One small symbol, one massive purpose!
Johannesburg, South Africa (13 April 2022) – South Africans are taking to social to make it known and TELL the world why they are getting the quotation tattoo!
Life is the best gift you can give. It’s why TELL (Transplant Education for Living Legacies) helps educate South Africans about organ and tissue donation. TELL was created with heart, for hearts (and other organs).
One of the biggest problems we face in South Africa lies in the process of identifying and referring potential donors. South Africa already has a shortage of organ donors, and the lack of education around the situation is only making matters more difficult. It is also important to note that in South Africa, the donor’s family has the final say in whether or not organs are permitted to be donated.
But TELL have come up with a way to make it known and let the world know that you are an Organ Donor, and the campaign has turned into a trend of South Africans getting the quotation tattoo to broadcast just that!
Listen to the interview with Fawn Rogers here:
Just like the semicolon tattoo represents mental health struggles and the importance of suicide prevention, TELL has created the quotation tattoo to show the world that you are an Organ Donor.
It’s not an official symbol, but it’s an official statement that many South Africans are making.
Hundreds of South Africans have been posting the symbol, and even some celebs have taken up the cause. From Springboks player, Elton Jantjies to a 7de Laan actress… well-known personalities are using their voices to make it known.
In South Africa, there are thousands of people on the waiting list for life-saving organs. They rely on the generosity of people to decide to donate their organs once they have died. Up until the point of brain stem death, the ONLY priority is to save the patient’s life. The donor is treated with the utmost of respect, and the procurement of organs is treated like any other surgery.
The reality is that there are just too few organ donors to address this need, and consequently, many patients will not receive their organ transplant in time.
The organs that can be donated are as follows: 2 lungs, 2 kidneys, heart, liver (can be split between two recipients in some cases), and pancreas. You can also help between 50 and 100 people through the donation of your tissues. For example, your skin can be used to help burn victims, and your corneas can be used for cornea transplants to restore a person’s sight. You can also donate bone, heart valves, tendons, ligaments, and veins.
In South Africa currently, the only legally-binding way in which to donate your organs and tissue at the time of your death is for your next-of-kin to give their consent for your organs and tissue to be donated. This is the case even if you have registered to be an organ and tissue donor or have written your wishes in a will. It is therefore essential to let your family know of your wishes to be an organ and tissue donor.
The TELL team are arranging FREE tattoo days around the country with various tattoo studios to help you make it known!
Check out their Facebook and Twitter to keep up-to-date with the events!
A reminder of Monday's event! Join us from 10AM 'till LATE!
The TELL logo will be free, all other embellishments will be done at reduced rate.
Why quotation marks? Because they're more than a brandmark, they're the start of the most important conversation you'll ever have. pic.twitter.com/FDAuY2c30X
— Tell (@tellorgza) April 12, 2019
This month, I chose to #makeitknown that I'm an #organdonor by getting the @tellorgza awareness symbol tattooed in order to start the conversation with friends and family. How will you choose to #makeitknown? pic.twitter.com/ANA86819Hb
— S.J. Naude (@sjnaude) April 13, 2019
Registered as an organ donor in 🇿🇦? Do your family & next of kin know? The final call will be in their hands. Full video explanation around my latest ink, @tellorgza and #makeitknown here. PLEASE watch and hopefully we can change the stats: https://t.co/WKjF97ET9Y pic.twitter.com/J0rX6oVNCU
— Sam “Tech Girl” Wright (@TechGirlZA) April 12, 2019
On the 15th of April 2019 you can #MakeItKnown your way, by getting a FREE tattoo of the TELL quotation marks at Sally Mustang Tattoos in Sandton . Come get inked and support this amazing initiative. pic.twitter.com/kCNoAJh3MW
— IG: Mimo_Mokgosi (@MimoMokgosi) April 4, 2019
Any other rugby players/fans wanting to #makeitknown ? Remember… you don't need to get a tattoo… be creative and show us how YOU #makeitknown that you want to be an organ donor. @jantjies_elton @LionsRugbyCo @Springboks @SallyMustangInk pic.twitter.com/uhCDrLkJ2V
— Tell (@tellorgza) April 4, 2019
Remember to #makeitknown https://t.co/WKjF97niiq pic.twitter.com/UwxBM496nt
— Sam “Tech Girl” Wright (@TechGirlZA) April 12, 2019
I got a tattoo today… and it’s possibly the most important thing I have ever done. #MakeItKnown #TellSomeone pic.twitter.com/XnndTFWuxX
— Brent Lindeque (@BrentLindeque) March 25, 2019
Happy with my new #MakeItKnown tattoo ❤️ pic.twitter.com/3epLPmfTJZ
— OH LOOK…Squirrel (@Travesty_Kruger) April 15, 2019
Got the Quotations for the #makeitknown initiative being run by the @tellorgza team. This is all about organ donation awareness! Thanks to @SallyMustangInk for providing such a great service! And to @TechGirlZA for letting the gaming side of life know. #tattoo #MondayMotivaton pic.twitter.com/H6jHqVlSkS
— Darkist1 (@Darkist89) April 15, 2019
#MakeItKnown @SallyMustangInk pic.twitter.com/oweiog1cDQ
— Tell (@tellorgza) April 15, 2019
#makeitknown @SallyMustangInk pic.twitter.com/Kdwe4fB5qw
— Tell (@tellorgza) April 15, 2019
#makeitknown @SallyMustangInk pic.twitter.com/vm9xAjXmHl
— Tell (@tellorgza) April 15, 2019
#makeitknown @SallyMustangInk pic.twitter.com/ELLnsKLmIP
— Tell (@tellorgza) April 15, 2019
#makeitknown @SallyMustangInk pic.twitter.com/qAnmsQgQXc
— Tell (@tellorgza) April 15, 2019
52 tattoos done so far!#makeitknown pic.twitter.com/UxOOcp6wup
— Tell (@tellorgza) April 15, 2019