Unlike many parents of a four year old, I have watched my youngest daughter be put to sleep seven times. Seven times I watched the gas mask put her into an unatural sleep, the deepest kind of sleep. Her longest operation was four hours whilst a highly skilled surgeon took his knife and chipped away bone performing an osteotomy to create her a hip socket.
In moments like these emotions are all over the place and you imagine all sorts through your mind. Lee and I were forced to have conversations that parents of toddlers should not ever need to consider. Conversations about what we would do if he worst happened. They are not easy conversations to have especially at critical times. It is far better to have that conversation in a light hearted moment. Lee and have both said previously that organ donation is what we would want but we had never discussed what decisions we would make regarding our own children. Making a decision for yourself is the easy part but making a decision on someone else’s behalf is much trickier.
Next week is National Transplant Week (7th-13th July) and this years campaign is asking you to tell your family your wishes. Did you know that:
Only 45% of families will agree to donation if decisions aren’t known
This rises to 95% when the decision to be an organ donor is known
Therfore you are being urged to #spell it out. Tell your family and friends what your wishes, are because they will be the ones left to share your choice should you be able to help others. For me it is a given that I would want to give the greatest gift to another if I could and that includes my organs.
To get involved you can:
Follow us on twitter @NHSOrganDonor and #spellitout
Support us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/organdonationuk
To register visit transplantweek.co.uk or call 0300 123 2323
To find out why other bloggers are so passionate about this cause I want you to head over to Being a mummy and collect another letter to spell out this important campaign.
My letter is
This follows on from yesterday’s letter. Make sure you collect them all and #spellitout
7 Responses
Ah Emma what a great message you’re giving x
An incredibly important message and as you say one that discussed with a family before it is necessary to do so. I’ve been an organ donor since I first got a driving licence, but I admit that I don’t yet know the wishes of all my family. I should though.
so so important to know
Really really is an important message. I hvae always been a firm believer in having these discussions and know what my family’s wishes are.
Thank you for sharing.
I think so many of us leave these kind of things to the last minute if ever at all.It’s a hard subject to approach but one that should be dealtr with.
Gosh what an important message – those statistics say it all. Will share x
I have blogged my wishes for #spellitout too, its so important to raise awareness. Like you I hadn’t even considered my wishes for my children and hopefully Emma, we will never need too xx