Christian Living

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The bodies that God miraculously gave us are very complex. Regardless of all of the advances in technology, we can't create a substitute for many parts of our bodies.

Doctors are dependent on donations from individuals for items such as blood, organs and tissue to help save lives. Consider the following ways you can donate a portion of yourself to help save and improve the lives of others:

Give your blood.

Every two seconds someone in America needs blood. That comes out to 86,400 people needing blood today just in America. Are you aware that you are saving as many as three lives for each pint of blood that you donate? That is the amount of blood donated in one visit. You will be saving multiple lives by being a blood donor. In addition, your body is designed to remanufacture new blood to replace the amount you donated. You haven't given up anything except a small amount of time. Contact Red Cross at www.givelife.org or 1-800-GIVELIFE (1-800-448-3543) to learn about giving blood and schedule a time to donate.

Give your hair.

There are thousands of financially disadvantaged children who suffer from long-term medical hair loss. Something as simple as wearing a hairpiece can help increase their self-esteem and confidence. If you have long hair, consider donating locks of it to make these needed hairpieces available. This is something children can do as well. Contact Locks of Love at www.locksoflove.org or 1-888-896-1588 to learn about how you can participate.

Give your marrow.

Did you know there are as many as 35,000 children and adults that have life threatening diseases each year who could benefit from a marrow or blood cell transplant? Many of these individuals suffer from leukemia, lymphomas, and other blood cancers. Although being a marrow or blood cell donor is not as quick and simple as donating blood, it is another critically needed way that you can help save lives. Contact the National Marrow Donor Program at www.marrow.org or 1-800-MARROW2 (1-800-627-7692) to learn about how to register as a potential donor.

Give your organs and tissue.

How would you like to continue to save lives even after you die? An average of 17 people die each day from the lack of available organs for transplant. You can help save up to 7 people's lives when you donate your organs and improve up to 50 lives as a tissue donor. We are all going to die someday and what better way to leave this planet than to continue to help others with what we leave behind. Contact the Coalition on Donation at www.shareyourlife.org or 1-804-782-4920 to learn more about organ and tissue donations.

Start saving lives now!

Many people think you have to be a doctor or firefighter to save lives on a regular basis. We need to start thinking differently. You can save lives on a regular basis and it will cost you almost nothing. It takes so little time it can be done during your lunch break. Get started today!

Copyright 2006. To learn more ways to give, sign up for the free Everyday Giving ezine at http://www.everydaygiving.com. Roger Carr is the founder of Everyday Giving. His purpose in life is to help people help others.

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