Tonight is the non-memorial service for my mother who passed away recently. She was crystal clear in her assertion that there be no funeral or service of any kind, so a casual dinner with family and friends is the way we’ll go. We were blessed with Mom’s clarity–in not only her wishes about a service, but also her will, durable power of attorney, “Do Not Resuscitate” and “No Extraordinary Measures” medical mandates, and instructions for how her body was to be handled after her death. Mom wanted her whole body donated to science, delivered to the medical school at a university. After they were done with whatever battery of tests and procedures and explorations and practice surgeries they would do, whatever remains there were would be cremated and spread at sea.
I love this plan of Mom’s, and the generosity behind it. For many folks, the concept would be difficult, and religious beliefs can make a similar decision a conflict…but if your head and heart can be open to the concept of donation—full body, organ, tissue—you will absolutely save lives. There is an enormous shortage of organ donors in our society, so patients who are waiting for life-saving donated lungs, eyes, hearts, kidneys, etc languish on lists that get longer all the time while perfectly viable chances at life are discarded into soil or fire every day. If it doesn’t offend your beliefs or sensibilities, a simple designation on your driver’s license can make the difference–it is an easy administrative task to handle right now to declare yourself a donor. It helps everyone after you are gone if you also support your wishes with a form or letter in your most important documents…but you could change the course of health and wellness for one person or many, after you are gone, by acting today.
Find out more:
And talk to universities near you. It is easy on you, and it is easy for your loved ones…so that is a gift all around.
Change by Doing 