Friday, April 09, 2010

Organs donated thanks to Facebook

This story from Israel further emphasizes the power of Facebook as mentioned in my previsous post and the potential this social networking site has for increasing organ donation. The more that I see of Facebbok's capabilities I can understand how it has already slightly overtaken Google as the web's most popular site. Joining is easy: facebook.com

Hilla Abramson. Saved four lives Photo courtesy of family

While Hilla Abramson, 32, lay in a hospital bed suffering from brain death, her parents discovered she was a fan of ADI* group on her Facebook account and decided to donate her organs. Four patients now begin their new life thanks to Hill
*Israel's National Transplant and Organ Donation Center (Adi)

by Dr. Itay Gal Israel Activism

Four organ transplants were carried out at the Rabin and Schneider medical centers in Petah Tikva last weekend thanks to a donation made by the family of a 32-year-old deceased woman.

The family agreed to donate the organs after the woman's parents discovered that she was a fan of the ADI organization, which advocates organ donations, on her Facebook account.

Hilla Abramson, a social worker from the central city of Kiryat Ono, suffered from juvenile diabetes since the age of six. Due to the circumstances, she was certain that her organs would not be suitable for donation and therefore did not sign an ADI card, but was a fan of the ADI page on Facebook.

About two weeks ago, Hilla experienced a sharp drop in her blood sugar level. As a result, she lost consciousness and suffered cardiac arrest. She was rushed to the intensive care unit at the Chaim Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer, where she was hospitalized for a week. It was clear to the doctors that she was suffering from irreversible brain death.

“You Have the Power to Save Lives – Register to be an organ and tissue donor & Tell Your Loved Ones of Your Decision”
Register to be a donor in Ontario or Download Donor Cards from Trillium Gift of Life Network. NEW for Ontario: recycleMe.org - Learn The Ins & Outs Of Organ And Tissue Donation. Register Today! For other Canadian provinces click here
In the United States, be sure to find out how to register in your state at ShareYourLife.org or Download Donor Cards from OrganDonor.Gov
In Great Britain, register at NHS Organ Donor Register
In Australia, register at Australian Organ Donor Register
Your generosity can save up to eight lives with heart, kidneys, liver, lungs, pancreas and small intestine transplants. One tissue donor can help up to 100 other people by donating skin, corneas, bone, tendon, ligaments and heart valves
Has your life been saved by an organ transplant? "Pay it forward" and help spread the word about the need for organ donation - In the U.S. another person is added to the national transplant waiting list every 11 minutes and 18 people die each day waiting for an organ or tissue transplant.

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