by Emma Geldmeyer (NMU ‘29)
I have known about organ donation from a young age, but the first time I really saw what it was on a deeper level was in my driver’s education class. Prior to this, I hadn’t heard about it outside of my family. By this time, my dad and brother had already received heart transplants, and my sister was going through her own heart transplant journey. Seeing what my family has been through really shaped me as an individual and my view of organ donation.
In the fall of my senior year of high school, my journey began. If you would have told me a year ago I would have a new heart and be in college, I wouldn’t have believed you. Although I always knew a heart transplant was vital for my survival, it still was a shock when my cardiologist told me he thought getting a transplant was the next step in my care plan.
I am a much happier person now and can do way more than ever before. I can finally go exploring in the great outdoors and live a freer life. I am so incredibly grateful for my gift of life. I truly never realized the extent of my illness until I recovered from my transplant. I was in active heart failure for well over a year before my transplant.
Organ donation is so important. Personally, I know many people who wouldn’t be here today if it weren’t for organ donation. Currently, over 1,200 children under the age of 18 are awaiting life-saving transplants in the United States (HRSA). Most people think of kidney transplants when the subject of organ donation is brought up. However, it is much more than just that. Organ donation includes organ, eye, and tissue transplants. Some resources for learning more about organ donation include Donate Life America, Mayo Clinic, and LifeSource. When you sign up to be an organ donor, you can save many lives. If you are too young to officially sign up, make your wishes known. From a very young age, I’ve been an advocate and wanted to be a donor. Not just because of my personal connection to it, but because of the fact that it is an amazing thing to do.
There are many misconceptions about organ donation, such as that medical staff won’t try as hard to save your life if you are a registered organ donor. The truth is that medical staff will do their best to try to save your life. Another misconception is believing that wealthy individuals go to the top of the transplant list. The transplant list is divided into three categories: 1A, 1B, and 2. Your spot on the list is determined by your current health and need for the donated organ, eyes, or tissues. Becoming a donor is not a difficult process. Some ways to become a donor include signing up on your state registry or driver's license or making your wish known to those around you.
I have been through more than the average eighteen-year-old. I have had to worry about medical appointments while my friends lived pretty much normal lives. I often felt like I was an outsider looking in. However, I am grateful for the challenges I have faced, as they have helped shape me into the person I am today. If it weren’t for everything I have been through, I wouldn’t be where I am today, living the best life I possibly can, given my circumstances.
Another part of my journey that wasn’t easy was being viewed as the “sick kid” at school. The attention often annoyed and overwhelmed me. I understand now why my best friend was always so concerned about me. One of the most clarifying and eye-opening conversations I had about my journey and organ donation was with her after my transplant. We discussed everything from my denial of being sick to how lucky I am to live a way better life now. Although the transplant process is not an easy thing, I think the good outweighs the bad, especially when it comes to the fact that I can now live more freely. I do have frequent check-ups, but I will take that any day over how sick I was.
I am grateful for my health today and the opportunity to share my journey and knowledge. To close, please consider pondering these few questions: What does organ donation mean to you? How can you best support those going through a transplant? How can you make an impact on those around you? For me, organ donation has not only allowed me to live a better and longer life, but it has also allowed me to be an advocate. I truly appreciate that organ donation has advanced over time and continues to improve year after year. Going through my transplant journey, it helped to have a network of people around me who understood heart transplants on many different levels. It is truly a blessing to get a second chance at life and I strongly believe in educating and advocating for people to consider being organ donors. It is my hope to make an impact on those around me by sharing my story and experience with anyone willing to listen.
Organ donation saves nearly 48,000 lives each year. In 2024, the number of transplants reached over 48,000 for the first time ever. One singular donor can save 8 lives, which is incredible considering there are around 100,000 individuals awaiting a transplant. Whether you are a kid or an adult, I encourage you to have the hard conversations that surround organ donation. For me, being an organ donor was a no-brainer given my family history and my personal journey with a heart disease that caused me to need the gift of life through a heart transplant. Whether you have been thinking about it or are already a donor, just remember that in your final moments, you will save lives. It takes time and research to become comfortable with the decision of being a donor, but it is so rewarding to help give life even after death or see a person thrive if you are a living donor.
I leave you with one last thought…imagine you are a seventeen year old getting ready to start your senior year of high school and then you get the curveball that you need to get a new heart because you are in very active heart failure. I lived in a state of denial for a long time until I came to terms with the fact that if I wanted to live a better life, a heart transplant was my only option. Deciding to go through with the transplant was not an easy decision, but looking bac,k I am glad I said yes to a better life.