Making our own, self-determined decision is important - for ourselves, as a relief for those close to us and for people who are waiting for a life-saving organ. Organ Donation Day is the day on which the moving fates of people who have donated organs or who have been given a new lease of life as organ recipients are in the spotlight. The focus is therefore also on thanking organ donors.
In the film, almost three-year-old Matt, who received part of the liver of his mother, Ludwigsburg city councillor Laura Wiedmann, as a baby, and 81-year-old Josef Theiss, whose new liver came from a brain-dead donor, meet. The two fates are united by the serious illness, the urgency of the situation, the hope for a life-saving organ, the major operation, the fear of rejection, the medication and the regular examinations.
The positive decision of two people has now given Josef Theiss 27 and little Matt two years of life and a high quality of life. Theiss helps other affected people with his self-help group "Lebertransplantierte Deutschland e.V." and can actively play with his grandchildren. Matt runs around like a healthy child with his big sister.
The message from Sabrina Gaupp and Dr. Uschi Traub from the health department in the district office: "Organ transplantation can affect anyone - you have three times the risk of needing an organ than the chance of being considered as a donor." Without organ donation, there can be no transplant.
For Julian Schönbohm, it is a matter of course to support this important project. Anyone interested can watch the film clip on the Facebook page of the Ludwigsburg District Office.
If you have any questions about organ donation, please contact
Dr. Uschi Traub: 07141 144-2020, gesundheitsfoerderung[at]landkreis-ludwigsburg.de
Liver transplant patients Germany e.V. https://lebertransplantation.eu/home
Verein Leberkrankes Kind e.V. https://leberkrankes-kind.de/
Background:
In only around 38 percent of all cases in which there was the possibility of organ donation last year was the will of the deceased documented in writing (17.6 percent) or verbally (20.0 percent), although 84 percent of Germans are positive about organ donation. It is often the relatives who are asked to make a decision about organ and tissue donation. The situation is very stressful for many. That is why it is so important to make your own decision after receiving detailed information. The decision to donate organs (for and against are possible) can be recorded in an organ donor card, in a living will or ideally in both documents. It is important to inform relatives. In 2022, a nationwide online register will be set up in which the personal decision to donate organs can be documented independently. In March 2022, the law to strengthen the willingness to make a decision will come into force. It provides for people to be informed about organ donation and motivated to make a decision in a wide variety of places such as authorities, public offices, GPs and driving schools.
Facts and figures:
- 9192 patients are on the waiting list for a timely donor organ in Germany alone
- Number of organ donors in 2020: 913
- Average age of donors: 56 years
- 3510 organ transplants (post-mortem 3008, living donation 502)
