The Gift of Life

"We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give." 

 -Winston Churchill

Recently, I got my health card renewed.

I also made an important decision.

I decided to give the gift of life.

By this, I mean I registered to be an organ/tissue donor in the event of my passing.

This was not a difficult choice for me. Personally, I simply think of my children.

Now...think of yours.

God forbid, if one of them were ever in the position where they needed an organ transplant at some point in their lives and a match was found, I can't think of a greater gift than that of the person who's organ they would hypothetically receive.

Think about it.

And then think about it some more.

To be blunt - if I am dead - and my spirit has moved on from my physical body, then why would I not choose to give others a possible shot at life?

Why put such amazing gifts 6 feet under or burn them up into useless ashes?

Now, I don't mean any disrespect.

This is a very personal decision and whatever yours happens to be is yours to be had.

I am simply giving you my personal perspective and asking you to give it consideration.

Most of us know...or at least know of...someone who has required a transplant of some kind.

Some are able to use a living donor...such as a liver...and my Dad was lucky enough that when he lost a kidney in a horrible car crash in his late teens, he had a spare (and we only need one kidney...thank God!).

And on that note...my awesome Dad was saved by many, many blood transfusions.

Have you ever given blood?

As they say...it's in us to give!

I started when I was in University to honour my Dad. It was then that I found out that I have a rare blood type and therefore it is in higher demand at the blood banks.

Do you know your blood type and/or how rare and/or how in demand it is?

Of course, rare blood types are needed by less people...but there is a very small supply of blood that is available to them if they need it.

My Blood Type is B Negative.
Yup. 2%

For many health-related reasons - such as three pregnancies and certain medications - I have been unable to give blood on and off for a while - but it is something I am committed to doing when I can.

I am not trying to make myself out to be some martyr...cause Lordy Lord knows I am hardly that.

I am just a woman who has made a choice that I feel good about.

And maybe one day - hopefully a LONG time from now - another woman...or man...or whoever it may be...will feel good about it too.

Smiles,

Lora