October 21, 2011

Tomorrow, October 22, 2011, marks an important day around the country.  No, it’s not a national holiday, but with as much success each year since its inception in 1992, perhaps it could be someday, you never know.
What is this special day, you ask?

It is Make A Difference Day!  A national day of giving back.  A day where everyone has a chance to step up for their communities.  Perhaps you and a group of friends get together to help clean up a park so kids can play safely; or putting together an event where you help the homeless, perhaps in a soup kitchen…the ideas are endless.

But I have an idea that many may not have thought about but I would like you to consider, talk about with your family and friends about, and then take action.  It is a personal decision, but once you make that decision, it is so easy to accomplish, and what you get out of it is almost too difficult to put into words.

The simple act of kindness that I would like you to consider on Make A Difference Day is becoming an organ donor.

This is not a day to throw a whole lot of numbers at you, but suffice it to say, there are many, many people around the country and around the world in need of a life saving act of kindness.  You may even know people in your communities, in your cities and towns, where you work, where you take your yoga or Pilates or Spinning class, or they may even be your next door neighbor, all of whom may need a kidney, a pancreas, a liver, or a heart.

As you know, I was the recipient of a donated kidney earlier this year, from my brother, Tommy.  I was one of the lucky ones.  Had Tommy not been a match, who knows where I would be today – probably joining many of the thousands on dialysis, waiting and hoping for the phone to ring.

And that wait, for those that do not have a ready, willing and able donor, can be excruciatingly long – not months, years.  And from what I am told, there are similar wait times for people needing other the other organs mentioned, as well.

Perhaps you have had a family member or dear friend receive an organ from a complete stranger in order to keep them alive, so you could celebrate more birthdays and holidays with them.  Well, if that is the case, and you haven’t done anything about it…this is your chance to step up, man up, woman up, and pay it forward.

If you want to make a positive change in your life AND in the life of someone else, then stop putting it off until tomorrow, because tomorrow sometimes never comes for some people.  Make a difference in someone’s life…make a difference in your life – become an organ donor !!!  

If you, or someone you know is interested in organ donation, please contact: www.neod.org; www.donatelifenewengland.org, www.organdonor.gov; www.unos.org; www.donatelife.net; www.organtransplants.org; or  www.thewaitinglist.org, or, by all means, speak to your own physician, or feel free to send me an email.