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Deep within all of us lies the potential of becoming a hero beyond this life, saving numerous people after we are gone.
In light thereof, August is National Organ Donor Awareness Month, a period when people are reminded that they are capable of making an instrumental impact on others’ lives.
While South Africa is a world leader in the field of organ transplantation, the number of people waiting for transplants continues to increase, and the shortage of potential donors remains a significant concern.
Therefore, the Unit Manager at the Emergency and Transplant units from Busamed Gateway Private Hospital, Cindy Goldie discusses the importance of organ donning while chatting with us at Mediclinic Newcastle.
“You can save up to seven lives and improve the quality of life for approximately 100 lives in terms of tissue, skin grafts and cornea transplants,” begins Goldie.
She further emphasises that it is important to realise that there are several types of organ donors, which people are often not aware of. One of these is the femoral head procedure, which Goldie points out that Mediclinic Newcastle is working exceptionally hard on.
She explains that during a hip replacement, the femoral head (the uppermost part of the femur or thigh bone) is donated and re-used for other procedures. She points out that this can be seen in the bone being repurposed for use in bone cancer treatment, corrective surgery, spinal implants, and even tooth implants.
However, while signing up to become an organ donor is a noble cause, Goldie stresses that the process starts with a single step.
“It is important to have the conversation with your family first, so if a tragedy does take place, they know what steps to take. It is always better when loved ones know what your wishes are,” she explains.
Additionally, she states that it is also imperative to have a file where your necessary details, such as insurance and funeral policies are kept, alongside your end-of-life wishes.
According to Goldie, there is no age limit to becoming an organ donor. “We recently had an 80-year-old organ donor donate their kidneys and liver.”
The process of registering to become an organ donor is a relatively simple one. You can visit Organ Donor Foundation and register in a minute or two.
Alternatively, one can also register on Hero777. To register on this site, click here.
However, Goldie says when becoming an organ donor, it is important to lead a healthy lifestyle, in order to see as many people as possible lead fuller lives when you depart.
Do something brilliant with your body once you have passed. What are your thoughts on the above-mentioned? Share your views in the comment section below.
This post and content is sponsored and provided by Mediclinic Southern Africa – Newcastle.
