Robert E. Williams, Attorney at Law
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Are you an organ donor? If so, you need read no further, although you may find the information shared below affirming to you in the decision you have made. If not, please take a few minutes to consider leaving your healthy much needed organs to a waiting person after your death.
Each day in the U.S. and average of 79 people receive an organ transplant, however, during that same 24 hours 18 people die waiting, due to a shortage of organs. There are currently 120,000 people needing organ transplants in the United States. I know a young man who waited a very long time to receive a double lung and heart transplant. Every time the phone rang there was that hope that it was Stanford Hospital calling. We have a friend who recently received a kidney after a long wait and another who is waiting now. We are very close to another young woman who, because of a genetic disease, may need a lung transplant in the future. We are so blessed to live in a time in history and in a society where such “miracles of modern medicine” are possible and in some cases almost routine. How many people do you know who are on dialysis and need a kidney? It is very easy to become an organ donor. Most people register when they are renewing their driver’s license. You can also include your wishes in a Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care which we prepare for most clients as part of their estate planning. California also has an on line registry which can be accessed at donatelifecalifornia.org or phoning (619) 563-5051. As of this writing there are 12,638,785 registered. The web site also has some wonderful “Stories of Hope” which make for inspiring reading. If you are not yet a donor please consider adding to this number. Very truly yours, Robert E. Williams, Attorney at Law |