Michael Schoonover is celebrating his 33rd birthday today.
Not much of a milestone for most people.
But a year ago Schoonover wanted to die. The Portage man had lost vision in his left eye. He was undergoing dialysis to aid his failing kidneys three times a week. He had no energy, no life.
"Until I was put on the list, I wanted to die. I thought if I was going to die, let me die now," he recalled.
Then the telephone rang last May 14 and Schoonover's life changed. Bags packed, he and his family hurried to Indianapolis. Within hours Schoonover was in surgery receiving a new kidney and pancreas and the chance to have a life he never thought possible.
"I can have a life now. It has meant everything to me. I have energy now and can lead a normal life," said Schoonover, who was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age 12. The disease, which is caused when the pancreas stops producing insulin, hit his body hard, deteriorating his vision and kidney function.
Schoonover said he will be forever grateful to a person he'll never know, but who had the foresight and compassion to agree to donate their organs so that someone else would have a chance at life.
Raising awareness
Today more than 98,700 people across the country are waiting for an organ donation, In the next year, it is likely 6,000 of them will die, according to the Organ Procurement and Transplant Network, the unified transplant network establish by the U.S. Congress under the National Organ Transplant Act of 1984.
While April is National Donate Life Month, and various state and national organizations are using the proclamation to raise awareness about the need for organ donation, the topic is not very far from Lynette Rayman's mind every day. A registered nurse, Rayman is also the coordinator for Porter hospital's organ and tissue procurement efforts.
Her job is to work with people who have lost loved ones and are considering organ donations. She walks them through the process, answers their questions and acts as a sounding board.
"Their number one concern is that they want to make sure we are respectful to their loved one," Rayman said. She assures them they are and that after their family member's passing, they still have time to be with that loved one.
They express other concerns.
"Will they be able to have an open casket? Definitely, yes.
Do they have to pay for it? No, they don't have to pay for anything. Any costs are paid for by IOPO (Indiana Organ Procurement Organization)," she said.
Rayman said there's also a myth that people in her position will try to "talk families into it."
"I don't talk people into it. Some people, it is just not right for. I help them understand the process and give them the information," she said.
Even if someone has registered with the Bureau of Motor Vehicles to be an organ donor and has the heart indicating their wishes on their driver's license, which is considered a legal document, Rayman said she doesn't push family members.
"Organ donation runs on public opinion. Going against their wishes would only hurt the effort," she said.
Rayman said people need to talk openly with their family about their wishes, just as she has done with her own family and friends.
"I ask them, if you were sick and needed a kidney transplant, would you be willing to receive one. If you are willing to receive one, are you willing to give?" she asks.
A second chance
Schoonover too wishes more people would talk to their family members about organ donation. He knows how his transplant not only changed his life, but gave him his life back.
"I feel like a regular, everyday, normal person now. I'm optimistic, ready to move forward," he said, adding he's gone back to school to be a physical therapy assistant and is looking forward to things others take for granted -- getting a job, getting married and having his own home.
He's even relishing doing simple, every day tasks, like feeding himself, something he didn't have the energy to do before the transplant.
He considers himself lucky, only being on the transplant waiting list for nine months. He met others during his ordeal who had been on the list for years.
"Every day you are thinking it is going to be today, you are hoping it is today," he said about waiting for the call that a match has been found.
"For all those people who have signed the cards (to donate their organs), I want to say thank you for everyone who has received an organ. For those who are thinking about it, do it now -- it changes lives more than you think," Schoonover said.
Still waiting
The number of people waiting for an organ donation
Indiana
All organs - 921
Kidney - 797
Liver - 47
Pancreas - 13
Kidney/pancreas - 46
Heart - 31
Lung - 47
Intestine - 4
Illinois
All organs - 4,897
Kidney - 3,741
Liver - 740
Pancreas - 101
Kidney/pancreas - 157
Heart - 100
Lung - 46
Heart/lung - 3
Intestine - 9
Source: Organ Procurement and Transportation Network figures as of March 28
BREAKOUT 2
Quick facts
- Another man, woman or child is added to the transplant waiting list every 12 minutes.
- An average of 18 people die each day waiting for an organ.
- A single organ donor can save the lives of up to eight people.
- A single tissue donor can save/enhance the lives of up to 75 people.
- Organs that can be donated include the heart, kidneys, pancreas, lungs, liver and intestines; tissue donations can include the eyes, skin, bone, heart valves and tendons.
- People of all ages and medical histories can be potential donors. The medical condition at the time of death will determine what organs and tissues can be donated.
- All major organized religions approve of organ and tissue donation and consider it an act of charity.
Sources: Indiana Organ Procurement Organization and United Network for Organ Sharing
BREAKOUT 3
How to register to be a donor
Indiana - Make the designation through the local Bureau of Motor Vehicles or by registering online at http://www.indianadonationalliancefoundation.org/.
Illinois - Register online at http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/ or call (800) 210-2106
BREAKOUT 4
For more information, visit these web sites:
United Network for Organ Sharing - http://www.unos.org/
Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network - http://www.optn.org/
Indiana Organ Procurement Organization - http://www.iopo.org/
Illinois Secretary of State - http://www.lifegoeson.com/
Gift of Hope Organ and Tissue Donor Network - http://www.giftofhope.org/
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