Organ Donation Directive: A Post from Anderson Team Member Randi
On today’s show, we hear amazing stories of people who say Facebook saved their lives. From our own offices, we have an important story that we hope our social media fans, followers and viewers will take the time to read and share.
Randi, our Script Production Associate, is asking for your help....
Friends, Acquaintances, Everyone -
This is *not* a standard Facebook update. It's actually the most important message I'll ever write in my life.
So I beg you to keep reading -- because my mom's life literally depends on it.
During a routine test last week, my mom, Gwen Silver, found out that two tumors have suddenly sprung up on her liver. Surgery can't save her; neither can chemotherapy. Only a transplant can give my mom the life we so desperately need her to live.
The really bad news is that we have very little time: my mom needs that transplant within the next three months, the doctors tell us. She's on the waiting list for a liver from a deceased person, but as everyone knows, that's far from a guarantee that she'll get one. We need absolutely every chance we can get -- and that's why I want to tell you about something called a directed liver donation.
In a directed liver donation, a potential donor's family says that they'd like their loved one's liver to go to a particular individual. Here's how it works. God forbid that one of your family members or friends is in a terrible accident, and the doctor says that he or she is brain dead. At that point, a coordinator from the organ procurement organization will visit you in the hospital and ask if your loved one was willing to offer an organ for donation. And that's when you could say, "Yes, our loved one can offer their liver for donation -- and we'd like it to be given to Gwen Silver at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City."
And that's it. That's all it could take to save the life of the woman is everything to me, and to so many others whose lives she has touched through the years.
I know how grim and tough it sounds. But if you or anyone in your community can connect my mom with a potential directed liver donation, please keep this in mind... and if you can pass along this message to every single person you know...and then they can pass it along to every single person they know... through Facebook, through Twitter, through emails and phone calls and everything in between... then somewhere along the chain, I know in my heart that we WILL find my mom a liver.
You can contact me and my family anytime at savegwensilver@gmail.com.
Thanks so much for all your support ♥
Randi
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Comments
I am praying for your Mom to have a person read this & have knowledge of her situation who can pass this along & help . My Prayers & Blessings . Frances Loper Corwin
My daughter and son have both received Kidneys. My daughter tried get in touch with her donor and it was very difficult.
We were so grateful to the donors I wish our family could express it. The donors have no idea how much our family was helped by their donation. My daughter has 7 children and my son 2. They were both on dialysis and that is not a good way to live with families. Perhaps your show will open the eyes of the National Registry and let people know our gratitude. Thank You
If your mother only has three months then she should be pretty high up on the transplant list. If she's not high on the list than there must be someone who is in worse shape who needs a liver sooner. Advocacy should be in urging people to check off the donation box on their driver's license and getting people tested to be live donors. No one wants their relative to die while waiting for an organ. Your mother is not more remarkable and your relationship no more special than anyone else's. I'm not saying this to be mean. I am saying that everyone is remarkable and everyone is worth saving. I applaud you for trying to do something about the situation. I am Jewish and tradition says that I am to be buried intact. However, I feel that God would understand if I can donate organs to some people. I have it checked off on my license and I have told my family of my wishes. It is important for everyone- no matter their age- to have this discussion with their family. That agenda would appeal to everyone.
I never knew that you could do a directed donation, thank you so much for sharing this info. It seems like there is always someone you hear about through local papers and such. I will certainly keep your family in my thoughts if I am in the unfortunate situation to have to make such a choice. I will keep your family in my prayers and post a link to this on my FB wall to help spread the word.
My prayers for your needs to be answered. People will have accidents & placed on life support , & families will be in shock when asked the question about organ donation. I know my father was in ICU for 6 weeks after a truck T- boned his car & we were asked. But he was elderly nearly 90 , & after they asked , I asked them , what is there that can be of help to someone , if there's something that a person could be saved with or benefit from , I was for it . Sadly , he had MRSA & his body had begun shutting down so nothing was viable from him. Here is my advice to you . Find a person that you can befriend in a trauma or ICU at the hospital where your mom would be going to have a transplant , or where she has been a patient . You'll already have your foot in the door there. Tell them your mom's story & her need & the time constraints. Tell then you work for Anderson Cooper , yes name dropping time ! Some will listen , some will not. Some may be afraid if they help they might lose their jobs , to bump another off the waiting list. What they can do is spread the word. Spread it at church . Let everyone know . This sound hokey , but buy miniature lifesavers & put some in a plastic ziploc with your name & phone number & email account . Set up a facebook page about your mom & include that page link . Hand the lifesaver ziplocks out to the nurses or clergy you speak with.
Your mom is so blessed to have you as her child. And you are blessed to have her as your mom ! I'm Praying for you in Alabama. Blessings , Frances Loper Corwin
God bless you and your mom. Retweeting to everyone who follows me, which... isn't a massive amount of people, but like you pointed out, if my friends re-tweet then maybe we'll find someone for your mom in time.
Bright Blessings and Good Karma thoughts,
D
You should also check into live donor liver transplants. I know they perform them here at the University of Wisconsin. And apparently they do them at New York Presbyterian as well http://nyp.org/services/transplantation-surgery/liver-tra... I hope you find an answer in time.