Organ Transplant

lunarsongbird

Wow- this ended up being a very touching post. Nursey- your father and entire family is without a doubt in my thoughts and prayers.

So are they treating with meds and diet now?

Sparrow87

Nursey you and your father absolutely have my thoughts, I hope that it works out for the best. 

NurseyK

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_organ-transplant?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:186cd3f8-97f2-4331-9783-6528a4b98ecePost:2a9ad525-d148-48e5-9bf2-766b439cd411">Re: Organ Transplant</a>:
[QUOTE]Wow- this ended up being a very touching post. Nursey- your father and entire family is without a doubt in my thoughts and prayers. So are they treating with meds and diet now?
Posted by lunarsongbird[/QUOTE]

<div>Yes and yes. He is on a protective dose of lisinopril and has been on a very restrictive low protein, low phosphorous and low nitrate diet for the past year. His blood work has shown that it isn't progressing anymore, however, he still won't/can't quit smoking, which frustrates the hell out of me. </div>

lunarsongbird

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_organ-transplant?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:136Discussion:186cd3f8-97f2-4331-9783-6528a4b98ecePost:0b697449-b8e6-4d02-942c-6f28b5ff29ab">Re: Organ Transplant</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Organ Transplant : Yes and yes. He is on a protective dose of lisinopril and has been on a very restrictive low protein, low phosphorous and low nitrate diet for the past year. His blood work has shown that it isn't progressing anymore, however, <strong>he still won't/can't quit smoking, which frustrates the hell out of me. 
</strong>Posted by NurseyK[/QUOTE]

My mom's very best friend, Marianne- who was like a second mother to me- finally passed from a long battle with breast cancer. It came back three times. Gr. And never once did she stop smoking. It drove me NUTS. I was SO mad at her for it. And after she died- I was even madder. "Only if.." I thought.

It was a very difficult lesson, but my mother taught me that I had to meet people where they are at. This was huge for me- and still is.

Now Andrew's mom wont stop smoking even though she's treating for breast cancer right now, but I'm meeting her where she's at. She knows Andrew's wishes for her to stop. But we love her- and to love someone- sometimes you have to meet them where they are.

Does that sound like a wise lesson, or a cop out?

NurseyK

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_organ-transplant?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:186cd3f8-97f2-4331-9783-6528a4b98ecePost:fe850182-d897-4b94-958a-9cb097672aaa">Re: Organ Transplant</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Organ Transplant : My mom's very best friend, Marianne- who was like a second mother to me- finally passed from a long battle with breast cancer. It came back three times. Gr. And never once did she stop smoking. It drove me NUTS. I was SO mad at her for it. And after she died- I was even madder. "Only if.." I thought. It was a very difficult lesson, but my mother taught me that I had to meet people where they are at. This was huge for me- and still is. Now Andrew's mom wont stop smoking even though she's treating for breast cancer right now, but I'm meeting her where she's at. She knows Andrew's wishes for her to stop. But we love her- and to love someone- sometimes you have to meet them where they are.<strong> Does that sound like a wise lesson, or a cop out?</strong>
Posted by lunarsongbird[/QUOTE]<div>
</div><div>A cop out. Each cigarette has over 4000 cancer causing agents in it. Smoking affects every blood vessel and every organ in your body, attributing to the causation of cancer, heart failure, kidney disease, liver disease, nephropathy, black lung, the list goes on. Just like love, life, and living.... smoking is a choice. She (and my dad) could choose to point their addictive tendencies to something else that is less destructive. If it's an oral fixation, she could chew straws or suck on sugar free candies. Someone who chooses to NOT quit smoking is only as strong as their weakness for a cop out in life and dealing with stress and pressure. Smoking is as much a physical habit as a mental insecurity. Uh. I could go on. I digress. What you learned is a cop out and I totally disagree because I would never choose to harm my body with cigarettes. 

</div>

CCO2012

I am an organ donor as well. I don't feel the need to be buried "whole". I am catholic, but I am just not that worried about it, as PP said I'm sure Jesus would appreciate a selfless act as my final act on earth.

As far as blood goes, I am O+ and I try to donate as often as I can. But, I am also anemic and have low blood pressure so that can cause issues when donating blood sometimes.

lunarsongbird

I too would never ever pick up a pack of cigarettes. But I just wonder if it's worth the possible never ending battle to try to get someone to stop smoking.

I'll most definitely walk away from her when I'm pregnant and ask her not to smoke around our children. But what more can be said or done- once you have pleaded with someone to stop?

It's definitely something I battle with. To fight- or not to fight? That certainly is the question.

cu97tiger

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_organ-transplant?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:186cd3f8-97f2-4331-9783-6528a4b98ecePost:cf066cff-ec7b-4cb7-8787-ef20bfc3084c">Re: Organ Transplant</a>:
[QUOTE]<strong>I'm an organ donor, and give blood as often as I can.</strong> I love doing it, partially cuz it fascinates me to wath the tubes fill up with my blood :P I'm basically like you. If I'm dead what would I need it for? I know that Jehova's witnesses don't believe in blood donation because blood is sacred, but as long as the blood is drained they can donate/recieve organs. Just my random tidbtit for the day. :P
Posted by zipis1[/QUOTE]

<div><div style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10px;background-color:initial;background-image:none;background-attachment:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;color:#1f1f1f;font:normal normal normal 11px/14px Arial, sans-serif;text-align:left;line-height:normal;">THIS. I'm an organ donor because I can't imagine that when I'm cold and buried I'll need my heart, lungs, eyes, etc. I feel really strongly about it and have told BF and my whole family so that they can't fight it if something should happen to me.</div><div style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10px;background-color:initial;background-image:none;background-attachment:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;color:#1f1f1f;font:normal normal normal 11px/14px Arial, sans-serif;text-align:left;line-height:normal;">
</div><div style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10px;background-color:initial;background-image:none;background-attachment:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;color:#1f1f1f;font:normal normal normal 11px/14px Arial, sans-serif;text-align:left;line-height:normal;">I usually give blood 3-4 times a year. I figure if it only takes an hour of my time, and doesn't hurt me (other than the needle prick), then it's the least I can do to maybe help someone else. Last year I went to Belize, so I had to take a whole year off from giving. I can start again a week from Monday. Yay!
<div>
</div><div>I also feel strongly that if I'm injured but in a vegetative state, I do NOT want to live. If I cannot communicate with the outside world, then I'm not living and they should let me go.</div><div>
</div><div>PS Zipis - A kid I went to high school with had a blood disease. His family were Jehovah's Witnesses and wouldn't allow him to get a life-saving blood transfusion. His brother even tried to fly to another state to be able to give blood to him, but his parents stopped them. I have to be honest, I've had a thing against Jehovah's Witnesses ever since then. Those parents let their child die at 16 years old. Ugh.</div></div></div>

Sparrow87

Lunar- I think it sounds like a wise lesson, but it should be your FMIL that meets everyone else half way by quitting not the other way around! 

CU- That too, is heart-breaking.  I could never imagine watching my child die right in front of my eyes of something that could so easily be fixed. 

jemmini6

I am an organ donor.  I obviously hope to live long enough that I get the full use of my organs myself, but if I were to die tragically, I'd want to save as many people as I could.  I also want to be creamated because I think funerals and caskets are such in incredible waste of money, but that's a different story...it's more applicable in the sense that I obviously won't be whole one way or another, so they might as well take what they can.

What I'd really prefer to do though is help save a life, without affecting my own.  I've tried donating blood a few times, but I've never met the weight requirement for my height.

I am, however, registered with Be the Match for bone marrow donations.  I actually just got the email a couple weeks ago that I am officially in the registry (it took about 2 months from registering online, sending in my cheek swabs, and them testing/processing it to be 'official').  I'd encourage everyone to read up on the process and see if it's something you'd like to participate in.  http://www.marrow.org/