LifeGift’s Post

Did you know April is #DonateLifeMonth? This month is all about the importance of registering to be an organ donor, honoring former donors, and celebrating the lives saved through donation. A successful kidney transplant is life-changing, and kidney donors truly give the gift of life. To learn more about becoming a kidney donor, visit https://ow.ly/Pt0h30sBPVQ.

What is living kidney donation? Living kidney donation is when someone chooses to give one of their kidneys to a person with kidney failure who needs a transplant. A kidney can be donated to a friend or family member, or even a stranger on the transplant waiting list. Visit our website for more information on why we need more living kidney donors, and how one donation can save up to three lives: https://lnkd.in/e9cJ2Ks3

I am alive today because of some amazing people. My wife, Medical professionals, NSW Health and a loving and compassionate family who, at a time of tragic loss, found the strength to consent to Organ Donation. I am now and forever will be a passionate advocate for Organ Donation and the critical role families have in making the final decision to donate their loved one’s organs. The messaging and focus of the OTA is in desperate need of reform. As of today there is still no announcement on The Donatelife Community Partners? Today marks the end of April! But why is that significant? Let's talk funding applications for 2024. They opened back on Thursday, February 1, 2024, at 10:00am AEDT, and they closed Friday, March 1, 2024, at 4:00pm AEDST. That gave everyone just 30 days to get their applications ready and submitted! 💼 According to DONATELIFE OTA's own website, successful applicants were supposed to be announced this month - April. But here we are, 60 days after the applications closed, and even those who didn't make it haven't been given any feedback! 🤔 It's just another example of an organisation in chaos. Despite the CEO being awarded an OAM for services to organ donation, the reality is quite grim. Consent, registration, and donation rates have been declining for six years. It's clear that Australia's organ and tissue donation system needs serious reform. 🚑 #OrganDonation #FundingApplications #reformneeded Australian Organ and Tissue Authority Anne Ruston Gerardine (Ged) Kearney

April is National Donate Life Month. Established in 2003 by Donate Life America and its partnering organizations, National Donate Life Month helps raise awareness about donation, encourages Americans to register as organ, eye, and tissue donors and honors those who have saved lives through the gift of donation. The number of patients waiting for organs changes every day. As of March 2024, the number of patients on the national transplant waiting list was more than 103,000, and every ten minutes, another person is added to the list. In fact, the number of patients who need a lifesaving transplant goes up faster than the number of available organs. By saying "yes" to being an organ donor, you are giving more hope for patients on the waiting list! We will be sharing more helpful information and statistics through the month of April and beyond. If you are interested in saving lives by becoming an organ donor, visit https://lnkd.in/eHwJr7c6 for answers to common questions and more. #DonateLifeMonth #DonorsAreSuperstars #STBHChicago

So important we all do this

Did you know that February 14 is National Donor Day? There are more than 100,000 people on the U.S. national waiting list for kidney donations. By educating and sharing the Donate Life message, we can each take small steps every day to help save and heal more lives, and honor the donor’s legacy of generosity and compassion. National Donor Day is a time to focus on all types of donation—organ, eye, tissue, blood, platelets and marrow. Join us by participating in local events, sharing social media messages and encouraging others to register as donors. National Donor Day is also a day to recognize those who have given and received the gift of life through organ, eye and tissue donation, are currently waiting for a lifesaving transplant, and those who died waiting because an organ was not donated in time. source: donatelife.net

Blood donation is vital, yet often the before and after processes are overlooked by donors. This World Blood Donor Day, Yatharth Hospital outlines the crucial do’s and don’ts of blood donation, ensuring you contribute safely and effectively. Learn how your donation can make a significant impact on those in need 🩸💉 . . 🏷️ #YatharthHospitals #WorldBloodDonorDay #BloodDonation #DonateBloodSaveLives #BloodDonor #SaveLives #BloodDonationTips

😊 So, I am back with blood platelets donation after some - unnecessary as it was proven - break and I am really happy about it! 👉 You see, I had to donate blood around beg. of February and I though that I had to wait three (3) months between a typical blood donation and a blood platelets donation; alas this is not the case. 🔎 As a donor, you can switch from blood platelets to blood donation and vice versa in just one (1) month! The 3-month restriction only applies when you donate a flask of blood, as the human body recovers donated blood volumes much slower than blood platelets which are normally recovered in a matter of days... 💡 Good to know for next time! #blooddonation #bloodplatelets #donatelife

"Today is World Organ Donation Day! Let's shine a light on the selfless act of organ donation, which gives hope and a second chance at life to countless individuals and families. One organ donor can save up to 8 lives and improve many more through tissue donation. Consider registering as an organ donor today and share your decision with your loved ones. Together, we can create a world where everyone has access to the life-saving transplants they need. #WorldOrganDonationDay #OrganDonation #SaveLives #DonateLife"

This week is UK Organ Donation Week, something unexpectedly that has become very close to my heart well actually my kidneys! My Reality: My kidneys quickly declined and ultimately failed in the first few months of 2023. 480 days since completing all the testing and became eligible to join the UK national transplant list. Dialysis is relentless -         Three times a week. -         Six hours at a time. -         12 days a month. -         Two months spent hooked to a machine over the last year and a half! I am living in this strange limbo, knowing I could receive the call at any moment is strange. It’s always in the back of your mind and sometimes popping into the forefront of your mind at the most random times. Whilst I'm hoping it comes sooner rather than later, balancing a business whilst awaiting a transplant is like walking a tightrope—both emotionally and physically. You're caught between two monumental responsibilities: your health and your business. Planning long-term is tough enough but when you don't know if you'll get the call tomorrow or next year is strange…. almost unfathomable. Stagnation isn't an option; the business must and life keeps moving forward. Thankfully, I have an awesome family and group of friends around me and a great group of people I work with who I trust should the phone ring. There is pressure and it is relentless. As a business owner, you feel responsible not only for your own livelihood but for others' as well. The fear extends beyond your health to the potential impact on your business. Personally, it's equally taxing. Your mobile is always within reach, bags packed, ready for the life-changing moment. A imposed geofence of 2 hrs from the MRI. There is undoubtedly an added layer of guilt, knowing that your second chance hinges on another's loss. I'm acutely aware that for another family, it will mean a tragedy. Physically, you are trying to stay fit for surgery whilst managing the stress is not easy but essential. Most people don’t die from CKD but a heart related issue. It's a balancing act—suspended between your current life and the one you're hoping for, all whilst ensuring your business can weather both the wait and whatever comes next. In the meantime, I will wait for the phone call. Whether that’s kidneys, jobs or a chat…. I am available 😊 Stats to leave you with as the need for organ donors in the UK remains pressing: • As of March 2023, there were 6,200 people on the active transplant waiting list in the UK. • In 2022/23, 3,578 people in the UK received a transplant from a deceased donor, but sadly, 462 patients died whilst on the active waiting list. • Although 96% of UK adults say they support organ donation, only 44% have recorded their decision on the NHS Organ Donor Register. • One donor can save or transform over nine lives through organ donation and even more by donating tissue. Most importantly, I hope this post encourages more people to register as an organ donor.