Organ donation

[PreachersWife2004]

If you knew you were a match to someone to donate an organ like a kidney, but you also knew that the person had done some not so wonderful things in her lifetime, would you still donate? Add to that the fact that you're not exactly close but you feel like you should help out...

What would you do?

 

[jayem]

Having only one kidney puts me in a dicey situation, should I later have an injury, or develop some serious problem in my one remaining organ. It's my first responsibility to be as healthy as possible for my own family, who depend on me for support. I would certainly consider donating something like bone marrow, but I can't see donating an irreplaceable organ to someone not in my family, let alone someone to whom I'm not close. If I felt duty-bound to help, I'd give him money, or help in any other way to support him or his family during his illness.

 

[Beanieboy]

If you knew you were a match to someone to donate an organ like a kidney, but you also knew that the person had done some not so wonderful things in her lifetime, would you still donate? Add to that the fact that you're not exactly close but you feel like you should help out...

What would you do?

One part of me would think that the person didn't deserve it, and I wouldn't want to donate. I would feel like I was risking my health and life for a stranger.

However, would I do it? Probably. The person is my neighbor, and as I do to the least of these, so do I do unto Christ, and giving Christ my kidney would be a no-brainer. It would hard. It would be a sacrifice, and I would struggle with it a lot. However, like the person that hasn't done such good things that I'm not close to, who I don't think deserves my kidney, I don't deserve Christ's love, have done things I'm not proud of, and yet, Christ continues to love me, gives me love out of mercy rather than merit.

So, yes I would, but I would have to pray to have Jesus help claw it out of my hands, because I would want to hold on to it. I would have to pray a lot, and ask for strength, love, humility, kindness, and generosity.

 

[Caitlin.ann]

I would only donate to a close friend or family members so I can't adequately answer this question so the answer is no. However were I donating blood or not given the option of knowing where my donated parts went to I wouldn't really care.

 

[Hypothetical]

This is why selling your own organs should be legal. Sure, some very kind people might be willing to give a kidney, but there are a lot more people out there who might sell one for the right price.

 

[Supernaut]

If you knew you were a match to someone to donate an organ like a kidney, but you also knew that the person had done some not so wonderful things in her lifetime, would you still donate? Add to that the fact that you're not exactly close but you feel like you should help out...

What would you do?

I would freely donate the needed organ! I've done some not so wonderful things, and if God can work with me then I can do the same for another!

 

[TerranceL]

If you knew you were a match to someone to donate an organ like a kidney, but you also knew that the person had done some not so wonderful things in her lifetime, would you still donate? Add to that the fact that you're not exactly close but you feel like you should help out...

What would you do?

Before I can answer this question i need a definition of "Some not so wonderful things".

Did this person kick her dog once or disembowel it?

And is the person just and acquantiance or a friend?

 

[PreachersWife2004]

Before I can answer this question i need a definition of "Some not so wonderful things".

Did this person kick her dog once or disembowel it?

She had an affair and has abused her children in the past. She has a pretty stinky attitude towards life in general, I guess.

And is the person just and acquantiance or a friend?

I am pretty tight with her husband and her family. By proxy, I am friends with her.

 

[quatona]

If you knew you were a match to someone to donate an organ like a kidney, but you also knew that the person had done some not so wonderful things in her lifetime, would you still donate?

Well, why not? Is organ donation supposed to be a reward/punishment and the donator supposed to be the judge out of a sudden? Did I miss the memo?

 

[PreachersWife2004]

Well, why not? Is organ donation supposed to be a reward/punishment and the donator supposed to be the judge out of a sudden? Did I miss the memo?

Err...it's just a question and something I'm currently struggling with.

It is quite a huge consideration to lose one kidney, thus setting myself up for possible issues later on in life (or during surgery, etc.). I have my own family to think of, but I'm also thinking about her family. If I did donate it, it would probably be more for her family than for her specifically.

Because I'm so close to the situation I wanted to get some other perspectives.

 

[Caitlin.ann]

I wouldn't give an organ to someone I didn't care for.

 

[quatona]

Err...it's just a question and something I'm currently struggling with.

Ok. I was assuming it was hypothetical.
Personal stuff requires a bit more sensitivity than hypthetical questions created to isolate a moral issue. My apologies.

It is quite a huge consideration to lose one kidney, thus setting myself up for possible issues later on in life (or during surgery, etc.).

Most definiitely - but it is a huge consideration regardless of my ethical judgement of the person I donate it to.

I have my own family to think of, but I'm also thinking about her family.

...another reason why my judgement of her morals would be irrelevant for the decision.

If I did donate it, it would probably be more for her family than for her specifically.

..yet another reason that renders the morality of the way she has lead her life irrelevant for the decision, as far as I can see.

Because I'm so close to the situation I wanted to get some other perspectives.

Well, here you have mine.

 

[Caitlin.ann]

My opinion differs. My own family comes first and I would want to keep my organs until a family member possibly needed it instead of wasting it on some woman who I don't like. If I for example gave a kidney away to this woman and years later found out my child would die without a kidney, of which I'm a match for and could have given my kidney to my child I would be crushed. That is why I would hold on to mine.

 

[Hypothetical]

Ah, I too thought this was hypothetical. In that case:

I’m assuming by the fact that you posted this thread at all that you really don’t want to donate.

However, I realize this is a very serious decision. The only advice I can give is to just remember, you should not feel *forced* to donate. It is your kidney. It is perfectly natural for you to want to keep your own kidney. And, anyone who would hate you for not donating is foolish.

 

[Jade Margery]

Whoa, so this isn't some kind of hypothetical situation, eh?

I guess, if I were you, I would do research on the kinds of diseases that can cause kidney damage, and see if any of my family were at risk for them first. If so, I'd hold onto the kidney. If everyone is kidney-healthy, then I would look to the reason why her's are failing--something hereditary, or habitual? If it's habitual and she is likely to ruin the new kidney like she did the old, then there's not much point. If it's not habitual, then yes, I would probably donate the kidney, for her kids. Even an abusive mom is hard to lose.

There's something else to consider too. If she might die without a transplant, could you sleep well at night, knowing you could have saved her? Even if she was a real monster, I don't think my conscience would be free from that no matter how much I tried to reason with it. Knowing you could have stopped something bad but you didn't is the sort of thing that can haunt a person.

Dat's my take on it. Hope everything goes well for you and her, regardless of what you choose to do.

 

[Supernaut]

Err...it's just a question and something I'm currently struggling with.

It is quite a huge consideration to lose one kidney, thus setting myself up for possible issues later on in life (or during surgery, etc.). I have my own family to think of, but I'm also thinking about her family. If I did donate it, it would probably be more for her family than for her specifically.

Because I'm so close to the situation I wanted to get some other perspectives.

What a predicament! Perhaps this is an opportunity to grow closer to her? Perhaps this is the Lords work to mend bridges?

As far as the risks go, from a Christian perspective of course, I wouldn't worry so much about those as the Lord is in control and will take care of such matters in accordance to His will.

Remember too that your Christian family is in some (rare) cases more important than immediate family. That is not to say of course that your family is unimportant in the least.

If the donation was more for her family than for her then it is still a worthwhile cause. Again, this could be bridge work and you might be the right instrument for His plan at this time.


Hope my 2 cents helps! I will be praying for you and her!

God Bless you and yours!

 

[K9_Trainer]

I probably wouldn't....But it has nothing to do with the person's past and more to do with the reasons you are hesitant. The aspect of it being a major surgery and also keeping my own family in mind.

 

[PreachersWife2004]

I should say that I'm not necessarily hesitant because she's done some bad things. That would be hypocritical of me, and y'all would be right to call me on it. I'm hesitant because it does affect more people than just me and her. If I donated and then later on a family member of my own needed a kidney, I think a part of me would be devastated that I couldn't help out.

The fact that she's not the nicest person around just adds misery into it. Like, geez, here I gave this kidney to someone who really didn't appreciate it and now my mom needs a kidney...

KWIM?

I know that sounds cruel, maybe. I dunno. My husband believes that because I am so hesitant that it shouldn't happen and I tend to agree with him (and y'all that said it) but it's just still kinda nagging at me.

 

[Supernaut]

I should say that I'm not necessarily hesitant because she's done some bad things. That would be hypocritical of me, and y'all would be right to call me on it. I'm hesitant because it does affect more people than just me and her. If I donated and then later on a family member of my own needed a kidney, I think a part of me would be devastated that I couldn't help out.

The fact that she's not the nicest person around just adds misery into it. Like, geez, here I gave this kidney to someone who really didn't appreciate it and now my mom needs a kidney...

KWIM?

I know that sounds cruel, maybe. I dunno. My husband believes that because I am so hesitant that it shouldn't happen and I tend to agree with him (and y'all that said it) but it's just still kinda nagging at me.

All you can do now then, it seems, is just give it up to the Lord and listen for His guidance.

Either way, I'll be prayin for ya!!

 

[Caitlin.ann]

Its not up to you to help her out. You obviously don't want to do it. Its also a major surgery and would affect your family for a while and again if you wanted to help out a family member later on and you couldn't..I mean its not worth it. Anyways no guilt. You're doing whats best for you and your family.