I thought I would post this as a comment from a brief article I wrote some years ago:
Life
Versus Longevity (a re-print from the Petaluma Post)
By
Bill Remak
Until a person has
experienced a great tragedy in their family or had a near death injury, it is
difficult to appreciate the simple things in life that we all too often take
for granted. In society we are currently reading about the breakdown of
parenthood resulting from the high divorce rate or the angry youth that don't
perceive the importance of life thus kill at their whim. Our elderly are
neglected and abused when in nursing homes because of low paid and badly
managed staff especially when the family is not paying attention on a regular
basis.
Our pride and our health are being
neglected. Science is in a race to cure all diseases and help us live even
longer. Is this what it is all about? No! The answer is to strive for a quality
of life that brings joy, fulfillment, sense of accomplishment and decency to
others. A long life, which is comprised of great misery and pain, is not as
bearable as a healthy, vibrant, happy quality of life. We always hear people
say "life is too short" or "you never know when you'll die, you
might get struck by a car while crossing the street". Do we heed these sayings?
I am not suggesting we live our lives
as if it is our last days on earth but only appreciate that we can reduce
whatever misery is in our lives by looking at what is really important. I have
viewed this from many different angles. I have worked in the fields of forensic
and clinical pathology, legal services for families, Funeral business, Juvenile
probation and currently devote much of my time to help give support to patients
who are terminally ill and waiting for organ transplants to turn their
suffering into life.
I know something about this. I lost my
mother in 1989, to bile duct cancer and three years ago nearly lost my battle
with liver cancer. I was saved by the miracle of medical technology and faith.
A donated organ by a caring family at a time of great loss allowed me to
receive a healthy liver and the privilege to have a new lease on life.
"Don't take your organs to
heaven…Heaven knows we need them here! " is a bumper sticker I have seen
many times. In Sonoma County, The Nicholas Green Foundation is internationally
known for their work with organ donor awareness. I encourage you to take a look
at your life, examine what will make you happy, discuss with your loved one's
what your wishes are, tell them your decision and sign a donor card. This is
the ultimate gift. Across the country, one person dies every two hours awaiting
an organ transplant. Every 16 minutes a new name is added to the national
waiting list of over 70,000 people nationwide. Many of these are children. It
is not just adults.
Take care of your health. Be considerate
and help others.
Take
care of your family and their happiness. This is what "Life" means to
me for as short or long a time I have left.
Bill Remak,
Petaluma, CA
3/15/01
PS. August 9, 2015 ~ Since I wrote that in 2001 the transplant waiting list for solid organs is more than double. This is a terrible crisis and I encourage you to become involved. Go to www.FAIRFoundation.org to find out how.] Bill
