Thursday, January 12, 2006

Organ Donation - Where, What, How?

Date: 12th January 2006 (Thursday)
Time: 10.00 am - 4.00 pm
Venue: Eastin Hotel, Petaling Jaya
Who: Organised by Lions Club International, District 308B1, Zone 10

Come and get to know more about organ donation and sign up as an organ donor today! Organ Donor Card - Don't Leave the World Without It!

Tuesday, January 10, 2006

Organ Donation - what can you do

I am surprised! Last morning I received a call from Ooi Gaik Lean, all the way from Penang. 8am in the morning my phone rang and I thought that must be someone dialling a wrong number but what surprised me was a call from a very enthusiastic lady wanting to know more about Organ Donation.

This is rare gem! Imagine someone waking up early in the morning and call me to talk about organ donation, ain't this wonderful? Someone who care about the issue and willing to take actions but do not know how.

After a few questions, she actually found me through this website. Cool what internet can do heh? First, I got a call from TV3 to interview me, next a call from Penang. All about organ donation. This means that articles I wrote years ago is an attempt not futile. Cool to know this!

So, 'What can I do as an individual to create more awareness about organ donation?' I grew with excitement when Gaik Lean asked about this. I was thinking and finally here is what I can share.

As individual, anyone can start by just signing up as an organ donor AND inform your next of kins about your decision. Next, try to influence your relatives and friends towards this noble cause. As you answer their doubts and questions with open hearts and willingness to share your 'life' even after death; you will find strengths and rebuild confidence that your move to become an organ donor is always a definite right thing to do.

Secondly, Gaik Lean suggested a very good idea. She said that all the organ donors should form a small group to help create awareness among people in their community. Gaik Lean, for one, lives in Penang but do not have the resources and materials to start with.

Thirdly, with the use of Internet, I am sure information and technology always go together. With just a click of a button, everything can be automated. I have suggested in my article a few years back, we should automate and make organ donation available online. Imagine an article written in 1999 and no one in Malaysia has make that move yet.

NOT all who have their organ donor card in the wallet make it to donate their organs successfully. Unless you die in an environment where equipments are available to maintain your organs' 'lives', you cannot donate if the organs ceased functions. In this case, tissues like corneas, bones and skin can still be donated. So, the number of organ donor card holders are very important. The more, the merrier!

Monday, January 9, 2006

TV3 Interview

Interesting call, I received on Friday. TV3 host, Fikri, from Malaysia Hari Ini talk show, called to say he wanted to interview me.

It was through one of my many published articles about Organ Donation, that he got to know about me actively involved in organ donation. Timely enough, the one-minute-interview will be featured on Tuesday (10th January 2006) Malaysia Hari Ini talk show. Coincidently, the Lions Club Zone 10 District 308B1 Malaysia will be organising a blood donation and organ pledge drive in Eastin Hotel, Petaling Jaya on Thursday (12th January 2006).

This small yet meaningful drive will give people the opportunity to bring life to the "waiting-to-die". Lists of patients awaiting organs for transplant are always long. Organ donors are at all time never enough to cover the need of the patients in the waiting lists.

Blood supply always go low during festive seasons and this is a good time to replenish the stock to prepare for the coming Chinese New Year, where Chinese will celebrate on 29th January 2006.

Oh, back to the interview. The interview was done on Saturday and hopefully I will appear on Tuesday. Thanks go to TV3 and the crew for giving hopes to the needy by creating awareness through one of its popular shows.

Hooray to another corporate party who always care!