Episode 10: An Organ Donor Recipient's Story
Feb 27, 2024
The episode of Thoughtful Planning features a conversation about organ donation, focusing on the impact it has on recipients and their families. Honey and Santiago welcomed Kim Perkins, a pancreas transplant recipient, to share her personal journey.
Today’s essential question: how do you think organ donation affects recipients and their families?
Kim shared her experience of being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in her 20s and struggling with managing the disease for years. She eventually explored the possibility of a pancreas transplant and underwent a successful transplant surgery, which has allowed her to live insulin-free for over 10 years.
Throughout the conversation, Kim debunks myths about organ donation, emphasizing the importance of registering as a donor and discussing the misconceptions surrounding medical professionals' motivations regarding organ procurement.
She highlights the ripple effect of organ donation, and how it not only saves lives but also provides hope and healing to donor families. Kim encourages listeners to consider becoming organ donors, emphasizing the wide-ranging positive impact it can have on numerous lives.
Important data: According to the Health Resource and Service Administration, on average, there are 103,327 people waiting for a transplant. 17 people on the list die each day in the US. That's over 6,200 folks who die annually waiting for a transplant.
If you donate, you can potentially save eight lives by donating your heart, kidneys, lungs, pancreas, and intestines. You can also impact up to 75 others by giving your corneas, eyes, skin, bones, heart valves, veins, and tendons.
If you're inspired to learn more or are considering becoming an organ donor, we encourage you to investigate the resources available in your state.
As always, this is for information purposes only. If you have medical or legal questions, please contact your doctor or lawyer for specific information about your situation.
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