From: National Transplant Society:
If you could save up to eight lives...would you?  If you could improve the changing heatlh improvements to as many as 50 people...would you?  You can do exactly that!  More than 7,000 Americans are in need of organs every year...and more than 90,000 are waiting for the Gift of Life on the National Transplant waiting list. 

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In 2009, I live in a little one-horse town of Albuquerque, New Mexico with a population of more than 500,000.  And yes...amazingly...we do have running water here; electricity; and in-door facilities!   (WOW...that's cool!  What a country...what a state!  Where is this state located?)

 For those of you around the world, who may not know where the state of New Mexico is located, I'll try to put it on the map for you.  The state of New Mexico is located in the southwestern part of the United States; our good neighbors to the east is the state of Texas; our good neighbors to the north is the state of Colorado; our good neighbors to the west is the state of Arizona; and our good neighbors to the south is the country of Mexico.

The following (copyrighted) article on becoming a donor, was written by Oliver Uytbrouck, and published by the Albuquerque Journal on August 19, 2009.  The article is entitled; "Becoming Organ Donor Easy With New Website."  The article is as follows: 

"Becoming an organ donor became easier on Tuesday (8-19-09), when the state of New Mexico unveiled a new web-based registration system.  Until now, New Mexican's could only register as an organ donor, when they got a driver's license or a state ID. 

The new system allows people to register by filling out a few lines at the New Mexico Organ and Tissue Donor registry's Website.  'There are hundreds of thousands of people who have not signed up, and we'd like to get every one of them on board,' said Rick Homans, secretary of Taxation and Revenue...the agency Motor Vehicle Division oversees the registry. 

A computerized database, associated with the website will help medical personnel identify someone as a registered organ donor in the crucial moments after a tragic accident, Homan said.

Organs that can be transplanted are the heart; kidneys; pancreas; lung; liver; and intestines.  Tissues include the eye or cornea; heart valves; tendons; bone; skin and veins.  The website also allows donors to specify any organs or tissues they want to exclude from donation.

Governor Bill Richardson on Tuesday (8/18/09), was the first to register on the new website during a news conference in the Capital Rotunda.  The state of New Mexico, paid for the site with $115,000 grant from the federal Department of Health and Human Services.  (Access to the new site; www.nmdonor.org)

'New Mexico's registry now lists about 877,000, or about 50% of eligible donors,' said Maria Sanders,spokeswoman for the New Mexico Donor Services, a non-profit group that oversees the state's organ donor program.  The online system will also make it easier to recruit potential donors, Sanders said.  For example: Donor Services plans to set up booths at Expo New Mexico, and other public events, and encourage people to register on the spot.

END OF ARTICLE;

People who live in other states, can check with their Motor Vehicle Department, etc. 

As I said previously, I respect everyone to do with their body as they see fit.  But for me, it's a feel, good, feeling to know that my body will be put to good use, after my death.  I encourage everyone to become an organ donor...the Gift of Life! 

Generosity...a feel good feeling for sure! 

NOTE: After registering with the Donate Life New Mexico, I received the following receipt by email;

"Dear Jerry Aragon;
Thank you for signing up with the Donate New Mexico Registry.  Under the Jonathan Spralding Uniform Anatomical Act of New Mexico, you have now guaranteed that your wish to be an organ/tissue donation will be honored.  By exercising your power to donate life, you are helping thousands of people in need of organ and tissue transplants."

Donate Life New Mexico Registry

UPDATE:  (Februray 1, 2010)
A brief articles appeared in the Albuquerque Journal on February 1, 2010 and it reads as follows:

Organs donated by New Mexicans made possible 151 life-saving transplants in 2009.  Up 30 percent from the previous year, New Mexico Donor Services reported.

In all, 51 New Mexicans donated organs in 2009, New Mexico chalked up 234 eye donations and 182 tissue donations, which are used for cornea, bone, tendon, skin and heart valve transplants. 

New Mexicans who signed up as organ and tissue donors, increased 21 percent in 2009, the non-profit group reported.  To register as an organ or tissue donor, visit www. DonateLifeNM.org or call 505-843-7672

Article title:  We're All Going to Die Sooner or Later (Graceful Exit) 
http://www.authorsden.com/visit/viewarticle.asp?id=42406

THANKS TO EVERYONE!
(Celebrating 3 years in writing)  Since the middle of 2008, the traffic to my writing site has quadrupled...and I appreciate everyone who has taken the time to visit and to read my articles.  The reader, therefore, is the most important person in all this publishing process! 

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