My parents plan to donate their bodies to science after they die. All their organs will be up for grabs and afterwards their bodies will go to a med school or wherever they're needed. The body donation is a little freaky to me but it's what they want. When I signed up to be an organ donor the woman at the DMV said it won't really matter what's on my driver's license if my family's wishes diverged from my own. She recommended discussing my wishes well in advance so they'd know how I feel. My son said he was good with organ donation but was unwilling to let my eyes go. It's funny how different people feel squeamish about different things.
Last fall CNN Health published an article on various options for your body after you die. Read the entire article here. Some of the ideas overlap like organ donation, tissue donation and willing your body to a university. Some are a little more novel to most of us. If you watch any of the many Law & Order shows you are probably familiar with body farms, which are used to train pathologists to recognize time of death. Did you know you can will your body to the Forensic Anthropology Center in Knoxville, Tennessee? If you live in the area they'll even cover the costs.
How about becoming a real crash test dummy? Evidently plastic only goes so far and then cadavers are needed. Have you seen the Body Worlds exhibit? You can be part of it! How about helping train cadaver dogs? Or letting your skeleton be used in medical schools? Maybe a museum would like to display you.
Not crazy about spending eternity six feet under? There are a lot of options out there. They aren't all free to the family so if you're interested be sure and do your research. As for me I prefer to give up what's of use, excluding my recognizable body and then cremation. Not sure where that fits in with my son's plans or if he'll thwart me after I'm gone but hopefully at least part of me can be of use to someone else.
Have you made your plans? Have you discussed them with your family? Do they agree with you?
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My momma had always planned to leave her body to science and her body parts to anyone who needed them. When we lived in New York, she had all the paperwork in place. We eventually moved to Kentucky, and she very patiently re-did all the paperwork and willed her body to the University in Louisville. After two years, they returned the ashes to the family. There was no charge involved -- they even paid shipping.
She felt very strongly about this, and no one went against her wishes. In some ways, I think it was the kindest thing she ever did for the surviving siblings. As dysfunctional as we are, I have no idea how I would have survived the wake, funeral, burial.
On the other hand, I don't have a "special place" to go to mourn, and that part has been difficult. My sister received the ashes and refuses to share, but that's not my mother anyway. Just a shell.
It's a hard judgment call. I think the truth is, it only matters to those left behind.
You're exactly right Netta, it only matters to those of us left behind. Like you I prefer to have a place to go mourn but moving about the country takes that possibility away for me anyway and makes me feel selfish for wanting it.
I think it's good that there are so many options. The troubles we families have post-mortem are ours alone but I believe we should follow the deceased's wishes when we know them, even if we don't agree with their choices.
Funny... I used to have that same stipulation about my eyes. Now, though, I figure if there's anything left that someone can use, have at it. I strongly suggest staying away from my liver, though. ;-)
This is a very thought-provoking subject. Our wills stipulate cremation after organ donation. I agree with you that the body donation thing creeps me out a bit, but why should it? I don't need that body anymore. My self has moved on, hopefully to a better place :). Good article.
One additonal comment. You mentioned the wish for a place to go to mourn. To me, the place to mourm is in your heart. The physical place of your loved one's body is just that. The place of their body. Their soul, their life, their person-hood, is in your heart. You can go there whenever you want and sit with them, and relive your heart's memories
@Lori - it's interesting how our feelings on this subject evolve as we age.
@Cheryl - You're so right & beautifully put! I think some people are cemetery visitors and some aren't. Even though I know the person isn't really under there, I've always liked having a "place" to go commune with them.
from what i have heard the UT body farm is having to turn away donations they have so many people wanting to go there.
i believe cemetaries are pretty but wasteful and they are now doing natural cemataries were its wilderness and no vaults that last forever and familes, if they want, can help dig or fill the grave and you can go have a picnic at the grave. i think thats neat if you go the buriel route. we believe in cremation.
The book Stiff by Mary Roach is a very funny (and scientific) look into being dead. She talks a lot about different options for your body. My favorite is a company that buries your body in a lightweight box designed to degrade quickly and plants a tree over you so your body becomes fertilizer for the tree. Good book! I recommend it.
I love the idea of becoming fertilizer! That certainly completes the cycle, doesn't it? I'll look for the book.
Great article Mary! It is interesting how everyone feels about the topic of donation. Netta's point is extremely valid "it only matters to those left behind".
That is a tough pill to swallow. If you have decided what you want to do with your body and your family disagrees, who should make the final call at the end-of-life?
I actually work for a whole body donor program where individuals can donate their bodies to science for medical research and professional education. It is a bit different than a medical school and the remains are returned within 3-5 weeks.
With Science Care's(www.sciencecare.com) program, even if a donor has written out that this is what they want to do, we will not proceed if a loved one steps forward in disagreement at the time of passing. We want to make sure this is a decision that everyone agrees upon so we also advise individuals to notify their loved ones of their wishes.
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