Warning: This sensitive topic may be triggering for some people.
This topic is a pretty sensitive one to write about, but it is something that we’ll all face one day!
Death, D Day. Yep I said it, and it feels so unnatural to write about, but, its a part of life that at some stage we all need to think about and plan for so our loved ones aren’t left to pick up the pieces, as if the grieving process wouldn’t be hard enough.
There are lots of options to think about. Do I want to be cremated or buried? Do I want it to be at a certain location, what are the logistics? Do I pre-pay, do I have life insurance etc. It is so stressful to even think about.
I’m going to give you some completely different objectives which you may or may not of heard about before, either way they are confronting so buckle up!
Did you know, you can donate your brain to the MS brain bank. You can still continue with your funeral plans, but you can help researchers by donating your brain so they can look at ways to be able to hopefully get earlier detection in diagnosis, to find better treatments or even better yet, a cure.
We can still be apart of this process well after we leave this earthly world which strangely enough I find great comfort in.
To be able to do this, firstly you will need to register with the brain bank. It is recommended that you discuss this with your loved ones, your next of kin and make your plans known to your neurologist so they have your intentions on their records. If you have an advanced care directive in place, it is a good idea to have that included in your care plan.
It’s a relatively simple procedure for your next of kin to arrange. Emotions aside, after death, your next of kin will need to contact the funeral directors and the brain donor program coordinator to advise. The body then will be relocated to the nearest mortuary for brain and tissue removal, afterwards the body is then returned back to the funeral directors for funeral arrangements as planned. In case you were wondering, removing of the brain does not disfigure so if you or your loved ones wanted an open casket you will be able to have that.
Now, this next scenario is a lot more harder to digest but I would rather share than not. There is no sensitive way to say it so I’m just going to put it right out there….. donating your body to science. This is something you will definitely need to take some time to think over as it directly affects your loved ones as well. Donating your body means your loved ones don’t get to have a funeral service for you. You can have a memorial service and still celebrate the life of the departed. That is the one drawback, family and friends not having that customary funeral, but there is one positive side of it, there are no costs involved so there is no preparation or money burden. To be able to opt for this, you’ll need to find a university and enquire about their donor programs. Every university has their own consent forms so you’ll need to do your homework. One thing you won’t be able to do is donate your brain and tissues to MS, and then donate the rest to science so you’ll need to weigh up what is important to you and your family.
If you want to find out more information about the MS Brain Bank, click the link below;
To read more about donating your body to science, click the below link;