ORGAN DONATION AN ACT OF HUMANITY

(Manitowoc Herald Times - June 12, 2004) - What Diane Scott did for John Brockington clearly makes her a heroine, right?

Surely, donating one of her two kidneys in 2001 to save the life of her dear friend - who was in extreme renal failure - classifies her as a heroine, right?

"Not a bit, and I think that's exactly what we have to fight is the notion that this is heroic," Diane said Thursday during a fund-raiser at Valders' Autumn Ridge Golf Course for The John Brockington Foundation, which raises awareness for organ donation.

"This was not. ..."

To Diane, it is more about being human than heroic.

"People try to serve the ill all the time, especially people they love," said Diane, who married John - the former Green Bay Packers' running back - on Aug. 16, 2003.

"It shouldn't be seen as heroic. I don't think it's anybody's duty to (be an organ donor). ... But I think if people knew how easy it is to be living donor - and frankly, how easy it is to be a deceased donor - all you have to do is two things:

"Put the sticker on your driver's license, and go home and tell your family you did that."

If Diane can be a living organ donor, we should at least give the gift of life after our death.

"People should really understand that it is inside every one of us to save or change the lives of 50 people," Diane said, referring to the number of people who can benefit from various organs and tissues.

"... Certainly as a deceased donor you shouldn't worry about anything, but even as a living kidney donor, I'm here to tell you there's no change in your health and it's an easy procedure."

And, in this case, it saved John from undergoing painful dialysis treatments to stay alive.

"It's like putting a (new) battery in a car when the battery is already dead," John Brockington said of organ donation. "You turn the key and you get that horrible sound, but you put the new battery in and - Vrrrrrroom - it starts right up."

For no good reason, about 17 people die each day in this country awaiting an organ transplant, and the waiting list for patients in need of an organ transplant currently hovers over 85,000.

The most common myth for not being an organ donor after death is just that, mythical: 'Doctors won't work hard to save me if they know I'm an organ donor.'

The truth is, if you are admitted to a hospital, the No. 1 goal is your recovery - not getting you ready for organ donation.

Also, most major religions in the United States approve organ donation as the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, for example, writes on its Web site:

"The (LCMS) encourages organ donation as an act of Christian love, but this choice is entirely up to the individual and/or his or her family, and should not be a cause of guilt or regret no matter what decision is made. The Bible has nothing specific to say regarding this issue. Therefore, it is a matter of Christian freedom and personal (or family) discretion."

Diane's decision, though, was easy: "If a dear friend of yours needs it, I would say, 'Do it.' For one thing, you might end up marrying him!"

While she doesn't consider herself heroic, her actions certainly grant her the following title:

A caring human being.

And if you can't bring yourself to be like Diane now, please at least make one last gift when your time comes.

Paul Keup can be reached at pkeup@htrnews.com or (920) 686-2134.

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