Organ Donation

Until now, I have never really thought about Organ Donation in a serious way. Ofcourse I have seen couple of movies, read in newspaper about heroic parents who gave their little boy's organs for donation when he was brain dead, etc. Like almost everyone I was very appreciative of those parents, thought what a brave decision they had made in those difficult times, etc. But I have never met a person or thought seriously about doing it myself. When I visit a hospital or somewhere there would be a tickbox to say - Do you wish to donate your organs? and I have always hesitated to mark it yes and have conveniently ignored that question so far. I think there is something that my mom/grandmom said long ago got registered in my twisted mind, about some Hindu Myth that when they bury us, we should be complete, as how God created us or something like that. Agreeably I am stupid and I realized that, not long ago. Couple of weeks ago, I met a neighbour, who lives in the same estate as us who casually mentioned that her son ha d a liver transplant when he was 18 months old as if he had fever or flu. I was very shocked to hear that and knowing what she must have gone through, I had great respect for her. Yesterday, we went for a walk and crossed her home and she invited us in. I think she was interested to talk to me because I listened with interest to what she was saying about her son and like any mother, anyone hears about your kid, you automatically become interested to talk to them. She told me the whole story about how he had a rare genetic condition that his liver couldn't process any protein and how he would go into a Coma so often. The doctors had said that he might live like that for a few years if at all he survives the first four months of danger and even if he survives, he would be mentally challenged, etc. Like all mothers, she had been relentless, searched every possible thing on the internet she could do for him and have found out that liver transplant is a way to help him. After so much struggle, she had him have a liver transplant at 18 months old and the first time they did, his body was rejecting the liver. So in three days time, he had one again and this time, it went on fine. He had been in the hospital for a very long time and when I see that little boy playing around in the park, I can see none of it. He is an active child, who just looks lean, just like my daughter who hates the word called food. At the end of it she said, any human liver, is divided upto 8 parts and can help transplant of 8 different lives. The liver grows within three weeks time to get into the size we all need. It just occured to me that, the choice we make to donate our organs, after we pass away, can help so many people and can make so many families' lives better. I can see what a great mother she is and I know how grateful I would be if someone had helped my child live a better quality life. I was ashamed about how stupid I was, to believe in some crazy myth and not having registered as an organ donor. For an afterlife, we dont know whether its there or not, for some religious myth I really have no clue is true or a foolish interpretation of something else, why would I even hesitate when you see a visible proof of what a difference it makes in people's lives. Some of us hesitate to do it ourselves, but when our kith and kin needs it, we hope for some great soul to give it to us. Shouldnt we do the same to others? I will register as an organ donor and may be if there is one person who will live because of that, I think God will be more than happy to bless me in my after life:) I dont know if I can change anyone else to make this decision, probably not even my own family, but it is a sure decision I have made in life. I hope Maya will read this someday and make the same decision as me!