[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 38 (Wednesday, March 10, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E378]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E378]]
                             A GIFT OF LIFE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JOHN SHIMKUS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 10, 1999

  Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an extraordinary 
little girl from my state of Illinois, Megan Dawson. Five-year old 
Megan is a liver recipient. An organ became available for Megan in time 
to give her a chance at what hopefully will be a long and active life. 
But everyone is not as lucky as Megan. Every two hours, one of the more 
than 60,000 Americans now on transplant waiting lists dies for lack of 
an available organ.
  Megan's story should remind all of us that organ donation is the most 
precious gift that one human can give to another. During the first nine 
months of last year in my state, almost 800 residents had life-saving 
transplants of the kidney, liver, pancreas, intestines, lung or heart. 
They all received the gift of life.
  Unfortunately, while the science of transplantation has made dramatic 
gains, the number of organ donors is not keeping pace. As a result, we 
have growing waiting lists. The only way to address this growing crisis 
is to discuss transplantation and organ donation with our families.
  It shouldn't actually be all that hard a subject to bring up, because 
what we are really talking about is the miracle of transplantation--the 
miracle that gives a little girl like Megan a second chance at life. 
The subject for the family discussion is the wonders of modern 
medicine. And since we would hope that the miracle of a new chance at 
life through transplantation would be available to a member of our 
family in a time of need--and it would be, provided an organ becomes 
available--shouldn't we agree as a family to do the right and generous 
thing if the situation is ever reversed. It's really no more than 
that--the application of the old Golden Rule to modern medicine.
  That is why I am proud to have signed on to the First Family Pledge. 
The First Family Pledge is a non-partisan effort sponsored by the 
American Society of Transplant Surgeons. I encourage my colleagues and 
constituents to pay attention to this life-saving initiative. And on 
April 14th, I will be proud to participate in the First Family Pledge 
Congress. At that time, I and many of my colleagues from both sides of 
the aisle will greet young children from across this great nation who 
have received organ and tissue transplants. They are truly living 
examples of what it is to receive the gift of life.

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