Giving the Gift of Life - A Learning Experience
Introduction
On the following several pages, you will have an opportunity to develop an understanding of the processes of organ, tissue, and eye donation and transplantation, and the incredible opportunity you have to save lives when you die. Please review the pages sequentially and click next at the bottom of each page to get the most out of the content.
Content Overview:
Organ, tissue and eye donation is a selfless act. It is the act of someone who recognizes that he or she has the opportunity to save the lives of up to 8 people and enhance the lives of up to 75 people simply by registering to become an organ, tissue, and eye donor. By completing this learning experience, you will:
- Be able to conceptualize what it means to have a "meaningful death", to know that when you die, you may save or touch the lives of many others simply by having made the decision to become an organ, tissue, and eye donor.
- Understand the profound need for your selfless gift by hearing directly from transplant professionals and former patients who were on the transplant list - waiting - not knowing when or if they would receive the gift of life.
- Understand exactly what happens through the donation process including:
- When the hospital is required to contact IOPO and how IOPO interacts with the hospital staff and the family
- How Brain Death is determined
- How IOPO coordinators work with the family in their profound time of grief
- How IOPO confirms the donation decision
- How the transplant waiting list and organ allocation is coordinated with the United Network for Organ Sharing organization
- How IOPO coordinates teams of transplant surgeons who often arrive from many different hospitals to recover organs
- How IOPO compassionately cares for the patient, family, and the process with the utmost respect
- How IOPO follows up with the donor family and recipient, coordinating communications when desired and appropriate while respecting the privacy of the individuals involved
- Answers to Frequently Asked Questions about the donation process
- Understand the facts about receiving an organ transplant including:
- How individuals are placed on the transplant waiting list though one of the Indiana transplant centers
- What it's like waiting for an organ transplant
- How donated organs are matched to recipients
- What happens on the day an organ becomes available for a person on the list
- What happens during the transplant operation
- Answers to frequently asked questions about receiving an organ transplant
- Understand the facts about your decision and how to become an organ, tissue, and eye donor including:
- Common myths about donation
- Facts about religion and donation
- Weighing all the factors in making your decision
- How Indiana law supports your decision to be an organ, tissue and eye donor
- How to register your decision and inform your loved ones about your decision
Continue reading to learn about how to have a meaningful death.
