Organ Donation

09/08/05

My mom was pretty upset when she found out that I have donated my organs to the hospital in Thailand in case I pass away. It is pretty unexpected after more than 10 years that I have made the vow to that hospital. She just found out about my organ donation while she was cleaning my drawers and saw my donation card.

She was upset that I did not consult her before I made a decision. Besides that decision-making process that upsets her, there are other reasons that involving her beliefs. Firstly, in Chinese culture, talking about donating my own organs when I am still alive is like cursing myself. I told her if that was the case, I would have died long time ago. Secondly, she concerned that since my organs would be taken out when I died so in my next life, I would be reborn with some organs missing like my eyes or my lungs. My argument was that though I did believe in the reincarnation but I did not think that my physical body in this life would be carried to the next life. I believe only the energy or ‘soul’ would be the only thing that would pass along. Her last concern was that if I died, there would be no body for my family members to hold a funeral. So I told her I did donate all organs that would be useful to anyone but the rest of all I would let my family have it.

That reaction was exactly the same as my sister’s when I first told her.

A lot of people do not know that a chance of having our organs distributed when we die is not much. There are several conditions that the donors have to meet before their organs can be used. For example, the body has to be delivered to the hospitals within certain time before all the organs cannot be recovered. Moreover, the donors have to die with no serious health problems or almost by natural cause and are not too old. In other words, the donors’ body would be ruled out if they die of cancers, diabetes, AIDS, and etc.

My organ donation started with my eyes when I was in high school. Then a year later, I donated all organs that would be useful to anyone who are in need. I still remember when I first did the donation, I felt so liberated. Perhaps it was from my strong belief in Buddhism that life is only temporary. It’s like a phenomenon that happens like a flash of light then transforms or reincarnates to other forms. It is a never-ending cycle so it is a fool to attach to this temporary body.

I will be extremely happy if my body can help other people to stay alive. It’s like I pass on my fading candle to light other people’s candles. At least, I will not waste my life in this world. I always imagine what if my organs helped someone whose children or parents depending on him/her living longer, that organ would not only help one person, in fact, it would help the whole family and that is only one organ. If ten different organs help ten different people, I don’t just save ten lives but I will save ten lives plus their love ones who might be depending on them. Then, if their children become the good people in the society and help other people, that would be like a ripple effect that starts from the donor, passes on to the receivers and so on.

At the end, after all my reasons, my mom said I was mature enough to make my own decision and it's my life and body after all. Even though she did not like the idea at all but she was very proud of me.

I am very proud of her as well.

I did not tell her I do donate my organs here in New York City as well. Considering she is in Thailand, I don’t want her to have an after-shock effect.

Tae Athikomvittaya