Gift of Life

Death is uncertain in the sense that we cannot conclusively tell what will happen to us after death. Death is certain in the sense that we know that everyone of us will experience death. It is this combination of uncertainty and certainty of death that makes us feel so fearful of death. Clinging on to life when death is inevitable makes death even harder and more painful. Accepting that one has to leave this life and move on to another existence makes death more bearable. Part of accepting death is accepting the fact that nothing we owned in this world can be brought to our next existence. Part of accepting death is to let go.

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Now that the depressing part about death is over, let’s talk about the brighter side of death. One would ask, how can death be bright when it is so sad and miserable to oneself and also to others? Death can bring light to the lives of others through making the ultimate gift of life: organ and tissues donation. The commonly transplanted organs are kidney, heart, liver, lungs, pancreas while transplantable tissues are eyes, bones, skin and heart valves. Thus, a single donor can save the lives of many people. We know that death brings grief and sorrow to our loved ones, but if the death has already occurred and cannot be reversed, why not make it worthwhile and meaningful by saving others lives and prevent the same grief and sorrow to their loved ones?

Err.. I thought green ribbon's a symbol for environment

One recurring question in pledging your organs will be the fear that your hospital treatment will be affected once it is made known that you are a donor i.e. that hospital will be less likely to go all out to save your life in view that your organs can be harvested if you die so that it could be donated to others. This is however a myth. It is a doctor’s duty to undertake all known measures to save your life till the end. Only when brain death has been confirmed will the issue of organ and tissue donation be discussed with your next of kin.

We will never be certain of what is after life until we experience death, but there are certain things about death that I would like to presume as that will make me accept death easier. I would like to believe is that death is not painful. It does not entail physical pain, because our consciousness is no longer with our body, and it does not entail psychological pain if and only if we accept death by letting go of our attachment to our possessions.

So people, pledge your organs! How? It’s as easy as 1-2-3.

1. Get your lazy bump off your chair now.
2. Hop on to your car and drive to the nearest hospital.
3. Scream to the receptionist that you would like to MAKE A GIFT OF LIFE  

Just joking.

For those of you who are in KL, make your way to the National Transplant Resource Centre @ Hospital Kuala Lumpur. For those of you who are not in KL, I was serious about going to the nearest hospital.