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Organ donation saved life of ill Univ. student
Donations cause questions
WHITNEY HOMANS
Issue date: 4/25/07 Section: News
When Amber Walker was 5 years old, her parents started making arrangements for her funeral.
She had been sick since birth, but it took doctors five years to figure out her liver had never worked. When they finally discovered the non-functioning organ, they told Walker and her family she needed an immediate transplant. Without one, she had no more than two weeks to live.
After 10 days on the liver donor list at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Walker's prognosis looked bleak.
"My parents were preparing for me to die," she said.
On Day 11, Walker's mom received a call from the doctor. A 5-year-old girl, who had been born without the left side of her brain, had just passed away.
"She was two weeks older than me. Her name was Nicole," said Walker.
Nicole's blood type matched Walker's. If Walker and her mom could make it from Florida, where they were living at the time, to Wisconsin in less than 24 hours - the preservation time of most organs - Walker could have Nicole's liver.
Almost 16 years later, Walker, a fourth-year University student from Woodbine, is healthy and an advocate for organ donation, especially this month, which is designated as National Donate Life Month.
Terri Medina, of LifeLink of Georgia, said stories such as Walker's are "powerful" and the best way to encourage organ donation.
"The majority (of volunteers) are transplant recipients and want to give back," she said.
Some people choose not to be organ donors because of reports that potential donors do not receive the same medical care as non-donors.
"When I got my driver's license, I decided not to be (an organ donor) because one of my friend's dad is a firefighter, and he said if you're an organ donor doctors don't try as hard to save you," said Justin Bannister, a sophomore from Villa Rica. "If I'm in an accident, I want to be saved."
Anti-organ donation organizations cite this compromised care as a main reason not to be a donor.
She had been sick since birth, but it took doctors five years to figure out her liver had never worked. When they finally discovered the non-functioning organ, they told Walker and her family she needed an immediate transplant. Without one, she had no more than two weeks to live.
After 10 days on the liver donor list at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Walker's prognosis looked bleak.
"My parents were preparing for me to die," she said.
On Day 11, Walker's mom received a call from the doctor. A 5-year-old girl, who had been born without the left side of her brain, had just passed away.
"She was two weeks older than me. Her name was Nicole," said Walker.
Nicole's blood type matched Walker's. If Walker and her mom could make it from Florida, where they were living at the time, to Wisconsin in less than 24 hours - the preservation time of most organs - Walker could have Nicole's liver.
Almost 16 years later, Walker, a fourth-year University student from Woodbine, is healthy and an advocate for organ donation, especially this month, which is designated as National Donate Life Month.
Terri Medina, of LifeLink of Georgia, said stories such as Walker's are "powerful" and the best way to encourage organ donation.
"The majority (of volunteers) are transplant recipients and want to give back," she said.
Some people choose not to be organ donors because of reports that potential donors do not receive the same medical care as non-donors.
"When I got my driver's license, I decided not to be (an organ donor) because one of my friend's dad is a firefighter, and he said if you're an organ donor doctors don't try as hard to save you," said Justin Bannister, a sophomore from Villa Rica. "If I'm in an accident, I want to be saved."
Anti-organ donation organizations cite this compromised care as a main reason not to be a donor.
Viewing Comments 1 - 4 of 5
Lindsie
posted 4/25/07 @ 10:56 AM EST
Organ donation is nothing if not a noble thing. My husband is a firefighter and EMT, and unlike the gentleman that mentioned that emergency professionals do not work to take care of you if you are an organ donor, he said that every emergency professional and doctor is held to preserve and maintain life until there is no hope for an earthly future. (Continued…)
Steven
posted 4/25/07 @ 2:40 PM EST
My 9 month old daughter received the life saving donation of a heart 6 months ago. She would not have survived much longer without the transplant. Our family and friends will always be grateful for the selfless thoughts and actions of the donor family. (Continued…)
abigail
posted 6/14/08 @ 9:08 PM EST
Im not even old enough to drive yet, and Im considering organ donation. I know it could save someone's life and all, but I am afriad that doctors may not try as hard to save me if I become an organ donor. (Continued…)
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