Purposeful Penguin

Part of me living in others

September 17th, 2008 | by ka edong |

In a spiritual sense, I would want people to have a piece of me even when I pass from this good world.

But apart from this spiritual goal, I want parts of me to give life to others - in a very literal sense.

I speak of organ donation.

Fifteen years ago, I signed up to donate my eyes, my liver, my pancreas, my kidneys and my heart in the event of my death. I still stand by this decision I’ve made during my adolescence. It’s a way of giving a gift of agape, a gift of life even upon my death.

I kept an organ donor card in my wallet since then. That card is always in my wallet. It fell into the waters with me one time I tried to help out stir a fishing boat (see Guro Sa Cuyo). Much of the card had shriveled up through the years, the writing fading away, the edges dilapidated.

I was at a hospital one time, and I asked whether they had an organ donor card that I can use to replace this dilapidated card. They didn’t know where I could get one.

Organ Donor Card
(Keep this card with you at all times in a place where it will be found quickly)

I would like to help someone to live after my death

In the hope that I may help others, I wish to donate after my death my:

• Kidneys
• Eyes
• Liver
• Pancreas
• Heart
• Any needed parts or organs to be used for transplantation

Donor: Edwin S. Soriano
Birthdate: January 11, 1975
Date Signed: Aug 2, 1993
Address & Telephone number: (shown in original card, kept confidential online)
Next of Kin: Antonio D. Soriano

Here’s an idea for proponents of (legal) organ donation among Filipinos.
(This idea Inspired by Triumphs of the Heart, Book II by Chris Benguhe)

With all the Internet technologies available, why not create an online registry for people to sign-up for organ donation.

Upon online verification, give a digital badge to the the donors similar to the organ donor card. This badge can be placed by the donors on their blog the same way I did above.

If you believe in this idea, go ahead and make a similar declaration on your blog.
Link back to me so we could start a little organ donor registry on the net.

Here are a few links about organ donation in the Philippines.

• Organ donation FAQ
• Organ Donation Act
• National Kidney and Transplant Institute
• New AO on human organ donation, transplant to end trafficking -– DOH
• The Philippines and Organ Donation
• Philippines Ban Organ Transplant to Foreigners
• Philippine Bishops urge halt to organ trafficking
  

I’m surprised (half surprised) to find that there’s a bad case of organ trafficking in the Philippines. This article is my contribution to the positive kind of organ donation.

After a purposeful life and upon my death, let this post be a reminder to my family and loved ones that it is my will to give life after my death.

ka edong
part of me, part of you