Retransplanting?

[Earther]

After a few too many close calls on the road, I've been wondering what will happen to my transplanted kidney should I get into a major accident. I'm still listed as a organ donor on my driver's license.

What can be salvaged from my body when I go? my eyes are shot (cataract surgery), my heart is a no go, my original kidneys are hopeless, My liver might be good as I've not touched alcohol in 30 years. Of course, there's all the drugs I take to keep my body going at might rule out the the possibility of getting anything out of my body.

So what does the community know?

[SoonToBeBald]

Hi Earther!

I'm registered donor as well -- I was talking to my doctor about me donating organs in case of my death. He told me my liver can be transplanted, and possibly my pancreas -- they are both in an excellent state for now. Of course, kidneys (both original and transplanted) and heart are pass, because of the illness and high BP I used to have. He wasn't sure about lungs, and I was surprised why he told me they would not be probably a good material -- I'm playing wind instruments and do sports, so my lungs are quite good.

Anyways, I was told by the doctor that some of my organs will be ok for donation -- hope this info helps.

[Darlenia in reply to SoonToBeBald]

Regarding using lungs, it may be that the pollution we breath affects their quality over time. When I was in high school many years ago, my science teacher harvested deer in urban as well as rural areas and brought in their lungs to compare what pollution had done to them. It was shocking to see the outcomes - rural deer lungs (pinkish), urban deer lungs (blackish). That show-n-tell has stayed with me over the decades. I doubt any area in the US has wonderful air now.

[littlelinda50]

I honestly don't know anything about that but you could leave your body to science so that they can learn more using your body. That is one way you could put your body to good use after you pass away a long long time from now!

[CKD2-4]

Hi. I’m a registered donor and learned that besides the liver, pancreas and lungs a transplanted person can also donate tissue.

[shivermytimbers]

You can always donate your body to medical science. That's what I did.

Students need bodies to practice on. You will be totally anonymous.