Real ways to help
I want to do something that matters.
Maybe it is late and you are wondering what your life is adding up to. That feeling is worth listening to. You do not have to fix everything tonight. Here are real ways to help save a life, starting with things you can do in the next two minutes.
Tonight, in two minutes
- Pray for someone by name. John Watkins is a dad in Tulsa waiting for a kidney. His free prayer app gives you a short prayer and lets him know someone prayed. It matters to him more than you would think.
- Register as an organ donor. It takes about a minute at RegisterMe.org. One donor can save up to eight lives.
- Tell one person you love them, or that you are a registered donor, so your family knows your wishes.
This week
- Give blood. One donation can help several patients. Find a drive at RedCrossBlood.org.
- Share a story. Most living donors find out about a patient because someone shared a post. Sharing John's story takes ten seconds and might reach the one person who can help.
- Show up for someone. A meal, a ride or a visit to a person going through something hard.
If you want to go further
Some people feel called to do something bigger, like becoming a living kidney donor. More than 90,000 people in the U.S. are waiting for a kidney, and a living donor can give one of them years of life. Start by reading, not deciding:
- Who can donate a kidney?
- Is donating a kidney safe? The honest risks
- Can I donate a kidney to a stranger?
A word about big decisions
The best gifts come from a settled heart, not from guilt or a hard night. Transplant centers actually check for this, because they want donors who are choosing freely. So rest. Talk with people you trust. If the pull is still there in the daylight, take one small next step. You are not too late, and you do not have to earn your worth. Doing one good thing today is enough.
Common questions
How can I help save a life today?
Register as an organ donor at RegisterMe.org, give blood, pray for and share the story of someone waiting for a transplant, or learn about becoming a living donor.
How many lives can one organ donor save?
One deceased organ donor can save up to eight lives, and tissue donation can help many more.
How do I become a living kidney donor?
Call a transplant center and ask for the living donor coordinator. Screening is free and private, and you can stop at any step.
One man in Tulsa is waiting right now.
John Watkins is a dad, a husband and an assistant principal who needs a kidney. Anyone in the U.S. can start the free, private screening for him. You can stop at any step.
Start the screening for JohnKeep reading