You are right in your comments regarding the agony that goes along with the decision of organ donation, but we found the good of donation far exceeded the bad.
Our 18-year old daughter was killed in an automobile accident almost 7 years ago. We were contacted that evening by several organ donation agencies asking if we would consider donating organs so others may live.
I was surprised at the first call but soon realized that even though our daughter would no longer be with us, she could save another person and spare another family the grief we were going through. We allowed the agencies to use whatever viable organs were available.
As I said, she was killed 7 years ago, but somewhere, someone is alive because her organs may have made all the difference.
I empathize with the family that is desperately trying to save their daughters life. And, I understand how not having a protocol for organ usage can cost the life of someone who may otherwise live. In this case, the protocols were written at a time when adult lungs could not be transplanted into pediatric patients. Now they can. Do we allow a child to die because the protocols have not kept up with technology? I certainly hope not.
many people live better lives because of her decision but it is still a decision she re-thinks over and over again, wondering....
we too lost a teenager, our 19 yr old son, it was not a situation where organ donation was possible, but he himself had made that decisions when he got his driver's license and checked the block to be a donor
When he checked that block on his license I asked if he was sure and he said “Mom, I'm not stupid. Why wouldn't I do this?”
Geez, the things you think will never ever happen.