So I have finally completed one of the easier items on the list and joined the organ donor register. I think my gran dying was the kick up the bum I required to just get on and do it. When I was younger I absolutely hated the thought of parts of my body being cut out and sewn into someone else. Now that I’m older I have more of an understanding about how an organ donated after you die can literally be a life-saving experience, and so long as I am actually dead – what use is it to me? Currently there are two exceptions – my eyes and my bowels, for two very different reasons.
The eyes are a family thing. My mother registered as an organ donor many years ago after discussions with my older sister and at her request my mum also won’t be donating her eyes. My sister found the thought of potentially looking into the eyes of a person who had been given mums to be a bit eerie and after a thought I can see her point. The eyes are windows to the soul. You look into someone’s eyes and you can (usually) see them in a different light. See if they are lying or telling the truth. See how they really feel for you. If you can look into a person’s eyes and not feel the urge to look away after a few seconds there must be a really strong connection. I love my bright, blue sparkly eyes and selfish though it may be for all of these reasons and more I do not want someone else getting them when I die.
The bowels are a different story, they’re not in the best of condition and I wouldn’t want anyone suffering from being given my crappy organs. For those of you who have followed my blog from the beginning may remember this post from back in November. At the time I wasn’t ready to disclose my condition but I’ve had time to adjust and come to terms with the fact that this will be part of my life forever now. I have Crohn’s disease, an inflammatory disease of the intestines where my body’s immune system attacks itself for no goddamn reason and causes me various unpleasant symptoms which I won’t go into (but I’m sure you can read up on yourself if you’re so inclined!) Passed on to me most likely from my grandmother (Thanks for that!) it often skips a generation. The hardest part for me is that it is so unpredictable. You can go days, weeks, months and some people even years without symptoms and then suffer from an attack. That and it makes me tired a lot which at quite a young age (although I’m still freaking out about turning 25!) is very frustrating. I’m also terrified about dating. My long-term boyfriend and I broke up just a few weeks before I was diagnosed and while I think we could have learned to live with this together I’m not sure how I’m supposed to broach the subject with potential dates. It’s not the easiest thing for me to deal with so I don’t know how another person is supposed to cope. But the fact is if they can’t accept all of me for who I am then they don’t deserve any part of me at all.
So now I’ve done it (and it literally took a minute!), what’s stopping you? Are there any parts you don’t want to be given away after your death and what are the reasons?
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