I’m blogging today’s 20 Things in 20 Days bonus clue because there’s something important I’d like to discuss with you.
Clue #16 today mentioned Helicopter Pilot — the girls’ favorite band in Twenty Boy Summer — and the band’s drummer, Scotty O. Scotty is my “baby” brother in real life. I say “baby” because although he’s 25 now, I remember when my parents first told us Mom was pregnant (my other brother and I thought all the secrets and funny looks meant that we were getting a swimming pool).
After a long wait of 6 months, which is like 20 years in kid-time, the big day arrived, and Mom and Dad brought Scotty home and put him in my arms. I remember that day, too. I held him and decided in an instant that despite earlier predictions, getting a baby brother was way better than getting a swimming pool.
Just like his Twenty Boy Summer cameo implies, Scotty later became a beat-droppin’, foot-stompin’, funk-tastic drummer. But that’s not the only true trait represented in the book — Scott is also a liver transplant recipient. He’s alive today because of one family’s generous decision to donate organs and tissues more than 20 years ago.
Without his liver transplant, Scott would never have drummed for HP. He wouldn’t have a cameo appearance in his sister’s debut novel. He wouldn’t do any of the things he’s done in his teens and twenties because he wouldn’t have seen those years. Without the transplant, Scott would have died before his 5th birthday.
My family was fortunate that Scott got a second chance through the gift of life, but not everyone gets a second chance. Today, more than 100,000 people in the United States alone are waiting for lifesaving organ transplants, and many of them will die on that waiting list. In fact, over the 20-day course of our 20 Things Scavenger Hunt, 380 people will have died waiting for an organ transplant. I don’t know how big your school or office is, but 380 people was the size of my entire high school graduating class.
So for today’s bonus scavenger hunt activity, I’m asking everyone to learn a little something about donation and discuss it with your family. Whether or not you decide to become a donor when it’s your time to leave this world, it’s important to make an informed choice, and to share your wishes — whatever those wishes are — with your family. For Scotty, for me, and most importantly, for all of those people still waiting for a transplant, please check out some of the resources below and leave a comment here letting us know that you had the donation discussion with your loved ones. 7 points.
Organ & Tissue Donation Resources
- Donate Life America
- The Mayo Clinic’s 10 Donation Myths
- United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS)
- The National Donor Memorial
P.S. It’s been 25 years. I still think Scotty is better than a swimming pool. 
Hey-
I just wanted to let you know that my parents and I discussed this when I first got my driver’s license. They weren’t sure that they wanted to let me do it but after looking into it a little more they agreed that it was my choice and allowed me to become a donor. I also had a discussion with a lot of my friends because we all got our licenses at the same time and I am proud to say that probably 20 other people I know are also donors. =]
P.S. Glad you like your brother more than a swimming pool. I still haven’t quite made up my mind about mine. ;]
Wow, good for you for spreading the word! And yeah, little brothers v. swimming pools… it was a tough call!
Great post! My mom had a kidney transplant over 20 years ago. Lucky for her that we had a donor in the family and it didn’t require someone else’s death in order for my mom to live. Organ donation is so important and I’m glad that you’re helping to educate people about it.
Living donation is amazing. How crazy is it that we can donate a kidney? I have a few kidney donor and recipient friends, too, and it’s just incredible. Glad your mom got her transplant – probably around the time my brother did! Thanks for posting!
It grieves me that I am unable to donate an organ. I have and enlarged heart called HOCM and also my age almost does not allow me to do this. When I was younger my license stated that I would give any organs but now that is not to be.
I am so glad that your Sarah’s little brother had a second chance.
Hi Sue – you may still be eligible to be a tissue donor, which can help restore sight, movement, and other important functions to people, helping them have a normal life when they otherwise couldn’t. And even if you personally can’t donate, just being a donor advocate is a great thing that saves lives, so thank you!
Wow this is a great post! I don’t know any one that has donated – but I’ve read many stories about it! I recently got my driver’s permit and chose to be an organ donor. I talked about it with my mom before hand, to make sure that it would be okay, and she said of course. I don’t understand why anyone wouldn’t want to! Also, after watching the movie “7 Pounds”, it made me want to be one.
booksobsession(at)gmail(dot)com
Thank you, Ashley!
I think that this is a discussion that everyone should have. I have talked with my parents and I have chosen to be an organ donor. One of my best friends wouldn’t be here today if it weren’t for an organ donor. She had kidney cancer and needed a kidney. It is just a good thing to do and it helps save lives.
I agree, Alyssa! Thank you for sharing!
I talked to my mom about this and she said that both of my parents will be organ donars and she hopes that I will too. I am going to get my drivers licens soon and we talked about researching before I make that choice. I think that I will because my friends mom died because she had a heart problem that could have been prevented had we known about this problem and she had gotten a transplant.
Hi Jessica – I’m sorry to hear about your friend’s mom. I also lost a friend waiting for a heart transplant. I’m glad that you’re going to research your choice. Feel free to check out the links in this post for some sites with more info.
Thanks for posting.
I did discuss this with my mom when I got my license and to me I just knew I would donate. I’d love to help people anyway I can. I remember my fiance and I had a discussion about it when he got his license and we both agree that there’s no question as to us being donors.
I talked to my parents about this and I’d love to help people by giving them something that I wouldn’t need anymore. Even before seeing this post, I’ve thought about being a donor for a long time. My parents told me that they are going to be donors too. If I can help save a person’s life by donating something I don’t need, I would totally do it.
lovinfitch(at)aol(dot)com
This is a great topic to discuss!! I’ve talked to this with my parents before. A couple of weeks ago, my great aunt died from cancer. My dad and mom got tested for bone marrow, but unfortunately they were not a match. On the subject of that, we talked about kidney and organ transplants. I don’t drive yet, but when I do start I would love to be a donor.
infinitemusic19 at gmail dot com
I’m a huge believer in donating organs. I’ve been an organ donor since I’ve been able to have an ID.
At first my hubby was upset by this. He always had the assumption that if you were a donor then the medical staff didn’t do their best to keep you alive because organs are aways needed.
I’ve filled him in on why that’s the dumbest thing to think about. Of course they’ll do everything they can to save you! It’s their job!
So, yes, we’ve had this discussion in our home.
I’m really glad you posted this, because I’ll admit being a donor isn’t something I ever gave much thought to. Earlier today, during lunch with the family, I discussed the benefit of being an organ donor with my family. While it’s something frightening to think about, we decided that being able to make a difference in someone else’ life makes it a worthy decision.
Kristin (email = dazdnconfusd@comcast.net)