Pain wakes me up every morning. My kidneys don’t work so I can’t urinate. Instead I have a tube in my belly that gets hooked up to a machine at night. It pumps fluid into my abdomen which absorbs wastes and is then drained out. It runs all night but doesn’t hurt until the final drain at 7:00 am. The other morning I had a particularly painful final drain, cramps through my whole body and I couldn’t move. As I lay there I glanced over at my nightstand, which held my blood pressure machine, my thermometer, and a bowl in case I had to vomit. I wondered why bother, why go through another day, more pain, more suffering. What did I have to look forward to? As the tears began rolling down my cheeks my daughter appeared in the doorway. Without saying a word, she slipped into bed next to me. I was filled with joy as my question was answered

As it stands right now, you must have it written on paper (an organ donor card, a living will, a notation on your driver's license) if you wish to be an organ donor upon your death. Some groups are lobbying to have this law reversed. This would mean that unless you had stated otherwise, your organs could be harvested upon your death. This would help the thousands of people on waiting lists waiting for an organ. I have a definite opinion on this because I am one of those people on a waiting list. I have been on dialysis for 3 years, and I need a kidney. I am not healthy enough to hold a job, or do much of anything. I believe that when a person dies they could give the gift of life to someone else by donating their organs. More than 88,000 people are waiting for the gift of life Each day, about 74 people receive an organ transplant. However, 17 people die each day waiting for transplants that can’t take place because of the shortage of donated organs. Please decide today to make your wishes known about organ and tissue donation. Make today the day you: Download, print, sign and carry a donor card. Say yes to donation on your driver's license. Sign up with your State’s donor registry (if your State has one). Discuss your decision with your family. They may be asked to give consent. What are you waiting for?

Welcome to my blog, let me tell you a little bit about me. I am married and have 3 children. I was a 7th grade science teacher but I am currently disabled, as I am awaiting a kidney transplant. I have been on the list for almost a year now, and on dialysis for 3 years.