Body Donation

[MarkintheDark]

As I'm revising my will, the subject of body donation has crossed my mind.  As I've only done a cursory search, it doesn't look too promising (at least in the U.S.).  One large corporation appears only interested in the money.  For others, HIV is a disqualifying factor.

Particularly as a long term survivor, ideally, I'd like to donate to an institution conducting HIV research.  I'm in Florida.  Any suggestions from those who've made similar arrangements would be helpful.  PM me if you prefer.

[em]

My Grand mother and one of my aunts had donated their bodies to science

after they were done doing the research their bodies were cremated then berried in mounds at a grave sight . 

My mother and I visited the sight her mother was berried. it was  mound with stone plaques placed in the mound baring the names of those interned there 

It was surrounded by trees in a wooded area and looked very peaceful. 

My Aunt when she was berried her sister another Aunt asked for any ideas of what to plant at her grave .   SO suggested ostrich ferns . She asked were can can I get these? We had a very large yard with an old watering hole by the road. I suggested taking some from there. she asked how ? SO I grabbed a shovel and dug up some root bulbs of the ferns they were the size of cantaloupes. I gave them to her. she came back a while later and said the entire area around the grave  was over grown with ferns .  the gardeners at the cemetery asked what they should do about them. I told her they are edible . You could tell them to eat them > I thought it funny but never had a acceptable sense of humor and have been told my sense of humor and well most things in the way I think are inappropriate.   


as I understand it most of the bodies donated to science are used as cadavers for medical students to autopsy and learn about human anatomy . 

they also do other science related data gathering .

sorry to go on so much but body donation was the topic right ?  organ donation that they might do  and tissue skin and bones that might be viable for transplant ?
I am not sure about or know what they do or if HIV might be disqualify this option


all the best to you

EM

[J.R.E.]

Hey,..

I've thought about the possibility of body donation several times throughout the years. But ultimately,just decided on cremation.


A couple of months ago, I was reading an article about a man who donated his mothers body.  Anyway the results, wasn't what he had hoped for.

https://www.newsweek.com/donated-body-sold-army-brc-arizona-1451846

I think it's admirable of you to look into this. The reason I had thought about donating my body about 4 years ago, was because of possible research into HIV related dementia.

Take care------Ray

[em]

dementia

for me I find myself standing in room and I look around and think why did I come in here ? I seem to forget what I am doing while I am doing it.

I am sure the psych meds they have me on are not helping any.


that is my burden . 

some have it worse some better .

being how the article mentioned a mother
My mother wanted to have her body donated. but after her brain tumor got as bad as it did . the welfare nursing home she ended up at. when I saw her body at the mortuary. they had her in the basement. her body was all twisted up in knots. after she passed away they did not even lay her out before rigor mortise  set in they left her as she died. She never had the luxury of being well like by other people . A final lets get this person we did not like . by letting her relatives deal with her .    We had her cremated cause there was no way she could have fit in coffin all twisted up like that . they put the worlds worst make up on her at the funeral parlor . they charged us through the nose for there services any way . pick up the body from the nursing home delivery charge transfer charge . then another pickup and delivery to be cremated then the cremation charge with some other this and that.  the world is not a nice place .  it was some were around six thousand no wake no funeral service no burial. just take what you can and as much as you can  for any reason .

enough sad thoughts good night

EM

[MarkintheDark]

As I've researched further the past two weeks, simply, HIV is the disqualifying factor.  Considering LTS issues such as organ inflammation, I was pretty surprised this would not be an area in which there was ongoing research.

Considering, too, the HOPE program (donation of organs from HIV individuals to HIV recipients), the logic escapes me.

Therefore, I've no choice but cremation.

[Texland]

A friend of mine was in a 'hiv and the brain' type study. He had it arranged so when he died, his brain was donated for medical research. The organization handled his cremation. This was in Houston. Sorry, I don't know any details of who the research org was. A doctor may have more information.

[Dfwguy]

I asked my primary care Dr. about this. He said the med schools would not be interested. This may be one of those things that changes with time.

[Texland]

The only thing I can find online is in New York City. Like I said, my friend was in Houston. He didn't have any living family and wanted everything arranged before he died. The brain study people handled his cremation and returned his ashes to another friend.