IF ONLY...

The Lizard is a powerful image 

The Lizard is a very important symbol for me...one of its core meaning for me is that it represents the idea of bringing your dreams and hopes from the 'dreamtime' and manifesting them in 'realtime.'So one of my hopes is that somehow we can all encourage more folk to be on the organ donor register and/or indeed being a live donor for someone if the opportunity arises for them and their family. It got me thinking about what gets in the way of this and I feel its often about the lack of talking, emoting and communicating around difficult and painful subjects. I can't say we sat down with our kids and asked them the question about if something happened to them would they want to be organ donors...our kids came to us with this.But it raises the question for me why didn't I initiate that conversation? Obviously one of the main reasons is I probably like the rest of parents in the world  are terrified that something could ever happen to my kids and maybe its that superstitious stuff about if you talk about it then somehow your encouraging it to happen.......Bonkers I know but who ever said feelings are rational anyway! I'm feeling that conversations about organ donation have happened haphazardly in our family. Rationally it would be better if your not having them at the sick bedside or in A&E.

 I didn't know until recently that even if you are a donor, make your wishes known and carry a card that your family could override this ..which horrifies me.The stats say something like 96% of folk in Britain would accept an organ if they needed one but there's  only approximately 29% of folk on the register...now that just doesn't add up right for me. I know some folk cant donate for religious or medical grounds but there's still a huge discrepancy between receiving and donating

So my wish is that we have these difficult conversations, but maybe that is a dream.So I asked myself the question ''so what could be a reality then? 'Well a reality could be if everyone who reads this has a conversation with one other person about organ donation then that's a realistic opportunity that it could nudge someone into thinking about it and even registering!  I know the government is making noises about having folk having to' opt out' rather than' opt in' to organ donation........ however I favour folk really making a discerned decision about donating...strikes me the organ would be 'happier' rather than feeling 'petulant,' that is if you romance the idea that organs may have or hold feelings and energy.

So I'm encouraging anyone whose reading this blog to have a conversation about organ donation to one other person today......as there's been 444 hits on my blog that could be potentially 888 potential donors...I'll get a link put on later today.

Or if you don't have this conversation I'm offering you an invitation to think about why not?......I feel its better to make a decision by choice rather than by default.I'm not up for coercing or shaming folk into organ donation  but I am up for folk knowing clearly why they are choosing NOT to donate/be on the organ donation register.To ask themselves the question 'would I expect there to be an organ for me or my family if I or they needed one?' I think there are some healthy  and frank conversations to be had not only with other people but with ourselves.

I also can ask myself the question would I have though about carrying a donor card or having these current conversations or thoughts if kidney disease was not in my family's medical history....I'd like to think yes but maybe not! I think there is no shame in not asking the question previously as we all get wrapped up in our lives and react and respond to what's immediately occupying our current attention. But once I know something then I cant unknow it!...I can chose to ignore or not act upon it but that is not a passive decision, if I know something then  its an informed choice......I guess I'm just asking folk to make informed choices.Not donating is as valid a choice as donating if its a choice.....passivity is not a good enough reason in my books.

So ending today's entry Hopefully yours, and thanking and acknowledging all those of you who are already donors and HOPEFULLY encouraging all of you who are not to think about it.

Tracey x