Marydean, you've pointed out the other side of organ and tissue donation - that of vastly improving a person's quality of life, if not actually saving it. It's fantastic to hear of sight restored for your stepmum.

I've realized that many people I meet have in some way been affected by the issue of organ and tissue donation. It seems that either they have somebody in the extended family who is waiting for or has received some kind of transplant, or who has died before being able to receive one. Or, of course, there are the rarer ones we hear of who have agreed to donate their family member's organs.

I have a cousin whose wife's organs saved the life or improved the life of eight people. My cousin has received letters from each of the recipients, and those letters mean the world to him.

I'm really pleased that so many of you seem in favour of this very delicate issue. Of course it's confronting to think of death, but the fact is that we are far more likely to be in the position to require some kind of transplant than we are to donate our organs or tissue. As we know, the opportunities for donation to occur as very restricted, because the donor needs to have undergone brain death and be on life support in an intensive care setting. Only a small percentage of Australians die in those circumstances.

Thanks everyone. It's great to hear all of your stories.

Lynne