Recently, a reader asked if I could spread the word regarding Latino organ donation.  Her sister-in-law, Dolores, is suffering from a lung disease called pulmonary fibrosis.  It is a serious disease that causes progressive scarring of lung tissue.  Other symptoms include:

• Shortness of breath

• Dry, persistent cough

• Fatigue

• Weight loss

Pulmonary fibrosis can be caused by:

• Genetic factors

• Exposure to tobacco smoke

• Occupational and environmental factors,

• Scarring from pneumonia

• Radiation

• Lung infections

• Medications

In this case, Dolores inherited the disease from her mother, who unfortunately passed away several years ago.  The treatments for the disease include medications and therapy to improve lung function.  Lung transplants are also needed in many cases.  She is in desperate need of a lung transplant as her lungs are deteriorating rapidly.  However, she is unable to find a donor.  Apparently, Latino women carry an enzyme that develops during pregnancy.  As a result, Dolores would need a lung from another Latino woman.

This brings about the important subject of organ donation.  Organ donations amongst the Latino community are often few and far between.  18 people die each day waiting for an organ.  The organ donation waitlist in California consists of 20,000 people in which over one-third are Latino.

It is of extreme importance that we spread the word regarding this very important subject.  We must come together as a community and donate blood, raise awareness regarding this enzyme and the need for organ donation . Without a new lung, Dolores may not triumph through this illness.

Our culture seems to consider organ donation taboo.  It is our people’s belief that open casket viewing would not be available following organ donation which is completely untrue.  Many families feel they are violating or dishonoring the dead.  They feel that it is religiously wrong, which is incorrect because several popes have come out to support organ donation.  There is nothing religiously wrong with allowing it.

In my opinion, organ donation is a great thing.  Why not allow your heart, lungs or kidneys to go on working after you are gone? This way, a part of you is still living and helping someone else live a full life.  My family is fully aware of my wish to donate my organs.  I often donate blood in the hopes of saving someone.  God blessed me with healthy body parts in hopes that I could somehow help another living human being.  My thought is, if I’m no longer using something, why not recycle? I recycle paper, plastic, and aluminum and eventually hope to recycle myself.

Let’s come together as a culture and educate ourselves regarding blood and organ donation.  Latinos should learn more about the diseases which affect our people.  What can we do to help one another? We can learn, guide, teach, and donate.  Eventually, lives will be saved and our children will be aware of the ailments affecting our people.

Please take the time to visit the website for pulmonary fibrosis: www.pulmonaryfibrosis.org.  Also, visit the US Dept. of Health & Human Service’s website on organ donation: organdonor.gov.

This story is dedicated to Dolores and her family that they may find peace and healing and that her story will make a difference.

“Death…the last sleep? No the final awakening” Walter Scott

Author: Rhonda Gutierrez