Southwest Transplant Alliance

Yet even during this season of giving, we rarely think about giving a pancreas, a lung, a heart or a liver, should we no longer need them. Most people don’t even think about giving blood, which is so easy, let alone a kidney, which we can give while we’re alive, so someone can make it through this holiday season and beyond.

We need to take time out to think about organ donation because if we want our wishes to be followed, whether we’re for or against donation, we have to share those wishes with those who will care for us after we’re gone. And what better gift to give family members than the peace of mind of knowing what we want so they won’t have to guess?

Talk about a gift that keeps on giving. The peace of not having to try to figure out what we “might have wanted,” but of knowing exactly what to do in the event of a tragedy, is priceless.

If each of us took time to share our wishes this holiday season, families would be spared further anguish during difficult times. And the bottom line is that more lives would be saved.

Today, while you read this and go on about your day, 17 people will die before the organs they need become available. One of the key reasons for the shortage of available organs is that families don’t typically discuss donation, and the decision is a difficult one to make during the chaos of losing a loved one.

So take time during this season of giving to let your family know that you want to give the ultimate gift. Let them know that you want to be a lifesaver.

If you are ready, you can also officially and legally register to be an organ donor by visiting www.donatelifetexas.org.

For more information about organ donation, contact Southwest Transplant Alliance, the local organ donation agency, at www.organ.org or 800-788-8058.

Pam Silvestri is the community affairs director for Southwest Transplant Alliance. She resides in Dallas.