The kidney donation domino effect
March 11, 2009 by Marijke Durning, RN
Filed under Diseases & Conditions
I’m a huge, huge (did I say HUGE) proponent for signing donor cards and making sure you know that your family and loved ones know your decision. There are so many people who need a transplant and so few donors available. It’s not because the organs aren’t available – sadly so many people die unexpected or accidental deaths that they are available – but so many also don’t sign their donor cards.
Some donations are done with live donations. Usually, it’s a family member who donates a kidney, or even a piece of the liver now. Once in a while, you hear of strangers, but wait until you hear this one.
A 28-year-old man donated a kidney to a total stranger who was a perfect match. And this started a domino effect that ended up with 10 people getting new kidneys and a new lease on life.
How does this work? It’s a bit complicated and it took me a few minutes using my fingers and counting and the whole bit. The official name of the system is called anonsimultaneous, altruistic, extended donor (NEAD) chain.
Let’s say I needed a transplant and my sister wanted to give me hers, but we weren’t a good match. We’d be matched up with two others in a similar situation, let’s say Joe and Bob. Joe may have a kidney that matches me and donates it to me. My sister’s kidney may match Bob and donates it to him. But, it doesn’t have to be two by two. Using computer systems and tracking those who need organs and those who are willing to donate, a number of combinations can be made.
This story was written up over at CNN, so if you’d like to read more about it, head on over to Donation chain has led to 10 kidney transplants.
I too am a huge fan of organ donation. My son on the other hand, won’t do it. When we renewed his Ontario (Canada) Health Card, he had to option of signing a donation card. He’s afraid to so do, even after I and the clerk tried to convince him otherwise.
Now, I understand it’s HIS body (he’s 16), and he’s entitled to do with his body what he wants. But, if something were to happen to him and his organs can be used for someone else, I wouldn’t hesitate to donate his organs. But I do have to respect my son’s decision. I think his fear is that even though he’d be dead, he’s losing a part of himself.
I guess what I’m asking is … how do I convince him that organ donation is like, “the” best thing you can do for others?
Or do I leave it be and respect his decision?
That’s an excellent question. I have a very dear friend, who is also a nurse, who refuses to sign her donor card. While I don’t understand her reasoning, as you say, it’s not our decision to make.
As important as organ donation is, I think we have to respect the wishes because it is the last thing we’ll do for them. Just like many things in life, we don’t always approve of our children’s choices, but they are their choices. But, it’s a great question and I hope that others will weigh in on it too.