There are a number of ways of ensuring your wishes are taken into consideration:

• Discuss your decision with a family member. This is vitally important. The medical team will require their help in the donation process in the event of your death. Understanding your reasons for wanting to donate will help them to carry out your wishes at a very difficult time. The relatives of organ donors often talk of finding great strength from this process as it means that other lives are saved
• Put your name on the NHS Organ Donor Register. This makes it easier for the NHS to establish your wishes as quickly as possible
• Carry a donor card. The donor card was introduced in 1971 at a time when only kidneys could be donated. It’s still a valid method but if you’re not carrying one in the event of your death there’s a risk that your wishes won’t be carried out.

The NHS Organ Donor Register was introduced in 1994. It’s a confidential, computerised database that currently holds the names of nearly 16 million people who have decided to donate their tissue, organs or both. The register is used to check if, and what, a person wanted to donate.

Donor cards are still used but, because they can be lost or stolen, the NHS Organ Donor Register is the best way of ensuring your wishes are permanently recorded. The process of registration is very quick and easy. It allows you to specify precisely what you wish to donate. If at any point after registering you change your mind, you can log back in to amend your record. Click here to register today.

After death, you can donate the following organs:

• Kidneys
• Heart
• Liver
• Lungs
• Pancreas
• Small bowel

It’s also possible to donate tissue, such as corneas, skin, bone, tendons, cartilage and heart valves. A cornea transplant can restore someone’s sight, a bone transplant can prevent limb amputation in bone cancer patients and skin grafts can treat people for severe burns.

If you’ve been turned down to give blood you may still be eligible to donate and having an existing medical condition doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t be an organ donor. Healthcare professionals will make the decision based on your individual medical history.

There’s no minimum age to join the register and parents can register their children at the time of their birth.

Living donation

A shortage of organs has led to an increasing number of living donors. The most common organ donated by living donors is the kidney, since it’s possible to live a perfectly healthy life with just one functioning kidney. Transplants are more likely to be successful if the donor is alive and healthy.

Part of a liver can also be transplanted, as can a segment of a lung. There have been a very small number of cases of the small bowel (small intestine) being transplanted.

The Human Tissue Authority (HTA) carefully monitors living donor transplants. It regulates donations from living people of solid organs, bone marrow and stem cells. The Human Tissue Act 2004 requires the HTA to approve all transplants from living donors, whether they’re relatives or not. The HTA works closely with the Organ Donation Directorate of NHS Blood and Transplant to do this.

Source: The NHSSimilar Posts:

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Your guide to creating a great eulogy even if you don’t know where to start and you hate public speaking; and there’s even a 30 minute option in case you’re really pushed for time)

By Kevin Burch BSc MSc PGCE MPNLP. Here’s what he has to say ….

“You like me, have lost someone special, with all that means for you, and all the feelings it brings, and you naturally want to deliver a funeral speech – a eulogy – which honors that person’s memory in the right way.

Right now that may seem a daunting task, and yet please know that giving this eulogy can be one of the most rewarding things you have ever done in your life. And, with the right guidance, it can also be simple.

How do I know? Because I have been in your shoes. I have sat in your place, and I know how you’re feeling.

Not only have you lost a loved one, but now you’re sitting here, the clock is ticking and you have yet more things you need to do at this difficult time.”

Click here to find out more

Too many cats and dogs are left homeless after their owners pass away. Now you can ensure they’re properly looked after should anything happen.

Click here to find out more or take a look at the questions which are frequently asked about Home for Life:

Q  What happens when I die – how does the RSPCA find out?
Once you use our Home for Life service you should let your friends, family or neighbours know that you want the RSPCA to take in your animals in the event of your death. We also provide a wallet card, which can be kept with you at all times – it has a telephone number to call.

Q  What happens when I die – what is the procedure?
As soon as we are informed that someone who has used Home for Life has died, our Legacy administration department will get in touch with your regional RSPCA office, who will collect your pet or pets as a matter of urgency. The animals will be taken to the nearest RSPCA Animal Centre, or other suitable accommodation, while we set about doing all we can to find them a loving new home. In addition, every animal coming into our care gets a health check. For most pets that includes vaccination, neutering and microchipping.

Q  Can you rehome my animals together?
If you want your animals to be re-homed together, you should mention this in your Will. Although we cannot guarantee that this will be possible, we will do everything we can to honour your wishes. In every event, we will do what we feel is best for your pets. If trying to find a new owner for more than one animal together involved them spending longer than necessary in an Animal Centre, we would need to review the situation.

Q  Do you vet new owners?
Usually, before anyone can adopt an animal from the RSPCA, we interview them. This way, there are no impulsive decisions and the RSPCA is certain the animal is going to the right home. In addition, a home visit may be required, and this is often followed up with a post-adoption check.

Q  Are there any animals you won’t take (i.e. not just cats and dogs)?
The RSPCA is the largest animal welfare charity in the UK, and has facilities to take on most animals. Although spaces for larger animals such as horses may be limited, we do have some facilities for them. The only types of animal the RSPCA may have difficulty rehoming are fish or exotic animals. If you are thinking of using Home for Life for fish, exotic or large animals, please call Jo Curtis to discuss on 0300 123 0239.

Q  What happens if my family offer to take the pet?
The RSPCA’s Home for Life service is to be used in the event that you have not made alternative provisions for your animal’s care, so if a family member or friend has offered to look after your animal that’s fine.

Q  I have included this in my Will but not used your wording. Is that okay?
As long as your wishes are clearly stated in your Will and you have included our charity name and registered charity number this should not be a problem.Similar Posts:

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When chosen carefully floral tributes can say more than words but often it is difficult to know what to send. Here’s a quick guide to help you.

• Close family usually select the Coffin Spray or a Name Tribute so unless you are very close to the deceased leave these alone
• Sometime the family will request a certain colour theme, if possible you should respect this request
• If there are no colour restrictions try to choose colours which reflect either the deceased or yourself
• Don’t worry about the meaning of certain flowers, just choose those you like or those you think the deceased would have liked
• There are lots of funeral flowers available at florists, ranging from simple sheaths, wreaths of all sizes, names spelt out, heart shapes, ball shapes, the list goes on
• Bear in mind that florists may have to substitute certain flowers in funeral wreaths depending on the time of the year.

To order funeral flowers online have a look at the following:

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Now you can, instantly – soothe your soul with this unique collection of over 250 of the world’s best sympathy poems, quotations and readings.

Don’t lose valuable time searching for the perfect poem or reading – we’ve already done all the hard work, to save you the trouble. Look no further. You’ve just found the most comprehensive and thoughtful collection of sympathy poems, quotes and readings available today.

You may well have been called upon to write a eulogy or speak at a funeral at very short notice, leaving little time to find a suitable poem or reading. This user-friendly book is supplied via instant download, giving you quick access to all the resources you need and helping to reduce stress.

Whoever you have lost, this carefully crafted collection of poems and readings will help you find the words to express your sorrow, pay tribute to your loved one and do justice to a life lived. You need never be lost for words again.

Click here for over 250 of the world’s best sympathy poems.

Wouldn’t that be a shame?

And yet all too often, with a funeral, this is exactly the kind of thing that happens. And people sometimes regret it for years to come. “I wish I’d stood up and said something,” they say.

Of course, in a way it’s perfectly understandable. The time between a person’s passing and the funeral is naturally a sad and emotional one for those left behind. And because many people are at first daunted by the idea of delivering a eulogy, it’s all too easy to leave it to someone else.

And yet the reality is that it doesn’t have to be that way. As well as being a great honor, and an opportunity to do something good for everyone who will be there, giving the eulogy is almost guaranteed to be a positive and moving experience for the person who steps up for the task. And, with the right approach and support, it can actually be pretty straightforward. In all my years of experience, I have never met anyone who regretted giving a eulogy.

So if you’re at all considering it, take heart, be bold, and go ahead.

And here are the six steps you can follow to make the process easier and even more rewarding for you, for all your own special reasons.

Step 1 – Take A Moment for Yourself

At a time like this, it pays to take a little time for yourself, so you can reflect for a while and connect with your memories of this special person. Remind yourself of the very good reasons you are doing this, and also bear in mind the truth, which is that people who hear your speech will be extremely supportive, and will actually be grateful to you for doing it.

Step 2 – Decide What Kind of Eulogy

There are two kinds of eulogy – the short biography, and the personal view. You simply need to choose the right one for you.

The short biography considers someone’s life as a whole. That doesn’t mean it covers everything, rather that you start at the beginning – when and where they were born, etc. – and mention the various parts of their life, up until their last days. This way you touch on the different aspects of their life, plus it can also be a very personal approach, especially when you include happy stories and memories.

The personal view is more like a slice of the person’s life, a series of snapshots. It can be purely your own experiences, stories and impressions of their character, or you can include other people’s memories too. This is very poignant, especially if you write as if you are talking directly to the person who has gone, e.g. “I’ll always remember the time when you…”

Some funerals have both kinds of eulogy – a short biography from a family member, plus a personal view from a colleague or friend, for example.

Step 3 – Collect Your Building Blocks

What if you could imagine floating up in a balloon, and looking down on someone’s life as a sequence of photographs laid out below you?

This step is simply collecting those photos. You can rely on your own memories and knowledge, or ask others for their input. You might ask about their most precious memories, or things they remember that really show the person’s character. And you can also gather facts on the person’s childhood, family, career, pastimes, passions, dreams, best ever holidays, etc.

Bear in mind that humor is a good thing. Yes, funerals are sad, but this person also had happy and funny times in their life, and telling stories of these can be a great way to really bring their memory to life. And you’ll be giving people the healing gift of laughter.

Step 4 – Bring Your Building Blocks Together

Every eulogy has an opening, a middle and a closing.

For the opening you might simply welcome people and acknowledge the sadness of the day. For the closing you can sum up the person’s character, say how much they’ll be missed, thank those who have helped, and perhaps invite people back somewhere.

As for the middle, that’s where your building blocks come in. If you want to keep your speech to about five minutes, you may need to discard some of them – trust your own best judgement on this.

Step 5 – Rehearse and Refine

Once you’ve drafted out your speech, read it aloud a few times, because this way you’ll naturally notice improvements you can make.

You can also borrow a wonderful technique which Olympic athletes use to calm their nerves. What they do is, they make a movie of themselves running the race, with everything going well (see yourself giving the eulogy, with everything going well). And once they’re happy with the movie, they step inside and run it again, looking out through their own eyes, hearing through their own ears, and feeling how good it feels to have everything going well like this.

Muhammad Ali did this many times for every boxing match he ever had, which is one reason his predictions so often came true. And you can use the same approach to make sure you deliver this eulogy really well too.

Step 6 – Delivering the Eulogy

This is a time to make things easy for yourself. If you can, find out beforehand about the room layout, the lectern, the microphone, how many people will be there, etc. The more you know the more confident you will feel. Also, if you had any concern about being too emotional, ask someone to stand by as your back-up person for reading the eulogy, as this will again boost your confidence.

Then, for the day, print the eulogy out double spaced so that it’s easy for you to keep your place, take two copies of it just in case, and carry a small bottle of water so you can keep your mouth moist before and during your speech.

When you follow these six simple steps, you will be doing a great service in three ways:

1. To the special person who has gone, by honoring their memory

2. To the people who hear you, by giving them the gifts of sharing, of fondly remembering, and of healing

3. To yourself, by giving yourself the chance to do something special, to heal yourself at an even deeper level, and to know you have made a difference

And as you look at it like this, I wonder how easily you can now see what a wonderful thing it is to take the next steps, to give the eulogy, to share the memories and stories, and to bring some love and laughter at a time of sorrow and loss.

*****************************************
Kevin Burch BSc MSc PGCE MPNLP is a Professional Funeral Presider and author of the eulogy guide ‘A Eulogy to Remember – How to give a great eulogy in six simple steps’, which presents a simple, six-step process for successfully delivering a eulogy and includes example eulogies, appropriate poems and quotes, and even some 30-minute fill-in-the-blanks templates which you can use if you are really short of time.

You can download Section One of ‘A Eulogy to Remember’ for free – and the complete guide at a discount – by clicking here.

© Empowering Publications, 2006Similar Posts:

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The building of the Breakthrough Research Centre was the result of a partnership between Breakthrough and the Institute of Cancer Research. It was made possible by the £15 million raised by the tireless work of individuals, many with direct experience of the disease, and the support of companies and trusts.

M-J Mitchell GreenThroughout, the generosity of Peter Green and his family has been instrumental in achieving this vision and the Breakthrough Research Centre is housed in the Mary-Jean Mitchell Green Building, dedicated to the memory of his late wife who died of the disease.

Fuelled by the determination of our supporters, the Breakthrough Research Centre was ready for business in only eight years. With Professor Alan Ashworth appointed as Director, the Centre was opened in 1999 by Breakthrough’s Patron, HRH The Prince of Wales.

Currently, seven teams work side by side on a coordinated research programme, unravelling the causes and mechanisms of this disease. Benefiting from links with other researchers and clinicians at the Institute of Cancer Research and the Royal Marsden Hospital, scientists at the Centre are at the hub of the largest cancer facility in Europe.

In addition to the Breakthrough Research Centre, Breakthrough has made some impressive progress in campaigning for better breast cancer services.

In November 2003, Breakthrough’s Campaigns & Advocacy Network was formed when the UK Breast Cancer Coalition (UKBCC) merged with Breakthrough Breast Cancer.

The UKBCC had a long history of successful campaigning and breast cancer advocacy work. It was founded in 1995 by women with personal experience of breast cancer. These women believed that the standard of care and treatment for breast cancer shouldn’t depend on where you live in the country. In the years since 1995, the UKBCC and its members – individuals and organisations committed to improving all aspects of breast cancer treatments, services and research – campaigned at a local and national level to achieve their goals. This campaigning took the form of lobbying and working in partnership with everyone from MPs and Government Ministers, to NHS Managers and GPs.

In 2003, the UKBCC won the Communiqué Patient Association of the Year Award in recognition of the success of its work. A unique element of the UKBCC was that it combined campaigning with providing members with tailored information and training events and materials to develop their campaigning and advocacy skills. Thus they also created a network of motivated, skilled and informed breast cancer advocates able to campaign on the issues they felt were most important and improve breast cancer services where they live.

Source: Breakthrough Breast CancerSimilar Posts:

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It is awful when someone you love goes through the unbearable pain of bereavement. You feel distraught and completely unable to help. You can’t take away the grief, but there are many things you can do to make everyday life more bearable. And no-one knows better what those things might be than people who have been bereaved themselves.

This guide explains how it feels, and also passes on the advice of many other people who have been bereaved. These people know exactly what helped them most (and what was well-meant but not helpful) at the time, and in the months, weeks and years afterwards.

This ebook is full of little ways – and big ways – you can help someone you care about cope that little bit better.

It is suitable for English speakers all over the world whether you are in the US, Canada, the UK, Australia, South Africa, it is packed with reassuring suggestions for how to help a friend or loved one who has lost someone dear to them without getting in the way

We have personally reviewed this eBook and found it to be a wonderful, insightful account of bereavement. Anyone who has ever lost a loved one will identify with everything written here; from the practical help needed to make the process as painless as possible to the emotional support often needed but rarely asked for. If you know someone who has lost someone click here to find out if there is anything YOU can do.

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If you wish to have your cemetery or crematorium added to this page send your details via the Contact Us link at the bottom of the pageSimilar Posts:

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Living wills can include general statements about your wishes, which aren’t legally binding, and specific refusals of treatment called ‘advanced decisions’ or ‘advance directives’.

A general written statement (sometimes called an ‘advance statement’) can set out which treatments you feel you would or wouldn’t like to receive should you lose mental capacity in the future. Advance statements aren’t legally binding, but health professionals do have to take them into account when deciding on a course of action. Family and friends can also use them as evidence of your wishes.

You could also make your views known verbally, for example, when discussing treatment with a health care professional, but having it written down may make things clearer for everyone.

Your statement could include:

• treatment you would be happy to have, and in what circumstances
• treatment you would want, no matter how ill you are
• treatment you would prefer not to have, and in what circumstances
• someone you would like to be consulted about your treatment at the time a decision needs to be made
• it can also include a specific refusal of treatment, which has a different legal status
• if writing an advance statement, bear in mind that new drugs or treatments may be introduced in the future. So you could, for example, state that you would prefer not to receive certain current treatments but would allow for new treatments
• include your name, address, date and signature
• it’s also advisable to say you understand what you’re doing and are capable of making such decisions
• get the statement signed by a witness who can say that you had capacity at the time

You can still make a living will if you’re diagnosed with a mental illness, as long as you can show that you understand the implications of what you’re doing. You need to be competent to make the decision in question, not necessarily to make other decisions.

It’s best to put your wishes in writing and explain:

• why you’ve made your decision about how you do or don’t want to be treated
• what you understand about the treatment you’re agreeing to or refusing
• why you’re making these decisions now

It’s important that your living will is entered into your medical notes so that in an emergency it is found and acted upon. Consider sending a copy to your doctor and to any hospital which is treating you and to your nearest relatives. If your living will is verbal, make sure close relatives or friends are aware.

Consider reviewing your living will on a regular basis to make sure you’re happy with it and particularly if your situation changes.

You can change or cancel it if you are able to think rationally and clearly explain what you want to happen. Ideally, put things in writing and destroy old versions.

You can get help from solicitors specialising in mental health or community care. The Mind Legal Advice line (020 8519 2122, 2.00 pm to 4.30 pm, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays), your care co-ordinator, doctor or Citizens Advice Bureau can also help.

Source: Directgov – public services all in one place

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