I knew it was coming. From the moment I turned 18 I knew it was coming. But July passed, and so did August, and it didn't come. September and October came to an end without the arrival of a certain letter. As November came around, I thought I was safe, that it would never come. I was wrong.
The letter did come. Halfway through April it fell on our doormat, asking me one terrifying but important question: "Do you want to become an organ donor?"

My parents never signed me up as an organ donor, but now I'm 18 I can make my own decision. It was the most difficult decision of my life, to be honest, even more difficult than choosing a career path. So I did what I always do when I have to make an important decision: pretend it didn't happen.
So I shoved the letter under a pile of half-finished stories and drafts and went to Vienna. When I came back I told myself I was too  focused on my internship reports to make this decision. But two weeks ago I ran out of excuses. I pulled the letter out of the huge pile of paper and finally read it.

"Yes, I will become donor!" Part of the letter I received

Many people need an organ transplant. There just aren't enough organs, because there aren't enough donors. I know that's a bad thing, but as I read the letter I couldn't help thinking that someone would open up my dead body to extract an organ and give it to someone else. The idea freaked me out.
I put the letter away and put my head in my hands. It seemed heavy with thoughts. I had such a difficult decision to make... but if I were dying and a donated organ could save my life, I'd like to get that organ. Besides, what good is a kidney when you'll never drink anything ever again? Or lungs when you're not breathing anymore? Or an eye if you'll never look at the world again? My organs could save someone's life and make them happy until long after my death.
I sat at my desk for a while, trying to come up with reasons not to become an organ donor. Main reason was of course the freakiness, but other than that I couldn't come up with a single reason not to do it. In fact I could only think of reasons why I should become an organ donor.
I picked up the letter and looked at the list of organs I could donate in case of sudden death. Most thing felt too personal though. My heart will always be mine. Just my eyes and skin. But if I die, I hope my kidneys will help someone else live on. I hope someone will get my super healthy that's been spared the awful effects of alcohol. And my pancreas and intestines, those are allowed to find a new home too.
With the letter in my hand, I went downstairs to talk about it with my parents. My mom used to be an organ donor, but my dad didn't like the idea of her organs going to other people. I expected him to be a bit angry, but he wasn't. In fact, he didn't say anything. My mom become very emotional though, and at one point I started crying; neither of us liked discussing my mortality. The conversation lasted an hour, even though my mom said she supported my decision right away. My dad didn't say anything all that time, except: 'It's your decision.' I told him I didn't want to become an organ donor if he didn't support my decision. He started to walk away, the turned and said: 'I support your decision, but only if you promise that I get to die before you do!'
For some reason that made me laugh while I was stilly crying.

I filled the form in that same afternoon and posted it. I feared I was going to regret my decision, but two weeks have passed and I still feel good about this. And why not? Who knows, one day I might save someone's life, and so can you if you decide to become an organ donor.

Stay Awesome!