As a teenager, Jonathan was one of the most active members of his family. But at age 34, he observed there was something with him as he always got easily tired and sleepy. From time to time, his blood pressure went up.
At one time, Jonathan visited his physician brother in a hospital. He told him about his problem, so the younger brother checked him. After some thorough check-up, the doctor came up with a diagnosis: his brother had a kidney problem.
“I did not know how I got this problem,” Jonathan admits. The doctor tried to trace up what may be the reason why his brother would have such a disease. He surmised that it may be due to an infection that resulted from a wound he got when he was a kid.
For three years, Jonathan was under dialysis. But his family knew that he had to undergo a kidney transplant. Fortunately, family members and some relatives were willing to donate his or her kidney to him. They were all tested but only his sister, Marianne, was considered a match. “I loved my younger brother and wanted to save his life,” she reasoned out.
When Jonathan knew about it, he was hesitant. “I told him that if the time comes that he wanted it already, I might be too old and unhealthy to undergo an operation,” recalled Marianne, who was then 38-years-old.
So that week, the siblings were operated on. The operation took six hours and was successful. Today, Jonathan said he felt the same before he had his kidney transplantation. “This is my second life,” he says. “The experience I had to go through has deepened my thoughts about life and to accept things given to us by God.”
Marianne’s generosity saved the life of her brother. It is inspiring but, sadly, not typical. Records from the Department of Health show at least one Filipino dies each hour from kidney failure, which is considered the ninth leading cause of death in the country. Some 10,000 Filipinos need kidney transplants from donors every year.
And the situation is likely to get worse. As people live longer, organ diseases and health problems like diabetes – one of the main causes of kidney failure – are expected to rise, creating even greater demand for organ donations.
This must be the reason why Dr. Ma. Theresa Bad-ang is pushing for public awareness on organ donation to help patients that need those organs to have a second chance at life. People who need to know this are the health professionals themselves.
“Organ donation should be known first thoroughly by doctors and nurses in the hospital before the public so that it will succeed,” Dr. Bad-ang, nephrologist and head of the Southern Philippines Medical Center-Human Advocate and Retrieval Effort, was quoted as saying by Philippine News Agency (PNA).
She said organ donation will only happen if a family member of a “brain-dead” patient will give consent. Otherwise, no such donation will take place.
“We cannot do organ donation if the patient is not dead,” Dr. Bad-ang pointed out. “The public should know that when you are brain-dead, you are legally dead, and you can donate your organs as long as your family will agree to it.”
The passage of Republic Act No. 7170, otherwise known as the Organ Donation Act of 1991, as amended by Republic Act No. 7885, organ and tissue from donors who have been declared brain-dead has been allowed.
The World Health Organization (WHO) says “the procurement of organs for transplantation involves the removal of organs from the bodies of deceased persons.” Among the human transplantable organs are kidneys, liver, lungs, heart, intestines, and pancreas. This is in addition to human tissues such as eye tissues, bones, skin, and blood vessels.
Unfortunately, organ donation from brain-dead patients remains dismally low in the country, according to the Department of Health (DOH).
Confusion about brain-dead patients among the families of potential donors, doctors and hospital administrators is one hindrance of donation of organs. To grieving loved ones, the person looks alive. “People think there might be a miracle, so they hold on,” one doctor contends.
Be a hero even after your death by donating your organs, advocates urge. “Organ donation saves lives and it is very important that every person has the power to save a life by becoming an organ, tissue or eye donor,” says Dr. Teodoro Herbosa, former undersecretary of health. “It is a noble gift because you can give someone a second chance at life.”
Age doesn’t matter when it comes to organ donation. “Anyone can donate, living or deceased,” pointed out Dr. Romina Danguilan, deputy director for Medical Education and Research of NKTI. “All religions allow it.”
Even if you are still alive, you can still be an organ donor – by giving one of your kidneys to save another life. Just like what happened to Jonathan. “Kidney transplantation is by far the most frequently carried out transplantation globally,” the United Nations health agency says.
“Patients who receive a kidney transplant become fully rehabilitated and have optimal quality of life and the highest survival rate,” says Dr. Rose Marie Rosete-Liquete, NKTI Executive Director.
“Every day, people die waiting for a suitable organ donor,” deplores Dr. Enrique Ona, former health secretary and the president of Transplantation Society of the Philippines. “The selfless act of organ donation can save lives. Let us all work together to raise awareness and encourage more Filipinos to give of themselves by signing up to be an organ donor.”
