Sign Up Online To Become An Organ Donor
More than 5,500 people in Britain are waiting for an organ transplant that could save or dramatically improve their life. Most are waiting for a kidney, others for a heart, lung or liver transplant. Transplants are one of the most miraculous achievements of modern medicine – but they depend entirely on the generosity of donors and their families who are willing to make this life-saving gift to others.
The more people who pledge to donate their organs after their death, the more people stand to benefit. By joining the NHS Organ Donor Register each of can help make sure life goes on for others.
You can sign up to the NHS Organ Donor Register or call the NHS Organ Donor Line: 0845 60 60 400.
Join the fray by signing in.
04 Sep 2005
I can’t give blood because of the cocktail of (prescription) drugs in my veins, so this is the nearest I can get.
Spouse™ already has his gold badge for giving blood, however, and is still doing it!
Leicester, GB , 04 Oct 2005
My husband received a kidney from his sister 10 years ago – “living related donor”. We are tremendously grateful to her for offering, going through a very unpleasant procedure and taking the risks for him. He is living a very full and active life – dialysis is a miserable way to live. Thanks for signing up
08 Oct 2005
I chose this action because it’s a one-off.
Being able to tick something off Life’s List is quite rare, I find. Eg: doing justice, loving mercy and walking humbly with my Maker… even if I managed to tick those off my list tomorrow, I’d probably find they were back on the list for the next day. Bummer, eh?
Anyway, I went to the website and signed up … but was a bit horrified to find that I couldn’t specify “everything except my brain” for recycling. Maybe it’s coz I read too much SF, but I just don’t like the idea of some genetically enhanced medical student in a hundred years’ time fishing my head out of the freezer and seeing if the latest technology will allow him/her to bump start my life again.
(Of course, you’re probably thinking that no-one’s likely to give valuable storage space for that sort of a brain, anyway ;)
Let’s hope I don’t live (die?) to regret it…
Letchworth, GB , 02 Nov 2005
OK, so this one’s a bit scarey…but so do-able. As my first action, I thought I’d give it a go.
03 Nov 2005
Done!
GB , 03 Dec 2005
may he, she, they enjoy!!
20 Dec 2005
My first action, easing myself in slowly.
GB , 29 Dec 2005
I have always signed the organ donor card, but have now done it on line, my first action! I don’t want to donate any brain and ovary tissue, or anything that can be used for cloning, or medical experiments. I have ticked the organs they can use on the form.
GB , 07 Jan 2006
That was a bit scary to do that, but as a first action very painless indeed. I hope that when it comes to the day, I will not really know anything about it and it helps someone else. Seems like the ultimate gift of recyclability.Whether the condition of my body will be desirable, who knows!
GB , 07 Jan 2006
That was a bit scary to do that, but as a first action very painless indeed. I hope that when it comes to the day, I will not really know anything about it and it helps someone else. Seems like the ultimate gift of recyclability.Whether the condition of my body will be desirable, who knows!
10 Jan 2006
I can’t do this one but am only alive today thanks to an 8 unit transfusion.5 years on i am truly grateful to all you generous souls.
THANKYOU
10 Jan 2006
i CAN do this and have. (sorry i’m new and confused!)
16 Jan 2006
I had previously registered to be an organ donor but this reminded me to update my details, so done!
25 Jan 2006
Done. Needed to take a deep breath first though!
I don’t know why, I don’t have any problem with donating organs, I don’t have any religious beliefs that might concern me about this, and I feel strongly that it is something that everyone who is capable should do, but it still felt a little uncomfortable until I clicked the final button.
Feel good about it now though, so I would urge anyone who isn’t sure to push pass the discomfort. If you change your mind you can remove yourself from the list – although I hope nobody does.
Brisbane, AU , 10 Feb 2006
I’ve done this but I have also experienced what a wonderful gift this is. My husband received a kidney 2 years ago. It really is the gift that keeps on giving. We are so grateful.
Norwich, GB , 14 Feb 2006
Can’t cope with waste, so this is an obvious one for me!
Norwich, GB , 14 Feb 2006
Can’t cope with waste, so this is an obvious one for me!
25 Feb 2006
My son has a major heart condition, and he could need a donor any time, all our family (apart from Chris) are signed up
27 Feb 2006
It’s all avaiable!
02 Mar 2006
Signed up for this last night – I did have a donor cad years ago but don’t know where it went – time to catch up with technology and register online. More importantly is telling my family about it and making sure they understand my wishes.
08 Mar 2006
I have always had a donor card and didn’t know you could join on line, but I have done now and so has Jerry. This is one thing I feel so passionately about that I believe that we should opt out rather than opt in to organ donation. I have known several people who have been given the gift of life through another’s death and I also know some who are still waiting for that chance.
Exeter, GB , 15 Mar 2006
Such an easy thing to do and I have been meaning to do it for years – can’t believe I haven’t got round to it before. thanks, generous, for the motivation.
12 Apr 2006
I’ve done this – I wavered at first about corneas for squeamish reasons, but then pulled myself together and signed it all away – it’s not like I’m going to be bothered by the time it matters.
I’ve carried a donor card for years but I love the idea of being on an online register – just in case the card isn’t found.
I think having to opt-out rather than opt-in would be a great thing.
28 Jun 2006
This was my first one done I can’t believe it was so easy yet could have such a dramatic effect on other peoples lives.
I hope that if I or anyone close to me is ever in the position of needing a transplant that there will be an organ available to save their lives.
I told my friends and family my wishes but I know they are all for it too and told them about the site too.
15 Aug 2006
Have always tried to sign the organ donation slips on forms and think I’ve told my family but it is nice to feel you can properly register this somewhere!
15 Aug 2006
Was already a donor, have been on the list since i gave birth to my son 4 years ago. Reminded me to go and update my details though.
Hope everyone does this, it’s such a good thing.
15 Aug 2006
Was already a donor, have been on the list since i gave birth to my son 4 years ago. Reminded me to go and update my details though.
Hope everyone does this, it’s such a good thing.
20 Aug 2006
For as long as I can remember I have had a donor card, but I did go on-line and make sure that they had all my correct details as I am sure that I have never changed them since we moved in or got married.
29 Aug 2006
I can’t give blood becuase I’ve had Hep B – and although I’m immune and can’t pass it on I at least can donate organs. I do feel we should be making an issue that homosexuals are not allowed to donate blood though – this is restricted blood donors unnecessarily.
Birmingham, GB , 31 Aug 2006
This was my first one done, I did it the day before actually joining the Generous community. (So sure was I that I was going to get in!)
It’s such an easy one to do. You sign up and when I finally shuffle off this mortal coil my internal bits and bobs will go on to benefit other people. Hurrah!
My friends and family already know my wishes and they’re happy for me to do that.
31 Aug 2006
Just as well I did this. I just noticed my card is missing from my wallet. I’ve been a donor for several years now but now I’m on the database carrying the card is not so important.
Chatham, GB , 10 Sep 2006
Need to check my details are up-to-date and online. Really don’t know if I’ve ever done more than signing a card… This is a great place to start!
12 Sep 2006
Found the idea of this a lot more squeamish and scary than I would have imagined. I used to carry a donor card and it didn’t bother me… strange! Managed it though, felt reassured the more I learned, and discussed my wishes with my hubby… couldn’t face the idea of even contemplating my daughter’s death though. Even as a theoretical that was just too hard for me right now.
Glad I gave it a go… deep breath!
Oxford, GB , 13 Sep 2006
For the less squeemish, I think just talking about organ and blood donoring in the famly and with friends could make a big impact on the way people think about this issue. I wouldn’t want to see anyone pushed into it, but you never know if someone might be inspired to follow your lead.
14 Sep 2006
They’re just about to amend the rules on organ donation, so that if a person who is a registered donor dies, they will no longer seek consent from the family. If that person is registered, donation goes ahead. A good number of possible donations are lost every year due to family members saying no.
Egham, GB , 28 Sep 2006
Something I’ve been meaning to do for a long time, this gave me the push to do it.
Leeds, GB , 03 Oct 2006
I can’t believe that a family would not allow their dead relatives organs to be donated if they so wished, I mean how personally can it affect them? Maybe I’m opening a can of worms (sorry, just come from the composting page…). I know I’m registered somewhere because it says so on my Boots Advantage card but I signed up again today just in case.
My auntie died a couple of years ago, and we got told who benefitted from her organs. They only told us their age and situation only, not specifics, but one was a little boy whose whole life was changed because of it. We were really pleased that she’d made that decision
Penzance, GB , 12 Oct 2006
Some people find talking about this very difficult because it involves talking about a time when either they or a relative or friend has died. This seemed particularly hard for my parents, but my husband and I are both listed as organ donors, and know that each of us would wish to help someone else after our death. We both think it should be a system where everyone is included on the register unless we chose to opt out, because the time of death of a loved one is not a time when many people are not together enough to think about it, unless it is suggested to them. I don’t know how common it is for medical staff to make that suggestion to the next of kin of someone in those circumstances.
06 Dec 2006
Well, you know what they say, “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle”! Nice that one can reuse and recycle before one reduces.
Totally agree with Bagpuss though – surely an opt-out system would be better.
Oxford, GB , 09 Feb 2007
Happy to be of service.
Worthing, GB , 18 Feb 2007
My husband, my baby daughter and I have all signed up for this. I was a bone marrow donor for my sister so I know how important donations are.
23 Feb 2007
I’ve now done this.
23 Feb 2007
I’ve now done this.
GB , 13 Mar 2007
Nice easy start – and a good way to make sure the register’s up-to-date (I’ve moved but didn’t think to notify the organ donor people, til now…
20 Mar 2007
Done. Thanks for suggesting and helping us to live generously.
Chesterfield, GB , 21 Mar 2007
Done that one. Good start.
Bristol, GB , 31 May 2007
I wanted to get off to a good start by doing one action right away. As this is something I have been meaning to do for ages, and as being able to do it online makes it a doddle, it seemed the obvious one to go for. I feel good – and ready for the next challenge.
Kingston upon Thames, GB , 01 Aug 2007
Hurrah, have done it! Off to a flying start ;)
07 Aug 2007
My Grandad died recently at the great age of 88 and we were surprised to be asked if we would give pemission for his corneas to be donated. (He was very old and everything else had given up!)Which of course we agreed to. We later got a letter to say 2 elderly ladies in Northern Ireland had benefitted from this donation. My Grandad would have been thrilled. Since then I have registered on line to donate whatever is needed on my death. What a great way to recycle.
Colchester, GB , 17 Aug 2007
I have worked in intensive care and have had to broach the painful subject of donating organs with relatives of brain dead patients. It always helps to know the person was on the register or wished their orgains to be used after their death. In a moment of hopelessness and grief this seems to give all involved a glimmer of gold…something worthwhile and the ultimate in generosity.
Leeds, GB , 22 Aug 2007
I signed up when I was 13 but have been worried since I got married because I didn’t know whether my change of name would affect my listing. Anyway, just went on the link and amended my details (bit concerned because it didn’t ask for any of my original details but I suppose if there’s a problem they’ll get back to me.)
22 Sep 2007
Our first action through the Living Generously website – pleased to make a start.
Carmarthen, GB , 31 Jan 2008
I did this about 6 months ago. After working on an ophthalmology ward and witnessing the difference a cornea transplant makes to peoples lives it felt right to just do it. I love the idea of me being recycled.
London, GB , 08 Mar 2008
I have signed cards previously but now it has been registered online – My first action
Seattle, US , 10 Jul 2008
My mother’s life was extended by 6 years because a stranger made this generous pledge. I say thank you to whoever it was. I am an organ donor and I also give blood as often as I can to help pay forward this gift.