations with my family about how strongly I feel about it. I think that it would be easier for them to handle everything, should anything unexpected happen, knowing how much its something I want to do. Also, the best way to make sure that things get donated is to make sure that all of your next of kin are sure of your wishes.