Would YOU?

I would do it for someone I knew well. A semi-stranger? Probably not.

Whatever his motivation, the dude saved someone's life. Can't fault that and I wish them both well.

[Mage]

I would.

[kelliekd]

I have to say that the idea of having to have something as simple as tonsils taken out terrifies me, so no, definately not. My kidneys can stay right where they are. I would have to be somebody's last resort for me to offer myself to have parts removed. I don't even know how I would react if I had to be on the receiving end of a transplant.

[BigV]

This is a tough question, xoB. My first inclination is to say yes. I would want to help someone. But how to hook up is a big question. I wouldn't just want to walk down the street with a sign, "Kidney, free, you haul". Plus, honestly, how does the expense get handled? That is a biggie.

I have gone through testing as a potential bone marrow donor for someone who was suffering from leukemia. Turned out I was not a compatible donor.

I don't know. I "say" yes, and still I sit on both of them. I guess my actions speak louder than my words. No. Or at least, not yet.

edit: fwiw, I have agreed to be an organ donor. hehe, I first wrote I am an organ donor...that's not quite right. Anyway. I figure I'm done with them, whatever "them" may be. I hope I can help many people, corneas, skin, heart, kidneys, whatever.

[OnyxCougar]

I am unable to donate blood and/or organs, even with the current blood shortage, because I lived in England > 3 months in the 90's. That takes over 25,000 Americans out of the donor pool just counting ONE rotation in the American Forces in England (counting Lakenheath, Mildenhall, Alconbury, Bedford, and the other itty bitty RAF bases. Think about the fact that every month we'd have 100 go home and then 100 n00bs arrive.

The worry is CJD (mad cow). They have no way to test for it in the blood stream, and they are afraid it may have some sort of incubation period, and then BAM! CJD.

Well, I'm sorry, but I don't see all the Brits that lived in England running around getting hit with CJD alla sudden (like the mass populous) so I think not allowing the military (or extended tourist or business people) to donate blood/organs is dumb.

I would give every 8 weeks if they would let me. But they won't.
Meantime, back on topic, I don't think I would be able to give a complete stranger any organs. I'm saving them for family members that may need them.

[capnhowdy]

In the U.S.:

Autopsies revealed that 3-13% of people diagnosed with Alzhiemers or Dementia were actually sufferring from CDJ. These findings indicate that at least 120,000 cases are undetected as we speak.
I would say the governments are trying to be "careful" , but the U.S. Center for Disease control still refuses to make CJD a reportable disease.
That makes about as much sense to me as a screen door on a submarine.

[staceyv]

No, because I'm type O negative, so basically, if I ever need a transplant, I am totally screwed. I need to keep all my organs.

[glatt]

Originally Posted by capnhowdy

In the U.S.:

Autopsies revealed that 3-13% of people diagnosed with Alzhiemers or Dementia were actually sufferring from CDJ. These findings indicate that at least 120,000 cases are undetected as we speak.
I would say the governments are trying to be "careful" , but the U.S. Center for Disease control still refuses to make CJD a reportable disease.
That makes about as much sense to me as a screen door on a submarine.

I would be very interested to see the source of this information. I've always heard that many cases of Alzhiemers could possibly be CJD, but I've never seen any hard evidence that supports this claim. If actual autopsies support this, then this is a HUGE story. What's your source?

[capnhowdy]

No problem, Glatt. I had never researched the topic in depth until recently. Most people are vaguely aware of the magnitude of the problem here in the U.S. The Brits aren't the only ones who need to beware.
The link I was semi- quoting is:

http://www.foe.org/factoryfarms/madcowfactsheet.pdf

[glatt]

Thanks.

Reading that, I see that I jumped to conclusions when I read your post that 13% of Alzheimers patients really had CJD. I wrongly assumed your comment was talking about vCJD, which is the version you get from infected cows. They are talking about regular classic CJD which may or may not have come from cows or some other sources. Still, it's a pretty amazing set of studies that as many as 13% of all Alzheimer patients really have CJD.

[missm2u]

yes, in similar circumstances, i would.

but let me fill in a few details. Jim and Jocko have not only both worked at Boeing for a long time, they have both been shop stewards for the aeromechanics union for many years. so, for example, when Jocko started to get sick, all of the people in his shop started bringing extra food in their lunches to make sure he was eating right and they wouldn't let him carry his tools anywhere. I think it's just becuz for all those years, he was helping everyone as their union steward, and they just wanted to be able to do something for him for once. so although they didn't know each other personally, Jim already knew that Jocko was a decent person who was dedicated to helping other people.

and why there wasn't a family donor: hypertension and diabetes tend to run in families, dontcha know. and, like a lot of families in the Black community (including my own), even if there are family members who are healthy enough now to be potential donors, no doctor would consider them acceptable candidates becuz of the probability that in the future, they themselves will get sick.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Hi missm2u, welcome to the Cellar.
Thanks for the details. You obviously have first hand information....cool.
How did you find us?