…little education and understanding of the process.
For years, the myth that the act of organ donation was against religious beliefs was prevalent, when in fact, many religions view it as the opposite — as a compassionate gift — causing the growth of nationwide initiatives to share information.
In November, Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White held a press conference for the National Donor Sabbath — an annual weekend where congregations of all faiths explore organ donations. Along with Gift of Hope, Secretary White’s task force included Christian, Jewish, Muslim and Sikh faith leaders to educate communities about the benefits and to dispel prior myths.
“Every religion looks at organ donation as the biggest gift that you can give someone else,” Black said. “In the past, there’s been some myths and misconceptions about that.”
For the Baptist-raised Sanders, faith is, in fact, a huge part of the entire process.
“Everything happens for a reason,” Kelvin said to the Washington Post. “I was shocked and happy when I heard it was my teacher who was the match.”
To be a living donor, you must be in good health and have normal kidney function, according to the National Kidney Foundation. Transplant centers also have social workers to help you determine if donation is right for you and if you choose not to donate, your reasons will remain confidential. To donate to a specific person, a blood test will be used to determine if you are a match.
For more information on kidney donation, health, and screening, visit the National Kidney Foundation of Illinois website at www.nkfi.org.