Understanding Organ Donation and Donating One’s Body to Science

This is the “harvesting” of the deceased’s organs so as to use them in a living human to correct medical conditions and improve that person’s life. Sometimes living organs, such as kidneys or lungs can be taken and made available to someone in need. Though, typically corneas, bone, ligaments, heart valves and/or skin may be “harvested” or donated. There is no cost to donate one’s organs and usually this is done immediately after death and typically at the hospital or a predetermined location such as at the Donor Alliance or at the Lions’ Eye Bank – both in Denver. Here is an informative link on organ donations, provided by the Federal Government:

If you are donating a body to science, there will be no body present for a funeral. A family can choose to have a memorial service or celebration soon after death or wait until the remains are returned to the family. If burial of cremated remains is part of the plan, then one must wait for the return of the remains at a later date. Most donation programs and national companies, that accept human cadavers, won’t help with any of the other funeral service details, such as services, newspapers, certified copies of death certificates and/or merchandise. It sometimes gets confusing when a grieving family then tries to figure out what to do next when there is no funeral service provider involved. At that point, the family can hire a funeral home to help, if needed.

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