GM FYI Blog

By Dan Flores
Donor Organ Recipient
GM Manufacturing & Labor Communications

I’m alive today because of the unfortunate death of another. On Saturday, June 4th, 2005, two lives were changed forever. One life ended prematurely due to a tragic accident, while the other was given a precious gift, a second chance at life, due to a life-saving liver transplant. I was the recipient of the gift. While I know very little about my donor, I will be forever grateful for his gift of life. Not a day goes by that I don’t think about his life and the circumstances of his passing.

I was diagnosed with a rare liver disease in the fall of 1997 and the disease progressed slowly. The ailment was not the result of alcohol or substance abuse. I guess I was just at the wrong place at the right time when livers were given out. It was the same disease that took the life of NFL Hall of Famer Walter Payton. That scared the heck out of me, because if this disease could take down a warrior like Payton, I knew I was in for the fight of my life. I was right.

By early 2005, the symptoms were very significant, and a life-saving liver transplant was my only option. I was battling to survive. After several months waiting, a match was found and the surgery was successfully completed. My battle with the disease and my return to health, via a transplant, has created an obligation on my part to help spread the word on the importance of organ donation and donor awareness.

According to www.organdonor.gov, the official organ donor and transplantation web site of the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, about 74 people each day receive a transplanted organ. Last year, more than 28,000 organ transplants took place in the United States – the most ever completed in any one year in history.

Despite this progress, many lives are lost each year while waiting for organ transplants. Currently, more than 91,500 people are waiting for the gift of life, and 18 people die each day waiting for transplants, due not to a lack of medical technology, but only to a shortage of available organs. The clock is ticking for them.

The unfortunate death of a loved one has the potential to help restore life for dozens of people. Organs, including heart, kidneys, pancreas, lungs, liver and intestines; and tissues, such as cornea, skin, bone marrow, heart valves and connective tissue, can all be donated.

You can indicate your intent to donate (persons under 18 years of age must have parent’s or guardian’s consent). Medical suitability for donation is determined at the time of death. Signing up to donate is easy:

• Indicate your intent to be an organ and tissue donor on your driver’s license.

• Carry as signed organ donor card (you can download and print a blank card from www.organdonor.gov)
• Sign up with your State’s donor registry (if your State has one)
• Discuss your decision with your family. They may be asked to give consent.

General Motors and the UAW have been long-time supporters of organ donation and support education and discussion about donation among employees, retirees and their families.

Remember, signing up to be an organ donor is easy. Those generous actions might just save someone’s life. That generosity saved mine.