This post is a sponsored conversation on behalf of The Lane Thomas Foundation, to bring awareness to Pediatric Organ Donation and how parents can make a difference.
Some of the worst conversations have to happen during the good times. I’m preparing for the worst because now is the best time to think about pediatric organ donation.
I know it’s not something you want to think about.
But, horrible things sometimes happen. Like horrible, horrible things.
Things that are tragedies because they involve children. And the end of their precious lives well before it is “fair” or “right” or “they’ve lived a long, happy life”.
Regardless that the fact that the sentence above and the thoughts behind it are heartbreaking and have me nearing tears just writing them, I’m thinking a lot about these potentially horrid moments–and trying to make the decisions now that would be so very hard in the moment.
Seriously, join me in taking the pledge–the Lane’s Light Pledge and becoming an advocate for pediatric organ donation and making arrangements for the worst because its the best.
Now is the best time. It’s the best, most “fair” choice.
And it could help another kid live a long, happy life–which is the best gift of all.
Preparing for the Worst Because Its the Best
The worst day of a parent’s life should never exist. But for a lot of parents, about 100 a year, that worst day is because their child died while waiting on the organ donor list.
And there are 2,000 kids on that waiting list at any given time–so many, it’s almost impossible to meet their needs and ensure each one will make it to the top and get the organ they need.
If break it down, for a kid on that waiting list, their chances of living, if they just get that special organ, jump to 85%.
And it’s one decision that just 100 parents could make to potentially save the lives of those kids–just 100 a year and the vision of the Lane Thomas foundation that no child die while waiting for a transplant can be realized. Which would be beautiful, indeed.
I know there is no true consolation when your child–the heart of your heart–passes away, whether expected or unexpected, but to know that another child, one who was already suffering, could potentially live a long, healthy, happy life because of one small gift? Well…
It’s something I’d be really glad to have made the decision to do, should the worst ever befall one of my kids.
Because it’s about more than just me and my child at that point.
It’s about the life that CAN be lived, not the one I mourn.
If that makes any sense.
And thinking about it now, I can make the decision without feeling pressured or while I’m in that horrid state of shock that I just know would hit me in the middle of that type of scenario.
So. please join me and so many others in taking the Lane’s Light Pledge at lanethomas.org.
It’s not every day that you get a chance to save a child’s life just by making a decision.
And that’s why I am taking the responsibility, as a parent and as a caring human, to decide to donate my children’s organs, should the worst happen.
Because I can keep that love alive with that one decision.
Heartbreaking as it is.