For a majority of the population, organ donation is not a priority; it's simply a box that you check "yes" or "no" on when you get your driver's license. Many of us don't think about the lives we will affect if we ever get the chance of donating an organ, of saving a life. A large portion of the population doesn't even see the significance of organ donation. According to organdonor.gov, there are currently 119,000 people waiting for an organ transplant and 22 people die each day waiting for an organ. In 2015, over 37,000 organs were donated and one of those organs, a heart, were donated to my sister.
In preparation for her trip to Chicago with my mom, my sister had to get a form of identification in order to check in at the airport. When asked if she wanted to be an organ donor, my mom hesitated, as it sometimes isn't ideal for a heart transplant recipient to turn around and donate other organs. Lauren, not waiting for my mom's response, immediately responded "Yes! They can take whatever they can use. I know they can't donate my heart or kidneys, but maybe my liver and lungs. "
Isn't that crazy?
As a two-time heart transplant recipient, of course she knows the ins and outs of organ donation. But at the same time, she is 12-years-old. Most adults have no clue that organ donation is such a vital part of the world, let alone 12-year-olds. What's even crazier, however, is the fact that she would be so willing to donate her organs at such a young age. By being so willing to save a life, she is showcasing true selflessness.
I truly believe the world would be a better place if we practiced selflessness as my sister does. Don't get me wrong, we fight a lot and don't always get along, but there's one thing that I can always say about my sister: she is the epitome of selflessness. She's been through so much: five open-heart surgeries, over 20 heart caths, countless days spent in the hospital and eight years of not really being able to go out and do anything due to tiring easily and a weakened immune system. Still, here she is, not hesitating when asked if she wants to help save a life if the opportunity ever arose. She's been given the gift of life and is ready to keep giving.
And here most of us are, never having been through a fraction of what she has experienced, and we are hesitating when asked if we want to check "yes" or "no" on the organ donor portion of our driver's license. Perspective, right?
