Okay, everyday on the way home from work I drive past this billboard which is placed in probably the worst spot for a billboard to be (like there’s a good spot for billboards other than a landfill, but you know what I mean). Its only visible for a microsecond as you driveby, and even though I’ve taken a speed reading course, I can’t make out the whole thing, and what I can make out leaves me scratching my head.
The bulk of the billboard is taken up by a picture of cute girl holding a puppy and gazing lovingly into its eyes. Below her elbow are the words: Katie’s 14. She needs new lungs. Help her to see 15.
That’s all I can make out before the billboard’s obscured by trees.
Now, I ask you, WTF am I supposed to do about this? Lungs ain’t like kidneys or bone marrow that the donor can afford to give 'em up while he/she’s still alive. If you’ve got someone else’s lungs, its because they didn’t need them any more! So, am I supposed to go out and find someone with the same blood type as Katie and whack 'em so that she can have a new set of lungs? (She can’t have mine, I’m a smoker, so they’re probably pretty nasty and not much better than what she’s got now.)
I’m not trying to be insensative to Katie’s plight. No one under the age of 18 should have to spend their life wondering if they’re going to wake up tomorrow or not, but if these people are really concerned about Katie and finding her a new set of lungs, shouldn’t they put the billboard up where its more visible to passing cars?
I mean, unless I look for the damn thing, I don’t even notice that its there! How good can that thing be?
It’s not to get people to sign-up, it’s to get them to plaster themselves along side the road while trying to read the board … so they can be harvested.
Yep, it’s those evil aliens at it again. I can’t say much since they visited me after I posted that question about if aliens visit us here on Earth from other planets.
As to the placement… Billboard companies will often donate billboard space to non-profits… but THEY get to choose the locations. So the PSA’s often end up in the worst locations (such as your poor girl with the 14 year old puppy that needs new lungs )
Hello. As someone who is currently listed as a candidate for lung transplant surgery, i feel i can comment on this with some small amount of authority. To take your second point from what i quoted first, you’re not entirely correct. There is such a thing as living lobar donation. The lungs are partitioned into lobes, and one of these can be safely (within tolerable limits) donated to a recipient. Two such donors must be lined up for a successful transplant to go forward. It’s more risky than cadaveric donation (lungs taken from a cadaver) for not only the recipient, but the living donors as well. (general surgery always has risks)
Now, to the first part… what can you do? You can sign your donor card. You can tell your family (if you so choose) that you want to donate your organs after you die. You can tell people that you saw this billboard, so that it gets into their mind, and perhaps they’ll decide they’ll donate. I won’t bother to talk about how many people die waiting for the beeper to go off. And about your own lungs? You’ll understand soon enough. Or you won’t.
Well, I stand corrected and puzzled. Reemul, I haven’t heard of the proceedure you describe, but I’ll take your word for it. (I’ve signed my organ donation card and donate money to the cause at the DMV.)
I’m puzzled, because when I drove by the billboard on Friday, the name of the girl had changed, but the picture hadn’t! I’m guessing its some kind of generic photo and they just slap a new name on there periodically, or something like that.
Live lobar transplants aren’t common, so word about them are few and far between. I unfortunately don’t really have any decent links going over the procedure, in case you or anyone else reading were truly interested. Most online references are anecdotal, or simply reference the surgery. A good site might be here.
I’m going to beat this drum a little more, sign those donor cards if you want to donate… but ALSO tell your family and next of kin about your decision. It’s easy to have these kinds of things fall through the cracks when emotions are high. Even if you sign, your family can refuse to allow donation if they chose… and they may not if they don’t know for certain that’s your wish. Talking about these things is hard, no one wants to discuss their body being sliced and diced! But the benefits to others in need is enormous. Wow. My transplant coordinator would be proud.
ok. i’m done.
Exactly what I was thinking. There’s a reason why that billboard is in a spot that is so hard to read. There’s probably another one a few miles away with a kid on it needing a new heart. Don’t even worry about the fine print. Be careful out there.
)
But the benefits to others in need is enormous. Wow. My transplant coordinator would be proud.