Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 2 July 1994 — Page 4

PAGE A4

THE INDIANAPOLIS RECORDER

SATURDAY, JULY 2.1994

4

Organ donations can save lives if Blacks overcome fears

Continued from A1

There are two types of donations: organ and tissue. As an organ donator, a person can donate parts of the body such as the heart, liver, kidneys, lungs and pancreas. As a tissue donor, a person can donate corneas, skin, bone and heart valves. To donate organs, a person must be pronounced brain dead, which can be caused by severe head injuries in car accidents, strokes, drowning, gunshot wounds to the head, etc, for a transplant to be successful. Upon taking his job at the IOPO, Spann had to overcome his own fear of donating organs. He, like many African-Americans, had a mistrust of the medical field. “A lot of people feel that if they were to sign the back of their driver’s license and they were to be in an accident, that physicians would look and say, oh, this person is an organ donor and this person down the hall really needs a heart,” he said. “So a lot of people feel they would be sacrificed to save someone else and that’s not even the case. In health care, the goal is to save lives and it’s only after death has occurred or there is an imminent possibility that someone is going to die. that organ donation is even thought of.” Also, many people do not know how the process works. “With the African-American community, they believe that organ donations aren’t fair. They believe that you have to have a certain status or you have to be white to get an organ transplant. But that is not the case at all,” said Spann. When the list is printed, there is nothing on it but the patients name, social security number, blood type, sex and general information. Race is not indicated. “So when we offer out the organs, we don’t know what race

“We, in Indiana give the organs to the Indiana patients first, and then if the Indiana patients can’t use them, then we go outside the state.” Clyde Spann, Jr. the person is,” said Span. Once all of the tests are run and it is decided that the organs arc good for transplant, the procurement organization contacts United Network for Organ Sharing, which is the center that maintains the recipient lists. They print a recipient list according to the donors height, weight, and blood type and all those who are waiting on the organ(s) in the U.S. will be placed on that list. “We, in Indiana give the organs to the Indiana patients first, and then if the Indiana patients can’t use them, then we go outside the state,” said Spann. The reason African-Americans have such a long wait for transplants is not due to racism, but a lack of compatible organs because African-Americans do not donate as often as other ethnic groups, according to those interviewed. The sickest of the people who have been on the list the longest are placed at the top, said Spann. “I hope that I’m high enough on the list that if an organ comes that matches me, 1 can have it,” said Drumright wistfully. Unlike Drumright who has been waiting for a transplant for years, Audrey Ferguson received her lung transplant after two weeks on the waiting list. Ferguson was the first African-American woman to receive an organ transplant in Indiana in 1W0. She has dedicated her life to

educating Blacks on the importance of organ donations. “It’s important because it saves lives and it works,” she said. “I would be gone if I hadn’t received one. I was blessed.” For those afraid of donating their organs after death, she says: “Don’t take your organs to heaven because the angels don’t need them, we need them down here.” Bobbie Reams of South Bend, Ind., is an avid believer in organ donation. Not because she is a recipient, but because of the solace she received from it after her 17-year-old daughter was in a car accident and pronounced brain dead in March of 1991. “In one way, I feel that even though she is not here in person, part of her life is still going on,” said Reams. “Death is inevitable, but her death was not a loss because so many people benefited from her.” Reams said it was not hard for her to make the decision to donate her daughter’s organs because it was something they had discussed in detail earlier. Also, Reams’ father received a heart transplant in the 1950s, so she was familiar with the idea of organ donation. African-Americans do not donate organs for a myriad of reasons, said Reams, mainly their religious beliefs. Some people believe their bodies have to be whole for them to be accepted in heaven. This is not true, according to Reams. “None of our bodily parts go to heaven,” she said. “1 don’t believe this. Until someone can show me in the scriptures where it is wrong, I don’t believe it’s a sin. “(Furthermore), there was nothing our family could benefit from (by keeping her organs intact), but another family could benefit through a transplant...It

helped cushion the loss knowing that good came out of it also,” she continued. “It’s amazing how life can go on with a family’s consent of donation,” said Spann. “A lot of families, at that time are able to look beyond their own fears and arc able to think about somebody else. There’s nothing that can be done to save this gentleman,” continued Spann, referring to a patient who was pronounced brain dead at 11 a.m. Tuesday morning. “I just think it’s good Christian stewardship. There’s a lot of talk and teaching in the Bible about giving and sharing and love,” he said. “So, I believe it’s the Christian thing to do. Our bodies, once we’re done with them here, they return back to the dust, but our souls is what lives

on.”

Nationally, there are about 25.000 deaths a year. Of those, 20.000 can be donors and of that only 500 donate. Also, on the average 35,000 people are waiting for donors each day, and of those, seven die daily. Last year, 87 people donated organs in Indiana, only six of whom were African-American. Of the 87 people who became organ donors last year, 370 transplants were made possible because one person can potentially save the lives of seven people because each person has two lungs, two kidneys, a heart, a liver and a pancreas, according Spann. As of June, there have been 3' organ donors in Indiana, while there arc 507 people in need of transplants. If you wish to become a donor, sign the back of your driver’s license or fill out an organ donor card, which are provided by the Indiana Organ Procurement Organization, 719 Indiana Ave., Suite 100 or call 1 800-356-7757.

JANEE'S FASHION SHOES FOR MEN mmik

"Bring us Your Feet 2914 W 16th an<1 v/e 11 ^ 9l1 You Our Soles* (16th & Sharon) Black Owned & Operated

(317) 684-1992

You Don’t Have to Make A Fortune TO LIVE MCE A KING!

a 2-3 Bedroom ranches of 2-story ) a 3-Bcdrooms Available Vaulted Ceiling a Central Air and Meat a 10-Year MOW Warranty a We Pay Closing Costs a Work Equity Program Available Here’s The Buying Power Needed To Get Your Castle Under Construction Combined Monthly Income Needed Before Taxes for Pint-Time Home Buyer

Loan Type

Annual

Monthly

Weekly

Hourly (One Working)

Hourly (Both Working)

ITIA Adjuiliblc

Si 7,300

SI,435

S332

S8.35

$4.15 each

Only $500 Get You Started! For a Free Buying Power Analysis Call Clove Today! 691-5624

HOMES

}

STATE DISCOUNT LIQUORS 2502 N. Delaware.923-2771 YOUR INDIANA BLACK EXPO PARTY HEADQUARTERS

martell

COGNAC

v.s. HALF GALLON $ 39.99

(townffiyal The Legendary Import HALF GALLON $ 29.99

Seagrams gin Everythng they say ..is true HALF GALLON $12.99

E&J BRANDY

HALF GALLON

$14.99

VISA

BUD DRY

MILLER

30 PACK CAN H1.89 KIGHJ)

Windsor Canadian HALF GALLON $ 12.99

The Price You Pay Is Good Everyday