Two things I have finally done (back to serious)
There are things you should and want to do, but somehow you never get around to actually do them. For various reasons, I finally did two things that are very important.
I got my organ donator card, and signed my living will.
As some of you know, I'm Wiccan. A coven-less, hierachy-avoiding Wiccan, avoiding the bulk of "trained priest/esses" like a vampire would avoid garlic.
I do many things Wiccans shouldn't do. I leave a lot undone that would be my duty. But the basic belief and joy in life, nature and the power that is all around us is something I share. I respect life in all its forms, try to treat the world and all beings in it respectfully, and hope I can repay the great goddess some of her favours by trying to be a halfway decent person.
I recently discussed the subject of organ donation with some pagan friends, and much to my surprise (and disappointment), they all stated that they refuse to donate organs, as they wish to be "intact and complete" upon their return.
I absolutely don't share this point of view. We try to respect life and protect it, be it man, animal or plant while we are alive, so why should we let a chance pass to save the lives of many people once we are dead?
What makes me "me" is not in my bones, heart, kidney or pancreas, for crying out loud.
Being the daughter of a funeral director was a blessing. I could grow up in a family where death was not a taboo. We talked about it every day. I saw people alive, I saw them later on dead. I held my dead baby nephew when he died at 5 months. I sat by my mother's side when she died. And while I love life and hope I can manage to break the age record for Northern Switzerland, I'm fully aware that I have to return to the place I came from one day. I'm not looking forward to dying (well who does!), but I'm not afraid of death himself.
So I finally got my donor card. You can state in your application if there are some parts of your body that you don't want to donate. Many donors don't want to give away their heart, for example. Or the irises. Or don't want to donate skin.
Well, I told them to use every little bone of my body once I die. Really everything. Heart, liver, kidneys, lung, irises, skin - 8 people can be saved and maybe have a new, happier life. How could I possibly be so selfish and not give them the chance to live a life as happy and fulfililng as mine is?
Now don't get me wrong: I respect people's wishes. I know that some people have doubts due to religious or ethical reasons. But I read in a magazine this week that 98% or people would want a donated organ if they needed it, but only 35% were willing to actually donate. How selfish is this!
I also got this card for another reason: I love my friends and remaining family. I wouldn't want any of them having to go through the horrible moment of having to face a doctor who tells them "sorry, she's gone, but have you ever thought about organ donation?"
Spare your loved ones this pain. If you always wanted to become a future organ donor, get a card, register.
Same goes for the living will. Anyone knowing me is fully aware that hooking me on life support for the next ten years is a big no-no. I couldn't decide when to be born, but nobody is going to take away the right from me to decide when to die, if I can help it. So I signed my living will and became a member of "EXIT", who help terminally ill people to take their lives if they wish to. They are very strict - you can't just go there and say "yo man, I'm depressed, gimme the juice".
Why all this?
It was such a wonderful day, you know. The flowers in the garden were amazing, with bumble bees trying to escape the cats.
It was a blissful, lovely, happy day. And I realised that I could not deny anybody the chance to see this beauty as well.
Erestor
I got my organ donator card, and signed my living will.
As some of you know, I'm Wiccan. A coven-less, hierachy-avoiding Wiccan, avoiding the bulk of "trained priest/esses" like a vampire would avoid garlic.
I do many things Wiccans shouldn't do. I leave a lot undone that would be my duty. But the basic belief and joy in life, nature and the power that is all around us is something I share. I respect life in all its forms, try to treat the world and all beings in it respectfully, and hope I can repay the great goddess some of her favours by trying to be a halfway decent person.
I recently discussed the subject of organ donation with some pagan friends, and much to my surprise (and disappointment), they all stated that they refuse to donate organs, as they wish to be "intact and complete" upon their return.
I absolutely don't share this point of view. We try to respect life and protect it, be it man, animal or plant while we are alive, so why should we let a chance pass to save the lives of many people once we are dead?
What makes me "me" is not in my bones, heart, kidney or pancreas, for crying out loud.
Being the daughter of a funeral director was a blessing. I could grow up in a family where death was not a taboo. We talked about it every day. I saw people alive, I saw them later on dead. I held my dead baby nephew when he died at 5 months. I sat by my mother's side when she died. And while I love life and hope I can manage to break the age record for Northern Switzerland, I'm fully aware that I have to return to the place I came from one day. I'm not looking forward to dying (well who does!), but I'm not afraid of death himself.
So I finally got my donor card. You can state in your application if there are some parts of your body that you don't want to donate. Many donors don't want to give away their heart, for example. Or the irises. Or don't want to donate skin.
Well, I told them to use every little bone of my body once I die. Really everything. Heart, liver, kidneys, lung, irises, skin - 8 people can be saved and maybe have a new, happier life. How could I possibly be so selfish and not give them the chance to live a life as happy and fulfililng as mine is?
Now don't get me wrong: I respect people's wishes. I know that some people have doubts due to religious or ethical reasons. But I read in a magazine this week that 98% or people would want a donated organ if they needed it, but only 35% were willing to actually donate. How selfish is this!
I also got this card for another reason: I love my friends and remaining family. I wouldn't want any of them having to go through the horrible moment of having to face a doctor who tells them "sorry, she's gone, but have you ever thought about organ donation?"
Spare your loved ones this pain. If you always wanted to become a future organ donor, get a card, register.
Same goes for the living will. Anyone knowing me is fully aware that hooking me on life support for the next ten years is a big no-no. I couldn't decide when to be born, but nobody is going to take away the right from me to decide when to die, if I can help it. So I signed my living will and became a member of "EXIT", who help terminally ill people to take their lives if they wish to. They are very strict - you can't just go there and say "yo man, I'm depressed, gimme the juice".
Why all this?
It was such a wonderful day, you know. The flowers in the garden were amazing, with bumble bees trying to escape the cats.
It was a blissful, lovely, happy day. And I realised that I could not deny anybody the chance to see this beauty as well.
Erestor