Charity, Cheaply: Part II: Bodies

Part I.

Part II is my most passionate "Charity, Cheaply" post yet. I'm in the process of polishing up a collection of essays first started back my undergrad days. I love literature on bodies - bodies in pain, suffering bodies, misshapen bodies, culturally subversive bodies, sexual and sexualized bodies, watched bodies, and more. If this sounds at all appealing to you, here is a reading list: Frankenstein, Christina Rossetti's "Goblin Market", anything by Foucault, medical accounts of hermaphrodites from Victorian America, and Queer Latinidad by Juana Rodriguez. The last 3 texts are appropriate for an 18+ audience.

So, with the Body theme...

Donating blood or plasma can actually earn you about $30 at some places. Consider doing it for free, especially if you have type O blood or a rare type of blood. Even if you take several medications, you will probably be considered a suitable candidate for donation. And you'll get a cookie and glass of juice out of it!

Donating bone marrow can save a life. Signing up with the National Marrow Donation Program is a one-time $52 fee. The fee is tax-deductible. Even without the tax deduction, $52 can save a life. Please, consider signing up! Signing up does not obligate you to donate. Because bone marrow matches are sometimes - but not always - made along racial/ethnic lines based on a similar genetic makeup, please especially consider donating if you are a racial or ethnic minority in America. I can't recall the publication, but I read an article two or so years ago highlighting the particular need for African-American donors. (A friend of mine who has an Irish-English ancestry recently matched to a new immigrant from Haiti, so you never know!)

My father donated bone marrow in the 1980s when collection was performed without anesthesia. He reports that the collection pain was tolerable, and the post-collection pain was limited to some aching tenderness on the hip area for a few days. Medicine has since refined collection methods, but the 1-4 days of post-collection aches are expected. I hope that 1-4 days of bone aches won't dissuade you from donating! After all, what is a day of bone aches compared to the life-long heartache of losing a loved one?

I have not yet been blessed by being able to save a life with my bone marrow. If/when I do - and I pray I do! - you can count on an honest assessment of the experience.

*If you are like me - small build and Caucasian - get approval from your physician. The collection process involves several tiny drills into the pelvic bone, and you should review any concerns about osteoporosis with your physician. Asian women - also at-risk for osteoporosis - should do the same.*

Please note that nothing here is to be construed as legal advice. This post does not in any way establish an attorney-client relationship.
Finally, if your religious beliefs do not forbid it, give serious thought to becoming an organ donor. Make these wishes known to loved ones, and be sure to select the organ donor option for your driver's license. Contrary to Law & Order, being an organ donor does not mean you will not be treated for a medical emergency. I grew up in a Boston Emergency Room (parents are in medicine) and currently sue physicians (read: I know about lots of dirty medical practices.) Organ donation is not the equivalent of a Do-Not-Resuscitate order! You may also choose which organs to donate. Personally, I would like every single scrap of me to be put to good use, if possible. Others would prefer to not donate their retinas or some other organ. All of this is perfectly fine!
Please note that nothing here is to be construed as legal advice. This post does not in any way establish an attorney-client relationship.


Picture credit.
Picture credit.