Introduction
a) Attention getter
As you are sitting here today listening to my speech, one person has been put on the waiting list for a donor transplant in the U.S. Every 11 minutes a new name appears in the long queue of expectants of a second chance for life. Approximately seventy five of them will receive their transplant today, while for the other 20 it will already be too late...
b) Defining the mood and reaching to the audience
It is hard to imagine the feelings of a person, who spends every minute, every second of his or her life waiting for the new beginning, for a call, which would change and give life. There are 110,296 people like this in America, and who knows how many may be all over the world. They are not just units on the list, not statistical data, but parents and children, friends and neighbours, one day it may even be you. I want each and every one in this room to take it personal, because life gives no guarantees and none of us, our friends or families is secure against diseases and accidents. Maybe once we will have to join thousands of others on this long waiting list, dreading that tomorrow may never come.
Main body
a) Argument 1: Why we should donate organs
1) Save lives
Deciding to donate an organ may sounds like a very difficult choice, however knowing that you can save 10 other lives, you can relieve them from the horrors of their illness, makes it so much simpler to do the right thing. It is obviously hard to think today about the time when we die, however this moment will surely come some day. Just try to imagine, how much easier would it be to leave, knowing that with your death, 10 more lives will start. If every one of us adopts this thinking, if every person is ready to become a donor, then life for many people will be changed forever.
2) To make the system better
There will be no need for waiting in the line for years, there will be no “black market” for organs, there will be no pointless deaths. It is idealistic, I admit. But should every one of us make the first step and become a donor, we will be a little closer to make this world a little better.
b) Argument 2: refuting objections
Transition
Some of us may find numerous problems, which would stand on the way to becoming a donor. But in most cases these are just excuses, covering up cowardice and fear.
1. Age limit
First of all, there are virtually no age restrictions for making a donation. Being too young as well as being too old does not automatically exclude you from the list of potential donors. Every situation is considered on a case by case basis. Therefore, don’t hesitate to register as a donor no matter how old you are. Making a difference has no age limit.
2. Health problems
The same situation applies to those, who believe that their health condition does not qualify them for becoming a donor. While it may be true in some cases, there is a high chance that your organs may still be needed by someone. That is why do not assume that you cannot be a donor because of a disease and make sure to consult your doctor on this matter, before giving up the idea completely.
3. Bad medical care
Finally, perhaps the most common, yet the most horrible excuse is the fear of being badly treated in the hospital just to receive the organs for transplantation. There is hardly any chance that your doctors will even know whether you are registered as donor, when you are admitted to the hospital. When the patient is between life and death, doctors do not usually waste time on checking donor databases and donor cards. Moreover, there are certain procedures required to announce a person dead and ready for donation, thus no doctor can falsely announce you dead, until every chance to save you is lost.
c) Argument 3: Give an example/ role model
I would like to end my speech by saying thank you to all the people, who have made a sacrifice, a selfless, altruistic deed and gave their organs to save the lives of the others. I am truly admiring their courage and desire to help fellow human beings. However, even more admiration are worth their parents and relatives, friends and beloved ones, who gave their consent to donating the organs of their dearest people in order to save lives of the others. It is truly great that despite their grief, they found some compassion inside and gave a new life to the strangers in need.
Conclusion
Life is a precious gift, which we take for granted until it is taken away.
a) Final message to the audience
Let us stop for a moment and think how lucky we are to be healthy and alive, how much we can enjoy every passing day. However, when the time to leave comes, let us not be indifferent and selfish. Let us make our small contribution and become donors. In this way we can be sure that our death will be full of meaning just as much as was our life and it will forever change one’s fate for the best.
Works Cited
Bullock, Alison W. "Donor: Kidney transplant was like a gift to me." Medil Reports -
Chicago. Medill School, 15 Feb 2011. Web. 12 Apr 2011.
"Facts & Statistics." donatelife. Australian Government Organ and Tissue Authority, n.d.
Web. 12 Apr 2011.
"The Need is Real: Data ." Donate the gift of life. U.S.Department of Health & Human
services, n.d.
Web. 12 Apr 2011.
