With roughly 8,486 people across the State waiting on an organ transplant, as reported, some will die before they receive one. In recognition of Organ Donor Enrollment Day in New York State on Oct. 7, we asked some residents if they were organ donors, and if not, if they would consider becoming donors.

 

“I am an organ donor. I’ve been an organ donor for over 14 years now. I think if we can give the last gift of life, that’s the greatest gift to give. I think we should follow Spain’s direction where they actually have opt-out donors. You’re automatically registered as a donor and if you wish to opt out, you have that choice. I think they should do that because many people don’t want to face the fact that they will be dead, and that’s why they don’t think about donating their organs. I think that using animals for transplants… I’m not for that. I think it’s unfair, because we have so many humans who are dying without donating their organs and raising animals to be transplants, I think that’s animal cruelty.”

Roxanne Delgado,

Pelham Parkway

 

“I don’t have a driver’s license, but I am an organ donor. I’m not going to say that I have big thoughts on it, because I don’t know too much about it. But, I will look into it. If I had to say anything, it would be that if it’s going to help the community and society and help people as a whole, then I’m all for it. If it’s going to save countless lives, if it can save 9,000 lives in New York State today, then come on, let’s do it! We’re wasting a lot of time doing exactly nothing, so we might as well try something that we’ve never done before.”

Cedrick Dennis,

Fordham

 

“My thoughts on organ transplants is if a person can live, then why not? If a religion tells you not to donate an organ, then that’s the devil involved. People need to live. Yes, I would give an organ, but I’m 60 years old and I don’t know how good they are, but I’m willing to give to save a person’s life, of course. I had heard about a pig’s kidney being transplanted into a human. Technology is always advancing and we should go with it.”

Glenn Daniels,

Morrisania

 

“I am a proud organ donor. Many years ago, I listed myself as an organ donor, so that when my time comes to leave this plain, the many blessings this body has brought me may extend to a fellow human being. In making that decision, I struggled with a natural inclination to keep my mortal remains intact. I’d also just begun exploring my Jewish heritage and knew of the debate around organ donation in Judaism. Although I am not Orthodox, it gave me pause. In the end, I sided with saving or extending a life as the highest mandate and the purest expression of solidarity. We come to this world, after all, to make it a better place.”

Walter Krochmal

Morris Park

 

“Last year, nearly 40,000 lives were saved in the United States by organ donations. These donations are a precious gift from the dead to the living. Nobody wants to think about organ donation, of course, any more than most people look forward to preparing a will, but the benefits are enormous. I would encourage anyone considering organ donation to learn more and sign up.”

Patrick Rhéaume,

Ft. Greene, Brooklyn