Distorting the FACTS from the MYTHS About Organ/Tissue/Eye Donation

The following are the Myths and the Facts about being or becoming an Organ/Tissue/Eye Donor.

Information (copy/pasted) is provided by the Mayo Clinic.

Myth: If I agree to donate my organs, the hospital staff won't work as hard to save my life.

Fact: When you go to the hospital for treatment, doctors focus on saving your life — not somebody else's. You'll be seen by a doctor whose specialty most closely matches your particular emergency. The doctor in charge of your care has nothing to do with transplantation.
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Myth: Maybe I won't really be dead when they sign my death certificate.

Fact: Although it's a popular topic in the tabloids, in reality, people don't start to wiggle their toes after they're declared dead. In fact, people who have agreed to organ donation are given more tests (at no charge to their families) to determine that they're truly dead than are those who haven't agreed to organ donation.
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Myth: Organ donation is against my religion.

Fact: Organ donation is consistent with the beliefs of most religions. This includes Catholicism, Protestantism, Islam and most branches of Judaism. If you're unsure of or uncomfortable with your faith's position on donation, ask a member of your clergy. Another option is to check the federal Web site OrganDonor.gov, which provides religious views on organ donation and transplantation by denomination.
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Myth: I'm under age 18. I'm too young to make this decision.

Fact: That's true, in a legal sense. But your parents can authorize this decision. You can express to your parents your wish to donate, and your parents can give their consent knowing that it's what you wanted. Children, too, are in need of organ transplants, and they usually need organs smaller than those an adult can provide.
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Myth: An open-casket funeral isn't an option for people who have donated organs or tissues.

Fact: Organ and tissue donation doesn't interfere with having an open-casket funeral. The donor's body is clothed for burial, so there are no visible signs of organ or tissue donation. For bone donation, a rod is inserted where bone is removed. With skin donation, a very thin layer of skin similar to a sunburn peel is taken from the donor's back. Because the donor is clothed and lying on his or her back in the casket, no one can see any difference.
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Myth: I'm too old to donate. Nobody would want my organs.

Fact: There's no defined cutoff age for donating organs. Organs have been successfully transplanted from donors in their 70s and 80s. The decision to use your organs is based on strict medical criteria, not age. Don't disqualify yourself prematurely. Let the doctors decide at your time of death whether your organs and tissues are suitable for transplantation.
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Myth: I'm not in the best of health. Nobody would want my organs or tissues.

Fact: Very few medical conditions automatically disqualify you from donating organs. The decision to use an organ is based on strict medical criteria. It may turn out that certain organs are not suitable for transplantation, but other organs and tissues may be fine. Don't disqualify yourself prematurely. Only medical professionals at the time of your death can determine whether your organs are suitable for transplantation.
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Myth: I'd like to donate one of my kidneys now, but I wouldn't be allowed to do that unless one of my family members is in need.

Fact: While that used to be the case, it isn't any longer. Whether it's a distant family member, friend or complete stranger you want to help, you can donate a kidney through certain transplant centers. If you decide to become a living donor, you will undergo extensive questioning to ensure that you are aware of the risks and that your decision to donate isn't based on financial gain. You will also undergo testing to determine if your kidneys are in good shape and whether you can live a healthy life with just one kidney.
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Myth: Rich and famous people go to the top of the list when they need a donor organ.

Fact: The rich and famous aren't given priority when it comes to allocating organs. It may seem that way because of the amount of publicity generated when celebrities receive a transplant, but they are treated no differently from anyone else. In fact, the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), the organization responsible for maintaining the national organ transplant network, subjects all celebrity transplants to an internal audit to make sure the organ allocation was appropriate.
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Myth: My family will be charged if I donate my organs.

Fact: The organ donor's family is never charged for donating. The family is charged for the cost of all final efforts to save your life, and those costs are sometimes misinterpreted as costs related to organ donation. Costs for organ removal go to the transplant recipient.

Would you join me?

Thanks to my MIL's gift card giving this year for Christmas, I was able to buy a few things I wanted to have and know I would use.

One item being a book (for under $8.00 mind you!) that has 500 questions in regards to the Bible, and answers of explanation.

It goes by Chronological order to coincide with the Bible's text order. So, I would post the question (word for word), and then the answer it gives (word for word).

Then underneath, I'd place (********) to indicate the end of the quotes from the book and give my PERSONAL view of how I view the answer's explanation.

I'm not a fanatical, Bible-wielding Christian who even goes to church. I'm just a simple believer who enjoys learning in her own way and own time of how the Bible pertains to me as an individual and question myself a bit. And I have my own interpretation of how I read and view the Bible.

If this sounds like something you would like to read and participate in, let me know. I'm planning to do the first post TOMORROW (Wednesday, Jan. 5th, 2011), and will do them each Wednesday and Sunday.

It would be WONDERFUL to make this fun, engaging and interactive.

I've even made a GRAB BUTTON for this... (now that I found out how to do them on my own)

<center><a href="http://pr0udmom0f3.blogspot.com/"><img src="http://i413.photobucket.com/albums/pp218/mels_pics_album/cooltext493541244.png" border="0" alt="Photobucket" /></a>" width="260" /></center>

Feel free to grab my button and spread the word about what I think will be a great series for all levels of believers (and non-believers) to discuss and learn from.

Fab Friend Friday, Award Ceremony & New Blog To Share (passing it on!)!!

Grab a cup of coffee, tea or your fave soda and get ready! Lots going on with this one today.

First of all, it's FAB FRIENDS FRIDAY over at For The Love Of Blogs, where you can link up with them and find new blogs to read.





Now as I was going over to one of my good friend's pages to see what was up with her posts on BOTH of her blogs, I noticed that she gave me an {drum roll please}... An AWARD!

Thanks, Donna over at Write Now, Write Later!! Now, I must do these things to get the award..

1. Thank and link back to the person who awarded you this award
2. Share 7 things about yourself
3. Award 15 recently discovered great bloggers
4. Contact these bloggers and tell them about the award!

Haha! And I unknowingly already did the first one. Go me!!

My 7 things..

1) I have mild OCD.
2) I still listen to a lot of 80's and 90's music cuz today's is mostly crap.
3) I crave Subway subs around "that" time of the month and don't rest til I get it.
4) My Dad calls me his Rat. When I sign cards to him, I try to incorporate my second name.
5) I've been on anti-depressants in the past due to Clinical and Post-Partum Depression.
6) There is such a fear in me of spiders, I refuse to get in the shower even if it's TINY.
7) Sometimes I think my name should be "Cinderella".

Now I shall pass the award on to...

1) Dez at Discordant Lullabye
2) Jimmy at Life Is Like A Box Of Smaller Boxes
3) Vic at Freckles & Fudge
4) Ashley at Ashley Plus 3
5) AubrieAnne at Who's Your Editor?
6) {Simply} BC at {Simply} BC
7) Diana at Welcome to My World
8) Tough Cookie Mommy at Tough Cookie Mommy
9) Shell at Things I Can't Say
10) One Cluttered Brain at One Cluttered Brain
11) Eschelle at Mumfection
12) Tonya at Letters For Lucas
13) Kay at Just Hide the Dishes in the Dryer...
14) Facing50Blog at FACING 50 WITH HUMOUR
15) Jane at Adoption of Jane UG-Lbc

Now, I also have a NEW BLOG UP!! It will be where I chronicle my life as a mom with a child with "Silent" Disabilities, what his life is like with having multiple mental disorders and life in general as a family and out in the community.

I don't have a blog button for it, seeing as I suck at doing those. But here is the link to the VERY FIRST post on the page (there's two others already as well for you to read)... The "Mental"-ist Mom. I urge EVERYONE here that stops in to join it and see what life is TRULY like for him and other kids like him. And for us parents of kids in his shoes.

One last thing... BEFORE YOU LEAVE HERE!!... Feel free to LINK UP (below) seeing as it's a 'blog hop' day and I like helping FTLOB out, and my fellow writers. READ BELOW FIRST *BEFORE* linking.. And have a great weekend.

The *ONLY* stipulation I have is to please LEAVE A *GENUINE* COMMENT here on my page to show that you have read it. Not a copy/paste thing or a "I followed you/follow me back" comment... I am okay with people stating if they came from another blog hop and found me. But I don't play the "followed you/follow me back" game.

**If you cannot abide by that one simple rule for linking on my page, I wish for you to NOT link it at all, nor even leave a COMMENT on my page.

If *anyone* is caught breaking the rules for MY BLOG PAGE and the way I wish to run MY blog hop/link up, then the comment and/or blog link and button will be DELETED.

I hope you understand. Thanks.. Now get hopping and linking, everyone!

Some People Make Me Want To Bang My Head On The Desk...(Blog Hop Stuff)

What part(s) of the following do people apparently NOT get when I post this??...

"The *ONLY* stipulation I have is to please LEAVE A *GENUINE* COMMENT here on my page to show that you have read it. Not a copy/paste thing or a "I followed you/follow me back" comment... I am okay with people stating if they came from another blog hop and found me. But I don't play the "followed you/follow me back" game.

**If you cannot abide by that one simple rule for linking on my page, I wish for you to NOT link it at all. I hope you understand. Thanks.."

You will find this one my posts that I add my Linky Tools link up button to. And that is only maybe (now) twice a week to run in time with For The Love Of Blogs as to give them more exposure and to further help out my fellow bloggers from that community and other places within the blogosphere.

I don't "have to" add the tool to any of my blogs. I do it because I want to and I like helping others to gain more readers. Not just myself.

Thanks to "link and run" types of "users and abusers" of the link up ability to my page, I removed it. Then decided to bring it back here and there. Then, I felt that I wanted to help Vic and Ashley at FLOB by also doing a link up capability on the posts I run to show case them and two of their blog hops I'm involved with.

So now, I will say it this way from now on in ALL FUTURE blog hop posts that I provide a link up tool for others to add to...

"The *ONLY* stipulation I have is to please LEAVE A *GENUINE* COMMENT here on my page to show that you have read it. Not a copy/paste thing or a "I followed you/follow me back" comment... I am okay with people stating if they came from another blog hop and found me. But I don't play the "followed you/follow me back" game.

**If you cannot abide by that one simple rule for linking on my page, I wish for you to NOT link it at all, nor even leave a COMMENT on my page.

If *anyone* is caught breaking the rules for MY BLOG PAGE and the way I wish to run MY blog hop/link up, then the comment and/or blog link and button will be DELETED.

I hope you understand. Thanks.."...

Now, do you all think that THIS will make it clear? Especially if you have actually READ FTLOB's "rules" about blog hopping and leaving comments on other's blogs. They also *DO NOT CONDONE* copy/paste comments or the "followed you/follow me back" comments and also feel it is TACKY as well as RUDE.

If these things keep happening on my blog, then I will put an END TO PROVIDING a link up/blog hop on my blog page.

Let's Wander Around a bit!

If you have yet to do so, I highly suggest you hop on over to For The Love Of Blogs. It is a (beyond) wonderful community of fellow bloggers from around the world, where we can come together and support one another, read one another's work, make new friends and get exposure for ourselves as well.

Better yet? You do *NOT* have to be a blogger to join their site! You can join just to be able to read other's pages, add them to your list of reads and join in communicating with others.

So, I encourage you to go and check out the...





But first, please feel free to add YOUR blog link here to this link-up tool (below) before you leave me.

The *ONLY* stipulation I have is to please LEAVE A *GENUINE* COMMENT here on my page to show that you have read it. Not a copy/paste thing or a "I followed you/follow me back" comment... I am okay with people stating if they came from another blog hop and found me. But I don't play the "followed you/follow me back" game.

**If you cannot abide by that one simple rule for linking on my page, I wish for you to NOT link it at all. I hope you understand. Thanks...

25 Days of Christmas (Day 17)

For the last 12 days of Christmas, I will be posts to "break down" the Christmas Carol, "Twelve Days Of Christmas" by focusing on what each line is speaking of (Partridge, Turtle Doves, etc.) and their meanings and/or what they truly are. Just little facts and trivia things.

*HINT* ... Each day, the verse of choice will be BOLDED and highlighted.


On the fifth day of Christmas,
my true love sent to me
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree.


YAY!! We have *finally* moved on from the aviary portion of the song and on to something more along my taste. Well, actually, pretty much ANY woman's taste.

GOLD!! And not just any kind of gold. But five...count them, *FIVE* golden rings. Now that's my kind of man right there, ladies!

Being that this is honestly a hard one to explain and has tons of history, I decided to COPY/PASTE information from Google Timeline Chart about Gold

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860 AD
860 AD - The history of the tradition of a man proposing with gold rings can be traced way back as 860 AD. During that time, Pope Nicholas I stated that a man should give his bride a gold ring to show his personal financial sacrifice for her hand in marriage. Such tradition is still ...
From rujordanjODu047 - nike air max Wedding Rings Sets - Types And Materi - Related web pages
blog.foorti.com.bd/11hmh049892/136601 ...
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1477
1477 - Of course, the first engagement ring in recorded history also belonged to royalty; Archduke Maximillian of Hamburg, Austria gave Mary of Burgundy a diamond and gold ring in 1477, and perhaps began a tradition of the diamond engagement ring.Another is the engagement ring set with a 12-carat emerald cut diamond that Prince Ranier gave to actress Grace Kelly. Queen Elizabeth's engagement to Prince Philip was also signified by a diamond ring, which carried precious pieces taken from a tiara that belonged to her mother. Of course, the first engagement ring in recorded history also belonged to royalty; Archduke Maximillian of Hamburg, Austria gave Mary of Burgundy a diamond and gold ring in 1477, and perhaps ...
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From Celebrity Diamond Engagement Rings - Related web pages
www.engagement-rings-sale.com/celebrity ...
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1518
1518 - The smaller ring engagement registration was granted two years, Princess Mary, daughter of Henry VIII, for their commitment to the French dauphin, son, son of King Francis I in 1518. The small gold ring, fitted to the finger, is set with a precious diamond.At an average age of marriage rings are more composed of colored gemstones. These colorful gems symbolize life. The smaller ring engagement registration was granted two years, Princess Mary, daughter of Henry VIII, for their commitment to the French dauphin, son, son of King Francis I in 1518. The small gold ring, fitted to the finger, is set with a precious diamond. Historians are of the belief that the point of commitment has its origin not to the metal, but parts of the ...
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From Umie Aida | Engagement Rings 4u - Related web pages
www.engagementrings4u.co.cc/tag/umie-aida/
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1750
1750 - Thomas Dillon's Claddagh Gold, Claddagh Ring: Est. in 1750 we are the original makers of the Irish Claddagh Ring. We are the only jewelry company who can stamp our rings original. Our clients include John Wayne, Bing Crosby, Queen Victoria, & Princess ...Thomas Dillon's Claddagh Gold, Claddagh Ring: Est. in 1750 we are the original makers of the Irish Claddagh Ring. We are the only jewelry company who can stamp our rings original. Our clients include John Wayne, Bing Crosby, Queen Victoria, & Princess Grace of Monaco. Shop online and purchase your irish claddagh ring. Thorntons Jewelers, Gold & Silver traditional irish Claddagh & celtic Jewelery Handcrafted in our workshop. Time Knitwear, Hand crafted knitwear made ...
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From Celtic Attic: Olde Worlds - All Celtic: Celtic Jewelry and Gifts - Related web pages
www.celticattic.com/olde_world ...
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1780
1780 - The following is a list of some female contributions in Virginia, made in aid of the war, probably in 1780. Mrs. Sarah Cary of Scolchtown a watch-chain, coat £7 sterling ; Mrs. Ambler fire gold rings: Mrs. Rebecca Ambler three gold rings; Mrs. Nicholas a ...The following is a list of some female contributions in Virginia, made in aid of the war, probably in 1780. Mrs. Sarah Cary of Scolchtown a watch-chain, coat £7 sterling ; Mrs. Ambler fire gold rings: Mrs. Rebecca Ambler three gold rings; Mrs. Nicholas a diamond drop; Mrs. Griffin, of Dover, ten hslf Joes; Mrs. Giliner five guinea* ; Mrs. Anne Ramsay, (for Fairfax.) one half Joe, three guineas, three pUtareens, one bit and upwards of 65000 dollars of paper money ...
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From Introduction to the History of the Colony and Ancient Dominion of Virginia - Related web pages
books.google.com/books?id=mz0VAAAAYAAJ&pg ...
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1852
1852 - 25 An example of the exceptionally large rings some- times made to commemorate special occasions, rather than for possible wear, is one donated to President Pierce by some Calif ornian admirers in 1852. This somewhat ambitious production scarcely answers the ...At Akkra, and in Liberia, there is quite a manufacture of gold rings, and, to a lesser extent, of silver rings also. 25 An example of the exceptionally large rings some- times made to commemorate special occasions, rather than for possible wear, is one donated to President Pierce by some Calif ornian admirers in 1852. This somewhat ambitious production scarcely answers the requirements of a high standard of art, but its decoration offers a great variety of appropriate designs ...
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From Full text of "Rings for the finger : from the earliest known times to the … - Related web pages
www.archive.org/stream ...
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1950
Jul 23, 1950 - The key contact in the ring involved in the current arrests was Harry Gold, Philadelphia research chemist, who had found in Communist associations an outlet for the frustrations of a lonely, poverty-ridden youth. On Thursday he pleaded guilty to serving as a courier between Dr. Klaus ...
From SOVIET SPIES IN ACTION: ONE RING'S CASE HISTORY; Indictments After ... - Related web pages
select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res ...
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1988
Aug 1988 - His most criticized purchase, however, was made in August 1988 when Alesi ordered seven $478 gold rings for the Port Everglades Commission. Just the kind of guy to reappoint to a county board.
From BOARD MEMBERS READY TO GIVE WHAT SCHOOL CHIEF WANTS - Related web pages
pqasb.pqarchiver.com/sun_sentinel/access ...
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1996
Apr 1996 - In a separate case, a Ruther Glen man said he asked Hayes to melt four of his gold rings into a single band in April 1996. Wesley Satterwhite said the rings carried a lot of sentimental value; they were his and his wife's wedding bands, a ring that ...In a separate case, a Ruther Glen man said he asked Hayes to melt four of his gold rings into a single band in April 1996. Wesley Satterwhite said the rings carried a lot of sentimental value; they were his and his wife's wedding bands, a ring that Satterwhite's mother wore for decades and another ring his mother gave him when he was a young man. Satterwhite testified that he paid Hayes $165. After he heard about Hayes' disappearance, he decided to get another jeweler's ...
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From CASE AGAINST JEWELER TO GO TO GRAND JURY HEARING IS … - Related web pages
pqasb.pqarchiver.com/timesdispatch/access ...
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2010
Jan 2010 - Minelab Safari/Garrett pro pointer. Started metal detecting in January 2010. Ytd clad over $150 6 gold rings. 4 silver rings and necklace, 1 silver earring.
From A little silver on the way home - Friendly Metal Detecting Forums - Related web pages
metaldetectingforum.com/showthread.php?p=541297


Told ya!! Lots of information.

Now, if you have not yet done so, I highly suggest you check out a WONDERFUL place where us Blogging peeps can come together and find new reads, promote our blogs and make some great new FRIENDS.

It's called For The Love Of Blogs.

And today, they are hosting Fab Friends Friday (every Friday!).


BUT!! Before you do that, be sure to also check out my newest blog pal, Donna over at Write Now, Write Later. She is super awesome and has a heart of gold (gee lookie there!) who writes from the heart and would practically give you the shirt off her back if she could.

Also...ONE LAST THING! Be sure to LINK UP with me (below) by posting a link to YOUR blog as to pimp it out. The only thing I will ask of you is that you don't be a "user/abuser" by doing a 'link and run'. I want to hear from my readers who link up. Makes it more fun this way.

Now, run along and visit Donna and Vic/Ashley. Go on now... See ya tomorrow. That is after you link up with me below. (=

Blog Hopping Etiquette

Ok, I'm just going to throw this out here. And yeah, it may piss a few peeps off. But do I care? Nah! Not really. If you read me regularly and know me well enough, you know I don't sugar coat and I shoot from the hip.

I've been with Blogger for a year now. Yay me!!...*Okay, celebration over.*

And before then, I was blogging through CafeMom or MySpace. Don't look for me at either, seeing as I don't go to those anymore. Especially not to blog.

There is a new Blogger page aptly named 'For The Love Of Blogs'. So far, so good. I have now found another wonderful lady to follow. I love the title, too! She named it 'Just Hide The Dishes In The Dryer'. Believe me, there are days I wish that I could!

On Monday's, 'For The Love Of Blogs' does a Blog Hop. I'm down with that. Heck, I even posted BOTH of my blogs up on there in the hopes to get a few hits.

After commenting on my newly found blog page that I instantly liked, I was kind of taken aback. Not surprised, really. Just disappointed.

Yes, in my comment I did state something about the post that I had read. And yes, I also let the blog author know that I am now following her and that I found her on 'For The Love Of Blogs'.

But there is one thing that I did not say. Nor have I ever said it on another's page. And I will NEVER say it... "I'm following you. Please follow me back".

Excuse me? That is just tacky as hell! And I find it rude. I will NOT follow you when you come to MY page and "beg" me to follow you just to be another reader's notch in your damn blogging belt.

I will follow someone *IF* I like their content, their page set up, the subject(s) that they write about and/or that I can relate to and how well thought out that the content is in it's written form.

But if you (generally speaking) come on to *my* blog and get tacky like that, I can guarantee you 100% that I will *not* follow your page, and I WILL let you know that I will NOT and give my reason why.

I may not have that many readers/followers here or at my secondary blog, 'ParanorMel'. But I have followers that came on their own, without any begging from me. If they wish to follow my blog(s) then they will. If not, then so be it.

To beg for followers of your page is like being a lawyer that is deemed to be an "ambulance chaser" to just make a few bucks and up his name in the community some more.

Believe me. That lawyer's name WILL be better known. But for the wrong reasons.

New FACEBOOK *group* for Blogger bloggers.

Howdy everyone! I hope that your TGIF is a fab one this morning. It's gonna be a scorcher in my area, so it's certainly A/C weather!

Just a bit ago, I had started a NEW group over at Facebook for us Blogger blog authors. It's aptly named 'Blogger Blog Buddies Connections'.

Here is the description in regards to the new group...

"If you are a Blogger Blog Site author, and you wish to connect with other Blogger users/writers, then come on in!

Share your blog entries, find new blogs to follow, gain new readers/followers, give tips and help one another with the technical aspects of Blogger.

Best of all, gain new friends!"

But!! Yes, there is a 'but' in here. There IS a small clause which happens to be in the group's Recent News section, and it reads as follows...

"Be sure to add a small description about your post link in the post's status area.

Also, WARN OTHERS if there is adult-content within your post.

***ALL SUBJECT MATTER*** is excepted here. But we will not permit 'bashing' one another's religion, sexual orientation, disability, or nationality inside the group's walls.

If you wish to do so within YOUR BLOG posts, then that is on you. But no attacking within the group. And please REFRAIN from posting *THOSE TYPES* of blog posts within the group. "

So, now that you get the gist of what Blogger Blog Buddies Connections is all about, and you feel it's the 'fit' for you and your blog, then feel free, as a FACEBOOK member, to come join us.

CLICK HERE to join BBBC.

ParanorMel...Can you DIG it?

What in the world does a girl have to do to get her blog noticed these days? Sheesh!

I've got a secondary blog around here that talks of shadows, voices, mists, things seen from the corner of your eye, and MUCH more.

If you KNOW me, you will know that I am in to the Paranormal. Primarily hauntings and ghosts/spirits/apparitions.

Over at ParanorMel, I talk (from time to time) of my own PERSONAL experiences with the Supernatural and the Unexplained. Plus, I find cool videos, post about different definitions in regards to hauntings, spirits, and the like.

If you are in to that sort of subject, or you have had your own experiences, feel free to hop on over and follow me. You can...

Ask questions.

Tell YOUR story.

Request subjects to be covered/featured.

Know that you are NOT alone.

Sounds good enough to try, you said? Then click on over to ParanorMel and jump right on in to the thick of things.

As an added bonus, ParanorMel also has a FACEBOOK Fan/Like Page of the same name. Feel free to join us there, too.

It's interactive and I LOVE hearing from you, my readers, and those that are interested in hauntings and ghosts. On BOTH pages.

I'm LONELY! Wanna join me and have some fun (and maybe a spook or two)?

What in the world does a girl have to do to get her blog noticed these days? Sheesh!

I've got a secondary blog around here that talks of shadows, voices, mists, things seen from the corner of your eye, and MUCH more.

If you KNOW me, you will know that I am in to the Paranormal. Primarily hauntings and ghosts/spirits/apparitions.

Over at ParanorMel, I talk (from time to time) of my own PERSONAL experiences with the Supernatural and the Unexplained. Plus, I find cool videos, post about different definitions in regards to hauntings, spirits, and the like.

If you are in to that sort of subject, or you have had your own experiences, feel free to hop on over and follow me. You can...

Ask questions.

Tell YOUR story.

Request subjects to be covered/featured.

Know that you are NOT alone.

Sounds good enough to try, you said? Then click on over to ParanorMel and jump right on in to the thick of things.

As an added bonus, ParanorMel also has a FACEBOOK Fan/Like Page of the same name. Feel free to join us there, too. It's interactive and I LOVE hearing from you, my readers, and those that are interested in hauntings and ghosts.

Organ/Tissue Donation....Distorting the MYTHS. Stating the FACTS.

Organ Donation. It is one of the most selfless, heroic acts a person can do for their fellow man. It gives another person (or a number of people) a new lease on life. A second chance that would not have come otherwise.

Since it's founding and inception, Organ, Tissue, and Eye Donation have made great strides, and had come a long way where medical technology is concerned.

Too bad public education and awareness have neither made the same wonderful strides since that time. There are so many myths, half truths and all-out lies when it comes to the topic of Organ/Tissue/Eye Donation. Some are classics that you have heard so many times, it's like second nature and doesn't even phase you when you hear the words blurted out unexpectedly.

The number one myth/lie I tend to hear the most is... "If I have an accident or other tragic medical emergency, and I am a Registered Organ Donor, then the EMS and the Emergency Department/hospital will NOT do EVERYTHING in their power to save my life, so that they can get my organs".

How very, VERY untrue that this statement is. All medical professionals are to do EVERYTHING in their means and within their power to save lives. No matter if the patient is an organ donor, or not. 

Another is.. "They might take my 'parts' when I am still legally alive, but look like I am dead".

Yet, this is another false statement. The Transplant Coordination Team must do various, and rigorous tests, including several EEG's, eye dilation test, and nerve sensation testing. After all of those are completed (multiple times) and each time nothing changes with negative results for EVERY time, then the patient is declared BRAIN DEAD (which is a legal form of death), and also their only means of having a heartbeat and breathing lungs is via the ventilator.

There were comments on a Fan Page I belong in regards to the possibility of New York mandating an "Opt-Out" Organ Donation System, where you are of "presumed consent to donate", unless you sign a paper/check a box for your State-issued Driver's License or ID that you wish to NOT be an Organ Donor. Basically, it is donation in reverse. Instead of VOLUNTARILY giving your organs, you will be PRESUMED to be a donor, unless you say otherwise.

Some of the comments were either of a selfish nature, or of not enough self-education in to the ins and outs of donating.

There are some people that don't want to donate being that they would only want to have their "parts" go to 'good people', not "killers, rapists" and others deemed less fitting of society.

There was one comment where an ADULT female would only donate (including her heart) ONLY to children. Sadly to say though, an adult (for the most part) cannot donate their organs to a child. Especially the heart and the lungs.

The only adult organs that are able to be cross-matched with children (TO MY KNOWLEDGE) is heart valves, and the liver (that can be cut in to 7 or 8 pieces and will regenerate to full size in the host body), skin, and the corneas (window of the eye).

Otherwise, there is no feasible ability to transplant adult organs in to children. Not unless the recipient's chest wall, kidney areas are of a compatible size of their donors.

In all real honesty, the last two excuses/explanations I gave as to why people wish to NOT donate their organs after their death are the two most selfish. Yes, children (especially infants and other small children) are at the greatest need of transplants. And they have the highest rate of donor shortage. But I do NOT fault the parents of deceased children. It is hard enough to lose your child, only to have to make a DRASTIC decision like that, at such a critical, emotional and bereaved time such as that.

But unlike the latter, I don't see where, in my mind and personal opinion, that there is a valid excuse to NOT donate (other than for religious practice/belief reasons). Especially when you put a "price" on donating. Such as stipulating that you only want a "good person or people" to have your organs. Or that as an adult only wants to give to children, which will make what you CAN give, very little.

Speaking of "setting a price" on Organ Donation. That is another misconception I caught on that Fan Page board. Some one (who rides motorcycles) said that he wouldn't want to donate, being that the DONOR family gets dumped with the cost of procurement, transporting of the organs and tissues, and for the RECIPIENT's  surger(ies).

Again, a FALSE statement/myth/accusation. Nothing, and I mean *NOTHING* is charged to the Donor or their family for *any* part of the Transplant process. That all befalls to the RECIPIENT. Believe me, I know. Just for my cornea (not including harvesting, transportation, or transplantation) cost me $3,000.00. ME!....Not my donor or their family. It is against FEDERAL law to charge a single dime to the Donor or their loved ones being a donor or for the donation process.

So, I hope that for those of you that are still deciding to become an Organ/Tissue Donor, or for those of you that never really knew much about the process have read this and have taken something away (positive) about the TRUTH of being a Donor.

I truly believe that if more people were to self-educate (through reputable organizations, websites and through personal experiences of recipients) of exactly how Donation works, there would be MILLIONS more people willing to sign up to be a HERO.

April is for more than Easter. It's to Give Life, Give Hope....

Life. What a precious thing to have, isn't it? Most of us take it and all of it's gifts for granted. That is until something major happens and it makes you take a better look at that proverbial big picture.

That is how it is for over 100,000 people in the United States of America alone. Add in people all over the world, and you are looking at MILLIONS of men, women and children. Holding on to every single day as if it really is their last. Hoping for that one second chance.

Waiting for someone to give of themselves. Waiting....for a new organ, tissue, bone, or bone marrow.

Some will sadly die waiting for their turn. Some have been waiting only a few weeks. Some, a few months. And some have been forced to wait for YEARS to get "the call" to receive the Gift of Life.

During the entire month of April, those of us that have been touched by Organ/Tissue/Bone/Marrow Donation are celebrating Organ, Tissue Donation Awareness Month.

People that have been are a Recipient, a Living Donor, is a Donor Family, or a friend of someone who donated or received an organ/tissue/bone/marrow are banding together to spread the awareness of the need GLOBALLY, all around the world for people to SIGN UP 2 SAVE LIVES with their local Organ/Tissue Donation center.

Be it the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), on a website such as www.donatelife.net/CommitToDonation, or Google-ing for International Organ/Tissue Donation Registration websites.

When you sign up to be an Organ/Tissue Donor, you are saying that you are willing to freely give someone else, after your death, a second chance to live on.

For me, it was a Cornea for my eye. That is the "outside window" that protects your inner eye from injury and enviromental infections that could otherwise sneak in directly and attack the eye its self.

Without my Donor's gift of sight, I would be COMPLETELY blind in my left eye. As a Stay-At-Home-Mom that was NOT an option. I wanted to see with BOTH eyes, my three young children grow, be able to keep BOTH eyes on them, be able to SAFELY cross a busy street and have more of my independence back.

If you sign up to be a Donor, you are a HERO! To not only the Recipient. But, to their family and their loved ones. We ♥ our Donors and their families EVERY day. They are NEVER far from our thoughts, hearts, and appreciation.

Please, take a few minutes out of your time today to sign up to be an Organ/Tissue Donor. It's free, quick, and simple. Let someone have a full life and a second chance.

http://www.donatelife.net/    http://www.organdonor.gov/     http://www.unos.org/

    

Thinking of changing WACKY WEDNESDAYS... (CONTEST TIME!!!)

If I decide to change Wacky Wednesdays to another Wednesday theme post, what should it be?

Please give me your BEST idea(s). The winner (picked by yours truly) will recieve a promotion of their blog, I will FOLLOW the winner's blog, and if you have one, place a BLOG BUTTON up for the world to see on my page.

So start shelling out those ideas for a new Wednesday theme and see if you can get the grand poobah prize!!!

Good luck everyone.