Donación De órganos

Introduction

Currently, many campaigns regarding organ donation have taken place around the world. “Donate a life” is a well-known phrase that describes what this practice consists in. “It is the process of giving an organ or a part of an organ for the purpose of transplantation into another person” (Organ donation). Many people talk about organ donation and it is a controversial topic in most societies, but, how many of them really know what involves this give and take of human tissue? Even though not many persons are willing to give part of their body or does not agree with this practice, organ donation is an admirable and responsible thing to do and a good way to save someone’s life (Wickman). A high percent of the people that have received a donation, are able to live and enjoy a happy and almost completely normal life and were capable of returning to their previous activities. There is a variety of organs that can be donated whether they are from a living donor or from a cadaveric one. Although most of us see organ donation as a practice performed only abroad, Ecuador has been part of this procedure for many years and continues to make advances in relation to it. Organ donation may not be the future, but it is surely the present, so why not donate?

Chapter 1: Organ Donation

Statistics

Leo Tolstoy once said: “the happiness of men consists in life”. Everyone has something to fight for and all of us struggle to continue living. But, what happens when that battle is not in your hands, if not in the decision and a match between hundreds around the world?

“Organ transplantation is the established treatment for the failure of vital organs such as the kidneys, pancreas, liver, heart or lung.” (Organ transplants)

Although most of us would like it to be different, the number of organ donors is much lower than the amount of people in need. Thousands are dying around the world because they didn’t receive a kidney, a lung or any other tissue. As well, many are still hoping for the day the procedure will be done (Kimball, 1).

Currently, more than 100 000 people in the United States are waiting for transplantation and every 10 minutes a name is added to this endless list. Every year, 6500 sons, daughters, moms, dads or grandparents die, this means about 18 individuals per day (Kimball, 1).

Even though it may seem illogical, the need for tissue transplantation varies according to the ethnicities and the environment. In Africa, there is a bigger requirement for transplantations; this occurs because black people are three times more likely to develop kidney failure. Another example is Asian communities, where the need for donated organs is three to four times higher than in the general population (Organ Donation).

Though most of the people claim to be informed, or at least have heard about organ donation, only the 86% of the North Americans truly know what this procedure consists in. In the United States, 90% of the population say they support transplantation, yet only 30% distinguish the steps that have to be taken in order to become a donor (Statistics on Organ Donation & Transplantation).

1.2 Secondary effects of being an organ recipient

Although we don’t like it, everything in life has its good and bad sides. Organ donation is not the exception, but as Albert Einstein said: “In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.”

Even though the patient will have anesthesia during the surgery, it is well known that he or she will have to endure the pain and discomfort of the recovery. Continues medical checkups, longer time of hospitalization and possible previous and post-surgical interventions are some of the inconveniences, as well as infections, allergies or even internal bleedings. Also, there is no guarantee that the procedure won’t leave any visible scars that can be long lasting or permanent (Kimball, 2)

When being an organ recipient, hearing the word rejection is your main fear, a chill down your spine (Hicks, 1). “It is the process in which patient's immune system attacks the transplanted organ or tissue”. One of the principal causes for this procedure to trigger is the incompatibility of the blood type of the organ and the receiver (Bhimji). Some signs of organ rejection are: “pain in the site of the transplant, swelling, fever, weight changes, irritability, etc.” (Hicks,1). Luckily, with a correct transplantation (match organ) and medical care, rejection can be stopped or prevented (Hicks, 1).

Although they are powerful and produce side effects that affect the entire body, drugs are the most common method to treat organ rejection after a transplant. Fortunately, currently, they are much easier to deal with and something minimum in comparison with saving your life (Kimball, 1).

1.3 Life after receiving an organ donation

“Better technology and therapies have produced longer survival after transplantation, and attention is shifting to the quality of those life years” (Pinson, Wright, et al).

Life is a great gift that every person should value, but, how much better would be to be able to return to your previous activities, hobbies and even work after being a patient of a major surgery?

Currently, this is a possibility to most of organ recipients. Although it depends on the patient, the doctor, the procedure and even the organ that was transplanted, a good quality of life have become one of the most important benefits of organ transplantation ” (Pinson, Wright, et al). Even though this may seem reckless, many people around the world are a living example of this success of medicine.

“Eighteen months before winning third place in the giant slalom at the Olympic Games on February 15, 2002, Chris Klug underwent a liver transplant. The professional snowboarder was the personification of health until 2000, when a rare liver disease, called primary sclerosing cholangitis, started destroying his bile duct. Klug not only persevered physically – with the bronze medal to prove it – but also mentally and spiritually” (Dundee).

The story of Ms. Cain and her son, Marques, is another important testimony of how can life, at least in some ways, can return to be what it used to be after a surgery like this. First it was the mother, at age 32; she received a heart transplant after being diagnosed with viral dilated cardiomyopathy (enlarged heart) and after some months of recovery, she was able to live her life with much more energy than before. But her story ending didn’t come so quickly, a few years later, her son was sick and was diagnosed with the same cardiopathy. On December 12, 2005, Marques received

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