Between organ removals and transplants - I can only imagine the doc that got to open up my mom (we donated her body to science). She was missing her gall bladder, a bunch of intestine, had the remaining intestine tacked to unusual places to keep it from herniating, and then she had 4 kidneys. And that is just what I can remember off the top of my head. I'm not trying to be morbid - it makes me smile to think of the reaction of whoever checked out her insides.

IIRC, I am donated to science!

...I think maybe Science didn't get that "post-mortem" memo...

I should get on that.

That poor kitty. If kitty was post-surgery, wouldn't kitty be inside? But maybe s/he's terminal and happier outside, on pain meds? I don't even know.

That would totally be a "come look at this!" moment in cadaver lab.

The only human dissection we did hands-on was brains (braaaains), and my group's brain's owner had pretty clearly had some significant dementia (massive cerebral ventricals, as the brain had shrunk, and some structures were basically unfindable). It was really weird/cool to see it physically manifested.

IIRC, I am donated to science!

...I think maybe Science didn't get that "post-mortem" memo...

Are you sure you didn't check the "Installment Plan" box?

(we donated her body to science)

I think that's a wonderful thing to do. There are so many things we can learn and use to help other people in the future have better lives.

My Dad was quite against organ donation (and, assumedly donation to science) and I only learned about it once it wasn't really worth asking and talking about. But I wished we'd been able to discuss it so I understood why since I don't believe it was any religious belief on his part.

He certainly was someone who benefited from medical science and research. Even if we lost him to brain cancer, he lived a better life through treated leukemia and all of the technology that went into his back surgeries.

I expect that he'd been able to help more people live better lives.

I know I am marked for organ donation and have been clear with my family that I want this to happen but I should also look into body donation. I have no religious problems with it and I would like people to live better, easier lives if I can help in some way.

Are you sure you didn't check the "Installment Plan" box?

HA!

As an organ donor recipient, Mom was very supportive of the various donation programs. While we hadn't ever specifically talked about donating her to science before she died, I am confident she would have approved.

I investigated body donation after reading the book "Stiff." Hubby sounded intrigued, and I have to admit that I was relieved to have a clear plan in place when/if I need it. Apparently there's not a lot of paperwork involved, a surviving spouse can apparently say "donate", at least in Utah. That's one of those married person benefits people don't think about, isn't it?

t waves

Hi everyone ... I need a spot of advice. One of my girls in my scout troop - her mom is also one of my co-leaders and is just awesome and we went to high school together - lost her dad this morning in a freak car accident. He was a super nice guy, really involved with Z and despite being divorced from J, they had a really fantastic relationship and he was just awesome. Z is a gorgeous, funny, kindhearted girl. She's been in Em's class the past tw years and is hopefully going to the charter with Em next year.

We want to do something for them, but we have no idea what. Well, we don't know what to do in the short term. In the long term, we're going to start petioning the county to put a guardrail there, but that's a long time out.

What should we do in the meantime? I want the other girls in my troop to do something for Z, but I don't know what.

Any advice/suggestions?

Food is traditional. Maybe organize a few weeks worth from the troupe? Extra help with errands or babysitting, since even divorced that's one less parent?