Complex Numbers

Liver Let Live

Sometimes I think there are selfish motivations for everything, even if the only selfish motivation is feeling good about doing something for someone else.

PROMPT May 15th

Write about a time when you or someone you know acted selflessly. What was the motivation and what were the results?

That point of view probably says more about me than about humanity in general. It's not that I don't think there are people out there who do good things; it's just that I think we always get something out of it. You give blood, for example -- as I used to do before I couldn't any more -- and you get free juice and cookies and the satisfaction of knowing that you've probably helped someone, and maybe even saved a life.

There is nothing wrong with this, in my view. We're social animals and we gain benefits from helping each other out. Some people might not see the benefits, and are all take no give, but I think most of us would do simple things to help others that might be seen as selfless. This could mean giving blood, as I mentioned, or returning a lost wallet, or giving food to a homeless person. More rare, and less simple, are things like jumping into a river to save a drowning person.

I think the most helpful act -- whether it's selfless or not is up for debate, but there's certainly an argument for it -- that I've ever personally witnessed was when the wife of a former co-worker of mine once donated part of her liver to someone who needed it. This isn't a procedure without risk; any surgery confers the risk of death to some degree. So this lady risked herself and put constraints on her own life to save another.

Well, to be clear about it, I didn't actually "personally witness" it; this was told to me by the co-worker, but I saw the donor after the surgery and she was recovering nicely. Last I heard, she was doing just fine.

Could I do it? Honestly... no. I mean, leaving aside for the moment that anyone who reads this blog should know by now that no one would even want part of my liver, or that I probably couldn't donate for the same reasons I can no longer give blood, I just wouldn't want to do it. I have this recurring fear that someone from my biological family would track me down somehow and turn out to need a kidney or something. Then I'd be in the awkward position of being the dickwad who says "no" to something like that.

Blood transfusion? Sure. Spleen? Nope. Hell, I'm not even letting them take my organs after death, lest they be used to extend the life of someone I don't like. I'm a complete asshole like that, and I'm okay with it. Why I'm okay with giving blood but not being an organ donor is a question I still haven't answered for myself. Maybe it's the free cookies. Before you jump on me for it, I've already decided that I won't accept a donor organ; I'm not that big a hypocrite.

Now, why did I say the question of whether this liver donation was "selfless" or not is up for debate? Well, I'd argue that the donor got something out of it, so it wasn't purely selfless by my definition. First, she got the knowledge that she saved someone's life -- and that's a deep satisfaction indeed, especially as the recipient was someone she knew personally. Second, she's a religious person, and in her mind it got her Jesus points, or whatever it is that Mennonites believe get you into heaven. Third, a lot of people (myself included) respected her for it. And finally, though probably least importantly, she got a free total health examination, which in this country is like finding a unicorn and the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow and winning the lottery all on the same day.

Still, by most definitions, it was a selfless act.

Incidentally, I reserve the right to change my mind about the organ donation thing, just like with everything else. And I wouldn't want anything in return. I wouldn't turn down some cookies, though.