If organ donation makes you uneasy–or if you just want to find out more about same–here are some basic Facts About Organ Donation. (Go to page 22 of the PDF file for the article.) Procedures vary state by state; almost as important as officially becoming a donor is making sure your family and loved ones know your wishes, because often in practical terms they wind up being asked to make those decisions whether you’ve signed an organ donor card or not.
The woman interviewed in the article is a friend, and she might not be here today if a stranger hadn’t agreed to be a donor. I suspect most of us know someone whose life was extended or improved by someone else’s final act of generosity.
ETA: State by state U.S. requirements to become an organ donor. (With thanks to betsyl.)