Gold Star Mom Shares How Brother and Son Saved Lives

She also explains how many lives her honorable son, Ben, saved after he was killed while serving in the U.S. military as an Army Ranger.

Jill breaks down the importance of organ donation, as well as the comfort and joy it can bring to hurting families who lost someone they love, by knowing their organs helped keep other people alive.

Jill explains the easy steps on how to sign up to become an organ donor in any state.

How You Can Become an Organ Donor in ND:

If you are at least 14 years old, you may add your name to the North Dakota Donor registry by answering “yes” on our application when you visit a North Dakota Driver's License Site to obtain your driver license, permit or ID card.

There is no upper age limit for becoming an organ donor. In 2021, one out of every three people who donated organs was over the age of 50. While there's no upper age limit, the condition of the organs is crucial in determining their suitability for donation.

As for the rarity of being an organ donor, it's relatively uncommon for registered donors to actually become donors upon their death. Only 3 in 1,000 people die in a manner that allows for deceased organ donation. This rarity is primarily due to the specific medical conditions required for organ donation to be possible after death.

The most needed organ for donation is the kidney, followed by the liver. Kidneys and livers are in high demand due to the prevalence of diseases affecting these organs and the possibility of living donor transplants. 85% of people awaiting a transplant need a kidney. As of 2022, there were 170 million people registered as donors in the U.S., but not all registered donors are able to donate due to various reasons, including the condition of their organs and the circumstances of their death.

The dead donor rule is a fundamental ethical guideline in the field of organ transplantation. It comprises two key principles:

1. Organ donors must be dead before the procurement of organs begins: This aspect of the rule ensures that organ donation does not take place until after the donor has been declared dead. The determination of death is typically made based on either neurological criteria (brain death) or circulatory criteria (when the heart has stopped beating irreversibly).
2. Organ procurement itself must not cause the death of the donor: This principle maintains that the process of removing organs for transplantation should not be the cause of the donor's death. In other words, the act of organ donation should be completely separate from the event or decision leading to the donor's death.

These principles are intended to uphold the ethical integrity of the organ transplantation process. They ensure respect for the life and dignity of potential donors by making sure that organ retrieval is only done after death and does not contribute to or hasten death. The dead donor rule is central to maintaining public trust in the organ donation system and ensuring that the practice of organ donation remains ethically sound.

There are some medical conditions that could prevent you from being a living donor. These include having uncontrolled high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer, HIV, hepatitis, or acute infections. Having a serious mental health condition that requires treatment may also prevent you from being a donor.

To be a kidney donor, certain medical and psychological conditions can disqualify an individual. These include:

1. Uncontrolled High Blood Pressure: High blood pressure that isn't well-managed can pose significant risks during and after the surgery, both for the donor and the viability of the donated kidney.
2. Diabetes: Diabetes, especially if poorly controlled, can affect kidney function and overall health, making the donation riskier and potentially compromising the health of the donor.
3. Cancer: Active cancer or a recent history of certain types of cancer can disqualify a person due to the risk of cancer cells being transmitted to the recipient and the potential impact on the donor's health.
4. HIV: While some centers may consider individuals with well-controlled HIV under certain circumstances, it often disqualifies a person due to the risk of transmitting the virus to the recipient.
5. Hepatitis: Active hepatitis infections can be a disqualifying factor due to the risks of transmission and impact on liver health.
6. Acute Infections: Any current, serious infections need to be resolved before a person can donate a kidney, as the infection could be transmitted to the recipient and could also impact the donor's recovery.
7. Serious Mental Health Conditions: If a potential donor has a serious mental health condition that requires treatment, this could disqualify them. The stress of the donation process and surgery, along with the need for follow-up care, might negatively impact the donor's mental health.

It's important to note that each case is evaluated on an individual basis, and these conditions don't automatically disqualify someone. Medical advancements and individual assessments may allow some people with these conditions to donate. The ultimate decision is made based on a comprehensive evaluation of the potential donor's health, the potential risks to both the donor and recipient, and ethical considerations.