When Tom O'Driscoll, a Houston resident and veteran, decided to become a kidney donor in 2010, it was more than a personal health decision. It was a life-changing journey inspired by a radio show and fueled by a desire to help others.
Fourteen years later, O'Driscoll is pushing for legislation to reward organ donors like himself.
O'Driscoll's journey began when he heard a song. this american life An NPR episode featured the story of a Brooklyn woman who secretly donated a kidney to a stranger. At that moment, he recalls, “a seed was planted” for him.
“I thought, 'Oh, maybe I'll try this myself someday,'” O'Driscoll said.
A few years later, he did just that and became a kidney donor. And in 2022, he took the process a step further by donating 60% of his liver to another stranger.
“It's really amazing,” he said. “Within two months, the liver regenerated to normal size, blood tests and everything returned to normal.”
O'Driscoll's actions didn't stop there. now he is working with Coalition to revise the National Organ Transplant Act In furtherance of the End Kidney Death Act (HR 9275), this bill would provide a $50,000 refundable tax credit to living organ donors. The credits will be spread out over five years and reward donors for their contributions to public health.
“This bill has the potential to encourage more people to become living organ donors,” said O'Driscoll, who believes it is important to create incentives that are not exploitative. “If someone wants to become an organ donor, this is a way to compensate them for doing something very good and helpful to the public.”
O'Driscoll and a group of other supporters recently took their case to Washington, where they met with about 50 members of Congress.
“It was a great experience,” he said. “I had never done anything like that before, so it was really cool.”
Mr O'Driscoll's advocacy is driven by a harsh reality. “Currently, approximately 90,000 Americans are waiting for a kidney donation, and about half of them will die while waiting for a kidney donation,” he said. “About 15 Americans die every day from organ shortage.”
Mr O'Driscoll also said deceased organ donations alone will never be enough to meet growing demand.
“People have to die in a very specific way in order for their organs to be harvested,” he explained, emphasizing the importance of living donors. “The answer is to encourage more living donations, and we hope this bill will help do that.”
In addition to his work in parliament, Mr O'Driscoll has also taken on extreme challenges to raise awareness of organ donation. In March 2023, he climbed Mount Kilimanjaro with a group of about 20 organ donors and supporters to commemorate World Kidney Day.
“It was a really great experience,” O'Driscoll said. “It was my first time doing something with a group of fellow organ donors, and it was amazing.”
He also acknowledges the psychological benefits of being a living donor.
“There's just a quiet satisfaction in knowing you've saved another human life,” he says. “You can't put a value on something like that.”
Mr O'Driscoll's hopes for the future are focused on the End Kidney Death Act becoming law.
“We really think it could save lives and alleviate a lot of suffering,” he said. “Any publicity we can get to promote this bill is very important to us.”
Although the bill is not retroactive, meaning O'Driscoll and other donors would not benefit financially, his passion remains strong.
“Our aim is simply to increase the supply of organ donations and thereby alleviate suffering.”
For those considering becoming an organ donor, O'Driscoll offers some reassuring statistics.
“Living kidney donation in the United States is actually safer than childbirth,” he says. “95% of living kidney donors say they would donate again.”
For O'Driscoll, the message is clear. “It's not just about saving one life,” he said. “You save the lives of families and communities. You make an impact that lasts a lifetime.”
Mr. O'Driscoll hopes more people will join the effort to pass HR 9275 and support the cause to which he has dedicated his life, one act of generosity at a time. I'm here.
“We're just trying to do whatever we can to get this bill through Congress,” he said. “It's time to make a change.”
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