National Transplant Week

This week (9th - 15th July) is National Transplant Week. I wanted to do a post on it because organ donation is something I so strongly believe in. I'd be a strong supporter regardless of whether I had CF or not, but having CF does mean it's a cause close to my heart.

Cystic Fibrosis doesn't have a cure yet, the symptoms can only be managed. Despite all the medicines and treatment required to keep lungs healthy, they still get worse and often the ultimate outcome is lung transplantation as they'll be so badly damaged. CF affects many other organs too, so CFer's can also need things like liver transplants too. I know and know of so many young CFer's whose lives have been transformed after receiving their new lungs. Without them, they wouldn't be here today which is what make organ donation so amazing. But I also know of many who have lost their fight with CF after waiting on the list for too long. 

This is because of a lack of donors that have signed up to the register, I think it's one of those things where people say they'll get round to doing it but forget to. Or in many cases, people haven't told their loved ones of their wishes to donate their organs after they've passed, which is the theme of this year's National Transplant Week. When a family member or friend passes away it's an emotional time and often the thought of letting doctors take their organs is too much to bear, but if they know it's what that person wanted then they're more likely to let it happen and more lives will be saved.

But I know that some people just don't want to donate. Even some very close family members and friends have said to me 'Oooh, I don't like the thought of someone cutting me up!' It makes absolutely no sense to me at all to think like that because, sorry to be blunt, you'll be dead, ain't like you're gonna feel it! No one likes to think of death, but I think of it as living. When I die, if I can give my organs to someone so that they can live then it means that something good can come out of something bad, know what I mean? I don't know why you wouldn't want to give the gift of life...after all, if you were in need I bet you wouldn't think twice about accepting a donated organ! 

To find out more, visit www.transplantweek.co.uk  and to sign up to the register go here. Here's some great info as well:

Join the NHS Organ Donation Register

I'm so interested to hear your views on this! Let me know what you think, whether you agree or not. Don't be afraid to say if you don't...after all, we're all entitled to our own opinions and it's totally your choice! 

Josie xx