Friday’s yoga session made me think about my lungs. How lucky and grateful I am for my functional set. So why do I knowingly abuse them? Sickening.
If something were to happen to me, would they be of any value? I’ve instructed Mr. Greenjeans that in the event of my demise, to make sure that the body is stripped of anything worthwhile and donated.
We’ve talked about organ donation before and the contacts with families who when faced with tragedy, made the unselfish decision to save the lives of others with the beautiful gift of a set of lungs, or tissue, heart or kidneys. One widow told me that her husband’s donation helped 59 people. FIFTY-NINE!
- Donors ages have ranged from newborn to 65 plus.
- Recent studies have shown that over 95,000 patients in the USA are waiting for an organ transplant.
- Nearly 4,000 new patients are added to the waiting list each month.
Today’s Tip for better living: Open your heart.
When my father died in October, 2003, we gave his remains to the Mid-America transplant people. Some my sisters thought it was awkward having a funeral visitation and mass without a body, but it worked. The cremains were sent back to us a couple of months later via US Mail. Tom, our mailman, the kind soul, rang the door bell and gave them to me. They were identified as cremains on the box. He said he believed it would have been a little too impersonal to just stick them in the mailbox. I will never forget his kindness. My Dad cremains are buried in the National Cemetary off of Glenstone and Seminole. I honk everytime I drive by.
Jim, thanks for sharing your story. It’s becoming more common to have a funeral without the body present.
I’ll make it a point next time I’m driving by the National Cemetery to give a “shout-out” to your dad.
My brother’s body was so destroyed after he was killed that the only thing he could donate was his skin…but, its nice to know, someone had some benefit from his death…
Candace, you might be surprised to know that maybe more than one person was helped with your brother’s beautiful gift.
Lenette, I hadn’t really thought of it that way. I guess I imagined a burn victim…needing a lot of skin. (sigh)
Hey, I came back to ask…did your lung comment mean you are a smoker? I am not sure why, but I have been wondering!
I am not a smoker, but I do like my wine…sometimes I wonder how my liver is doing. LOL.
Candace, I’m might switch to Skoal.