Debbie Sharman’s Post

I’m not usually one to use LinkedIn for personal posts but today is World Organ Donation Day, a cause that is close to my heart and more than ever right now. My husband Graeme had a liver transplant just over 5 weeks ago after being on the waiting list for 14 months. Graeme is an otherwise fit and healthy 35 year old who has a rare liver disease called PSC, for which the only feasible treatment was a transplant. Unfortunately, however, his body has decided this liver isn’t the one for him. Less than 4 weeks after his operation, he was placed back on the transplant waiting list for another and so the wait continues, this time with the added complication of post-op recovery. Thankfully his relentless positivity and laidback attitude are keeping us both steady! 😅 Of course none of this would be possible without organ donation. Whilst we now have an opt-out system in the UK, the donation process isn’t as simple as noting that the deceased didn’t opt out and therefore proceeding with donation. The process still takes into account positive registrations and your next of kin will be consulted for their views when your time does come. Donation is ultimately still a choice and there are of course valid reasons why people may not wish to donate, but with only around 1% of people dying in circumstances that would make them a viable donor, it’s so important that their wishes are well known 🙏 So an urge from me to please take 5 minutes today to: 📝 proactively register your choice, whatever that may be - for those in the UK, there’s a link in the post below, and 🎙️ please have a conversation with your loved ones about your wishes. A decision to donate could save and significantly change up to 9 people’s lives - it truly is a gift of life ♥️ #giftoflife #organdonationawareness

April is National Donate Life Month. Established in 2003 by Donate Life America and its partnering organizations, National Donate Life Month helps raise awareness about donation, encourages Americans to register as organ, eye, and tissue donors and honors those who have saved lives through the gift of donation. The number of patients waiting for organs changes every day. As of March 2024, the number of patients on the national transplant waiting list was more than 103,000, and every ten minutes, another person is added to the list. In fact, the number of patients who need a lifesaving transplant goes up faster than the number of available organs. By saying "yes" to being an organ donor, you are giving more hope for patients on the waiting list! We will be sharing more helpful information and statistics through the month of April and beyond. If you are interested in saving lives by becoming an organ donor, visit https://lnkd.in/eHwJr7c6 for answers to common questions and more. #DonateLifeMonth #DonorsAreSuperstars #STBHChicago

So important we all do this

Did you know that February 14 is National Donor Day? There are more than 100,000 people on the U.S. national waiting list for kidney donations. By educating and sharing the Donate Life message, we can each take small steps every day to help save and heal more lives, and honor the donor’s legacy of generosity and compassion. National Donor Day is a time to focus on all types of donation—organ, eye, tissue, blood, platelets and marrow. Join us by participating in local events, sharing social media messages and encouraging others to register as donors. National Donor Day is also a day to recognize those who have given and received the gift of life through organ, eye and tissue donation, are currently waiting for a lifesaving transplant, and those who died waiting because an organ was not donated in time. source: donatelife.net

💚 ❤️ 💚 In 2023, LifeNet Health achieved an all-time high in organ donations, providing 591 patients on the National Transplant Waiting List a second chance at life. As someone who personally engages with users to secure authorizations, I'm reminded of the importance of delivering a seamless, compassionate user experience. Being personally involved in understanding the voice of the user and enhancing the user experience, one crucial insight I'm reminded of repeatedly is the transformative power of deep listening. Actively engaging with users, their feedback has guided product improvements and fostered trust and loyalty. It's a reminder that every interaction strengthens our product and builds meaningful connections with our users. This leads to saving more lives, restoring the health of more people, and giving hope to everyone involved! It's a true blessing to work for an organization whose mission is, "Saving Lives, Restoring Health, and Giving Hope." #organdonation #customerexperience #voiceofthecustomer #productmanagement

Ever wonder how the gift of life reaches those in need? Organ Procurement Organizations (OPOs) are the backbone of organ, tissue, and eye donation, working tirelessly to connect donors with those in need of life-saving and life-changing transplants. OPOs facilitate donation by supporting families through the decision-making process, coordinating with partners like hospitals to manage donor assessments and recoveries, collaborating with transplant centers to match gifts with recipients, and educating the community. How can you help? 🤔 Register today to be an organ, tissue, and eye donor! We're here to provide answers and support so you can make an informed decision to help save and heal lives. We’re here to provide answers and support, ensuring you have all the information you need to make an informed decision. Kentucky Organ Donor Affiliates #BetterTogether #OrganDonation #TissueDonation #OPOs #DonateLife #DoneVida

Blood donation is vital, yet often the before and after processes are overlooked by donors. This World Blood Donor Day, Yatharth Hospital outlines the crucial do’s and don’ts of blood donation, ensuring you contribute safely and effectively. Learn how your donation can make a significant impact on those in need 🩸💉 . . 🏷️ #YatharthHospitals #WorldBloodDonorDay #BloodDonation #DonateBloodSaveLives #BloodDonor #SaveLives #BloodDonationTips

Did you know April is #DonateLifeMonth? This month is all about the importance of registering to be an organ donor, honoring former donors, and celebrating the lives saved through donation. A successful kidney transplant is life-changing, and kidney donors truly give the gift of life. To learn more about becoming a kidney donor, visit https://ow.ly/Pt0h30sBPVQ.

I am alive today because of some amazing people. My wife, Medical professionals, NSW Health and a loving and compassionate family who, at a time of tragic loss, found the strength to consent to Organ Donation. I am now and forever will be a passionate advocate for Organ Donation and the critical role families have in making the final decision to donate their loved one’s organs. The messaging and focus of the OTA is in desperate need of reform. As of today there is still no announcement on The Donatelife Community Partners? Today marks the end of April! But why is that significant? Let's talk funding applications for 2024. They opened back on Thursday, February 1, 2024, at 10:00am AEDT, and they closed Friday, March 1, 2024, at 4:00pm AEDST. That gave everyone just 30 days to get their applications ready and submitted! 💼 According to DONATELIFE OTA's own website, successful applicants were supposed to be announced this month - April. But here we are, 60 days after the applications closed, and even those who didn't make it haven't been given any feedback! 🤔 It's just another example of an organisation in chaos. Despite the CEO being awarded an OAM for services to organ donation, the reality is quite grim. Consent, registration, and donation rates have been declining for six years. It's clear that Australia's organ and tissue donation system needs serious reform. 🚑 #OrganDonation #FundingApplications #reformneeded Australian Organ and Tissue Authority Anne Ruston Gerardine (Ged) Kearney

A topic that I raise in my last two books that I hope will increase awareness and make a difference for someone you may know personally. "The Gift of Life" I once believed that the only benefit that came from a fatal accident was the knowledge and understanding that might prevent it from being repeated. I have since learned through first-hand experience of seeing someone benefit from an organ donation just how much it was able to extend and enhance their quality of life. And how incredible a gift it can be. Every donor can save eight lives and enhance over seventy-five more. In the US, there are currently 103,223 men, women, and children on the national transplant waiting list. Over 46,000 plus transplants were performed in 2023. Even though 90 percent of the population supports organ transplant donations, only 60 percent have made their wishes known. In Canada, 2,936 organ transplants were performed in 2022, and 80 percent used deceased donor organs. Less than 25 percent of people living in Canada are registered donors. If you have not already done so, please consider signing a donor card and making your wishes known to family members. For more information visit CIHI.ca. #giftoflife