"Even an asshole can save a life."
The video, from Donate Life America, begins by telling the story of Coleman Sweeney, an absolute jerk who spent his life treating everyone — including animals — in awful ways. From giving kids cigarettes to shooting dogs with a paintball gun, he just wasn’t a pleasant human.
Then he suddenly died. But it turns out that as awful as this character was, he was also an organ donor. And his organs ultimately saved and improved the lives of several people, including some of those Sweeney had harassed and tortured throughout his life.
This isn’t far-fetched. LiveOnNY explains: "One organ donor can save up to eight lives. The same donor can also save or improve the lives of up to 50 people by donating tissues and eyes." And donations are still desperately needed: "More than 120,000 people in the United States are waiting for organ transplants. [Solid Organs: Hearts, kidneys, pancreases, lungs, livers and intestines]."
But even though, according to federal statistics, 95 percent of Americans support organ donation, only about 50 percent of people nationwide register to be an organ donor.
Donate Life America’s video seeks to help close that gap. So if you want to register, go to RegisterMe.org and sign up.
