When we moved back to Oregon (did I mention we moved back to Oregon? Remind me later to tell that story), one thing I needed was to find a job... pesky little detail, but surprisingly necessary.
So... after a couple months of procrastination, I finally got a little more serious about it... and of course, checked with my good friend and counselor, Craig and his list.
Low and behold, Craig had found me the perfect job!
"Wanted: Remote Tissue Recovery Technician"
Translation: The eye bank needed a harvester...
Oh wait... in today's day and age, we are supposed to be more politically correct. Someone might see the word 'harvester' and think that perhaps I am not being suitably respectful towards the departed. Maybe that I do not understand what a great gift it is they are giving.
Make no mistake... I do understand and I am respectful. I think it is absolutely fantastic that they made the choice to face their own mortality, often before they knew they were dying and took the time to make sure that their remains do not go to waste when there are plenty of people who can be helped with them. Or maybe they did not do that... but they raised a child or married a spouse who had the capability and compassion to put aside their grief long enough to make some pretty tough decisions.
To be charitable, I assume those people simply did not think they would be dying any time soon and MEANT to take the 5 minutes to go on-line and click the box... I certainly hope is is simple absent mindedness (or denial) and not that they were selfish enough to put their loved ones though the torture of having to deal with making THAT decision while facing the loss of THEIR loved one.
Please people... take the time to make your wishes known... make it clear as to whether or not you wish to donate your body (parts or whole)... do you want to be kept alive on artificial life support once there are no brain waves?
WRITE IT DOWN...
do not make your best friend be in the position of knowing what YOU would want... but have to watch your parents go against your wishes because they can not let go...
WRITE IT DOWN...
Where do the mixed feelings come in? From a very sad place called "economics" and "making a living"... no matter how much I justify and/or rationalize it, it still comes down to the fact that I am making my living on peoples death... a very different place from when my living was trying to keep people alive... and since I get paid per job, that means, when I am hoping I get called for another job (because the mortgage is coming due), I am a thin step away from hoping someone is dying...
I know the reality is that I am simply hoping that someone who is dying anyway will be a donor ... but the other is still in the back of my head... even though I know that is not what I am wishing...
Like I said... mixed feelings...
But I do have to admit, it is nice being back in medical shoes again... I really did not realize how much I missed it...
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