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Thursday, June 17, 2010 – Daily News – 5A FEATURES Couple to provide gift of life to others DEAR DR. GOTT: My hus- band and I have decided to be organ donors. We are also discussing donating our bod- ies to medical sci- ence. Can you please discuss the details of making a cadaver dona- tion? How do we find the right institution to donate to, and what needs to be done in advance? What costs are involved, and can the donor specify what can and cannot be done with the body? In terms of medical science, please explain exactly what the body is used for, how it is used, and what is done with any remains. Thank you in advance for the information. DEAR READER: To begin with, there is a great difference between organ donation and donating a body to medical science. Furthermore, there are several types of donations, including organ and tissue from a living donor, dona- tions following cardiac or brain death, and whole- body donations. Organ donation can include stem cells, tissue, blood and organs. If this is your wish, register with your state donor registry if you have one. Not all states do, so don’t be concerned if you live in a state that lacks a registry. Have the notation incorporated onto your driver’s license, and sign a donor card that you carry with you at all times. Donor cards can even be downloaded from the website www.organ- donor.gov/donor/index.ht m. In terms of donating your body to medical sci- ence, as far as I can tell, every medical school accepts donations. In fact, the supply can’t meet the demand. There are restric- tions regarding geograph- ic locations because of transportation costs involved. Offers outside a specific area may be accepted, however, pro- viding a donor’s estate bears the cost of trans- portation. Specific details can be obtained from the bequeathal secretary of your nearest medical school. The process is rel- atively simple when all rules are followed. Under the Human Tis- sue Act (HTA) of 2004, written and witnessed consent for anatomical examination must be given prior to death by the person donating his or her remains. No one else can donate a cadaver post- Dr. Peter Gott mortem. The HTA licenses and inspects all estab- lishments that use donated bodies for research and teaching purposes. Specific forms for donation should be obtained from the medical school nearest you, and family members should be advised of your decision to make the donation. By law, no medical school in the United States is allowed to buy a body from a family or estate. Other than being 18 years of age or older, there is no age limit when donating to medical sci- ence, because a determi- nation of acceptance is based on physical condi- tion. There is no price tag involved for the donation. Generally speaking, a body is accepted by an institution within 48 hours and transported by a licensed funeral direc- tor. In the state of Con- necticut, only the eyes may be donated for trans- plant when a body is donated for teaching pur- poses. The body is embalmed, prepared, and stored in a secure manner until needed for teaching purposes. Keep in mind that the school might reject some people for various reasons, including extreme obesity, being grossly underweight, dehydration or carrying an infectious disease, so a backup plan should be considered. The demand for specif- ic organs and bodies for research far outweighs the availability. According to the Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplan- tation website, about 77 people receive organ transplants each day, while 19 others die wait- ing for such transplants that can’t take place because of the shortage of donated organs. Giving a “gift of life” can save the lives of as many as 50 people. That’s an impressive statistic that can’t be denied. I com- mend you and your hus- band on making such an important decision. Dr. Peter H. Gott is a retired physician and the author of several books, including “Live Longer, Live Better,” “Dr. Gott’s No Flour, No Sugar Diet” and “Dr. Gott’s No Flour, No Sugar Cookbook,” which are available at most bookstores or online. His website is www.AskDrGottMD.com. BUSINESSES! Be a part of the OFFICIAL PROGRAM Can’t get over divide with adult daughter Dear Annie: I have not had a real relationship with my 42-year-old daughter for years. ‘‘Susan’’ claims I was never supportive, and that no matter what she did, I was never proud of her. She says I always put her down. I told her I tried to do my best bringing her up, but that isn’t enough for her. I don’t know what she wants from me. Annie’s Mailbox Susan has a 14-year-old son and is married for the second time. Her first husband was her childhood sweetheart. When we were on the outs eight years ago and she didn’t let me contact my grand- son, I e-mailed my ex-son-in-law to ask him to please tell my grandson that we love him. When Susan found out I e-mailed the ex-hus- band, she went crazy. She said we are not allowed to keep in touch with her ex — that as part of a divorce, you also divorce your in- laws. by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar How do I get on with my life? I am 68 years old and want to enjoy the years I have left. — Arizona Dear Arizona: Some children are more sensitive to slights than others, and a few, like Susan, find it diffi- cult to deal in a productive way with the slings and arrows of life. Please ask Susan if she will come with you for family counseling. It could help all of you have a more positive relationship. We had a fight a couple of months ago, and now, once again, I am not allowed to get in touch with my grandson. I admit some of the things she accuses me of may be true, but I would not deliberately hurt her. I told her no one is perfect. We both agree too much has been said on both sides to move forward, but I can’t seem to let go. I move around in a daze and have lost my appetite. My husband keeps every- thing in, but I know he is hurting, too. If she won’t go, counseling can still help you come to terms with the sit- uation and move on with your life. Dean Annie: My daughter lives with her fiance in Mexico, and they plan to marry soon. We would like to have the wedding here, but unfor- tunately, her fiance cannot legally come into this country and may not be able to for several years. She has always dreamed of a big wedding with a white dress, with her sister and mother helping with the preparations and a festive party with music and dancing. But all her friends and family live in the North- east. Her mother and I will pay for a wedding in Mexico. Should I advise her to simply invite everyone, knowing that only the immediate family and a few close friends will attend, or do I tell her to have a small wedding in Mexico and a big reception when she returns to the United States? — Questioning in New York Dear N.Y.: If your daughter and her fiance will be returning to the Northeast within a year of their marriage, save the big reception for their homecoming. If, however, they are likely to stay in Mexico longer, have the festivities there. You’d be surprised how many guests will consider attending a des- tination wedding. Those who don’t make it to Mexico can be invited to a casual get-together at a later date. Dear Annie: ‘‘Need Help in the Midlands’’ has a fear of bathing because she gets chilled and doesn’t want to get her head wet. I suggest she replace the fixed showerhead with the handheld variety with a shoulder-high mounting bracket. This would allow her to have greater control over the spray. — B.B. Dear B.B.: Several readers made similar suggestions, and a few also recommended body wash products for sponge bathing that do not require immersion in the tub. Those who are interested can check at their local drugstores. Our thanks to all who wrote to offer assistance. Annie’s Mailbox is written by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar, longtime editors of the Ann Landers column. Please e-mail your questions to anniesmailboxcomcast.net, or write to: Annie’s Mailbox, c/o Creators Syndicate, 5777 W. Century Blvd., Ste. 700, Los Angeles, CA 90045. Young Marines group seeks adult leaders The Tehama County Young Marines promotes healthy living and leader- ship among young people by training them to lead and teach Drug Demand Reduction to their peers and community. Young Marines attend training days twice a month, including PT. They are often asked to serve as Color Guard or other community service. The Young Marines are influenced by the things they hear and learn when they serve at events such as the Memorial Day Service where Bud Gott spoke of his experience on Iwo Jima, and the Veteran's Appreciation Walk where they heard Bill Moule speak of his family's inter- ment in a POW camp in the Philippines as a child. Keeping 40 kids busy is a huge job for the adult What’s on TV? ✓ Check out ENTERTAINMENT MAGAZINE select TV Free - Online - 24/7 Broadcast/Cable/Satellite Listings-Sports-Movies & More! redbluffdailynews.com leaders and the group is looking for adults to come alongside and mentor these young people who want to excel in life. The Unit Commander is usually a Marine, but registered adults can be veterans or not. Veterans The Back Packs ARE HERE! The Back Packs ARE HERE! Look for them at local businesses and businessmen are urged to apply to set examples of military bearing and professional- ism. If you are a veteran of any military branch and have a little time to give to set a positive example to motivated young people, please apply. If you have a field trip opportunity that has a military or patriotic focus, please contact the group, as it is always looking for ways to educate young people about the country's military and other history. Applications for adult leaders can be viewed at www.youngmarines.com. Information on the local unit and battalion can be found at tehamacountyy- oungmarines.com. For boys and girls ages 8-17 interested in joining, the last Boot Camp of the year will be held in August and registration will be opening for that event soon. For informa- tion or to register, call YM Sgt. Major Annie Bennett at 527-5325 or Commander John Minton at 840-0345. Health, Life, Auto, Home, Commercial, Professional Liability Free phone quotes 530-824-9900 Monday-Friday 9-5 1610 Solano St. #B Corning Lic.#0C37035 Feed the Children FOODS DRIVE Collection at participating Downtown Merchants. This is to replace meals local Breakfast and Lunch families in need lost when school let out for the summer. Info 528-8000 Jesse Restaurant Breakfast ★ Lunch Served 6:30am-2pm daily Breakfast Special Harris Ranch Steak 5 oz eye of round Served with 2 Eggs, Hashbrowns or Home Fries and Toast. (With purchase of beverage) No substitutions $499 7875 HWY 99E - LOS MOLINOS, CA (530) 384-1265 JUNE JACKPOT Thursday, June 17, 2010 Card Sales start at 6:00 pm Games start at 6:30 pm 7,000 copies in The Daily News Friday, July 2 2,000 copies – Event Distribution Space Reservations Deadline: Thursday, June 24 at Noon Event Sponsors of $500 or more have FREE ad space credit coming! Call your advertising rep today! 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