After a liver transplant saved her life, Nefeterius McPherson made a vow to raise awareness about organ donation and keep alive the memory of her donor, 12-year-old Taitlyn Hughes of Martinsburg. In January, she shared her message at the WVU/Texas basketball game in Austin. (Nefeterius Akeli McPherson photo)
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- If I were to ask you what significance Feb. 14 holds, you would probably say that it's Valentine's Day and leave it at that. But Feb. 14 is also National Organ Donor Day, which gives a whole new meaning to giving your heart to someone.
According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services' organdonor.gov, whether or not your organs can be donated is determined at the time of your death. While there are a few absolute restrictions (such as HIV infection, active cancer or systematic infection), generally your medical history doesn't matter. With my cystic fibrosis, there's no way my lungs, liver or pancreas could ever be used because of systematic infection, but, it doesn't affect my heart or corneas, which are in fine condition to be donated.
As for the age of a donor? According to both CORE and organdonor.gov, you can never be too young or too old. Newborns can be registered organ donors, as can senior citizens.
If you're of age to have a driver's license or ID, a quick trip to the DMV can make you a registered organ donor. If you are younger than that, let your family know your wishes so they can give consent if anything were to happen to you.
Finally, there's one other pesky thing that can stop people from wanting to donate their organs: religion. Again though, both CORE and organdonor.gov report that most major religions view organ donation as either a wonderful and charitable thing or leave it up to the individual.
On organdonor.gov, there is an extensive list of religions and their views on organ donation. I am only going to use a few examples from that list. If you're of a faith not addressed below, simply visit the website or talk with the religious leader at your place of worship to clear up any questions you have about your faith and organ donation.
Catholicism and Christianity both view organ donation as an act of charity and love. The Vatican considers transplants to be ethically acceptable, while the General Assembly of the Christian Church adopted a resolution in 1985 that encourages "members of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) to enroll as organ donors and prayerfully support those who have received an organ transplant."
Judaism echoes this, as it sanctions and encourages organ donations to save lives. The Conservative Movement's Committee of Jewish Laws and Standards states that not only is organ donation after death an act of kindness, but it is also a "commanded obligation" to save lives.
According to organdonor.gov, as of this writing, 117,110 people are awaiting an organ transplant. Eighteen people die each day waiting for one.
But you can help. A single organ donor can save up to eight lives.
For more information, visit core.org or organdonor.gov. To register to become an organ donor, visit donatelife.net.
Learn more about liver transplant recipient Nefeterius Akeli McPherson and her organ donation advocacy here.
Learn more about McPherson's donor, 12-year-old West Virginian Taitlyn Hughes here.
Read more about McPherson and Hughes' story here.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- If I were to ask you what significance Feb. 14 holds, you would probably say it's Valentine's Day and leave it at that. But Feb. 14 is also National Organ Donor Day, which gives a whole new meaning to giving your heart to someone.
The purpose of National Organ Donor Day is to raise awareness about organ donation and its importance. Donating an organ is a serious topic of discussion and one that is personal to me. Not only am I a registered organ donor, but I will eventually need an organ transplant because of complications with my cystic fibrosis.
In honor of National Organ Donor Day, I'd like to dispel some popular myths about organ donation:
First, the myth that doctors won't save your life if they find your organ donor card, instead letting you die to give your organs to other people. As the Center for Organ Recovery and Education reports, this could not be further from the truth. Doctors, nurses and paramedics will do everything possible to save your life.
In fact, for organs to be donated, the donor must be in a hospital and on a ventilator at the time of his or her death. So rest easy because this urban legend couldn't get any more debunked than it already has.
What about the myths that you have to be in good health or of a certain age to donate an organ? Nope.
According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services' organdonor.gov, whether or not your organs can be donated is determined at the time of your death. While there are a few absolute restrictions (such as HIV infection, active cancer or systematic infection), generally your medical history doesn't matter. With my cystic fibrosis, there's no way my lungs, liver or pancreas could ever be used because of systematic infection, but, it doesn't affect my heart or corneas, which are in fine condition to be donated.
As for the age of a donor? According to both CORE and organdonor.gov, you can never be too young or too old. Newborns can be registered organ donors, as can senior citizens.
If you're of age to have a driver's license or ID, a quick trip to the DMV can make you a registered organ donor. If you are younger than that, let your family know your wishes so they can give consent if anything were to happen to you.
Finally, there's one other pesky thing that can stop people from wanting to donate their organs: religion. Again though, both CORE and organdonor.gov report that most major religions view organ donation as either a wonderful and charitable thing or leave it up to the individual.
On organdonor.gov, there is an extensive list of religions and their views on organ donation. I am only going to use a few examples from that list. If you're of a faith not addressed below, simply visit the website or talk with the religious leader at your place of worship to clear up any questions you have about your faith and organ donation.
Catholicism and Christianity both view organ donation as an act of charity and love. The Vatican considers transplants to be ethically acceptable, while the General Assembly of the Christian Church adopted a resolution in 1985 that encourages "members of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) to enroll as organ donors and prayerfully support those who have received an organ transplant."
Judaism echoes this, as it sanctions and encourages organ donations to save lives. The Conservative Movement's Committee of Jewish Laws and Standards states that not only is organ donation after death an act of kindness, but it is also a "commanded obligation" to save lives.
According to organdonor.gov, as of this writing, 117,110 people are awaiting an organ transplant. Eighteen people die each day waiting for one.
But you can help. A single organ donor can save up to eight lives.
For more information, visit core.org or organdonor.gov. To register to become an organ donor, visit donatelife.net.
Get Connected