Give Life, Get Life

Last night on NPR, I heard about an interesting new law that is being implemented in Tel Aviv, Isreal. As an incentive to get healthy people to donate organs to those ailing and in need of transplants, the new law gives donors preference when they themselves need a transplant later in life. It's called 'Give Life, Get Life'.

A moral dilemma? Perhaps. I feel very strongly that every person in our country should be required to give up their organs and tissues upon their demise to aid those living with chronic disease (they aren't going to need them in the afterlife, are they?). I also feel that if a person is of sound health, they should be required to donate a certain amount of blood each year to those who are in need. Sounds outrageous? Only if you yourself didn't need the transfusion or transplant. Which is exactly where Isreal is headed with their new law.

I am thankful every single minute for my kidney donor and the price their family paid. My donor was deceased, and I do not know anything about them or their surviving loved ones. What I do know is that they helped me start a brand new life, and they gave me an opportunity that thousands of people will die waiting for in our state alone this upcoming year.