Some people may think that in order to save someone's life, they need to be a doctor, physician or surgeon. In reality, the power to save a life may be in your wallet.
No, we're not talking about monetary donations to hospitals; we're talking about your driver's license.
When you first get your license, you take a test, your vision is checked and, in a split second, you are asked whether you would like to donate your organs if you die. It may sound kind of morbid, but in reality, it's a legitimate question. Are you willing to donate your organs to save one of the many people waiting on a transplant list?
More than 98,000 people are in need of an organ for transplant, and every day, about 77 people get the organ transplant that gives them another chance at life. However, 17 to 19 others die waiting for their chance, according to organdonor.gov.
You are never too young or too old to be an organ donor. The condition of your organs is more important than the age attached to it. For instance, a 30-year-old who smokes may have worse lungs than a 50-year-old who never smoked in his or her life. Many organs, tissues, stem cells, blood and platelets can be donated, increasing the chance that someone will benefit.
For Ball State faculty members Joe and Kerri Misiewicz and family, a heart donation gave their little girl a chance to have a normal childhood. Even though their daughter died when she was 10, they continue to show support for the Indiana Procurement Organization and continue to tell their story to encourage others to become donors.
You don't have to die to make a difference. There are several blood drives throughout the school year to support the Red Cross or the Indiana Blood Center. You can also register to "Be the Match" for someone who needs a bone marrow transplant by simply brushing the inside of your mouth and gums with a cotton swab.
Twenty-one year old Kelsey Koch and her sister Karly are two sisters who are waiting for their match. They have been diagnosed with the rare genetic mutation called DOCK8 immunodeficiency syndrome, and they are just two of 11 people in the world who have it. The sooner they find a match, the sooner they can have a stem cell transplant to combat the disorder and its symptoms.
If you consent, that tiny heart sticker on your license may have a lot of power.
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