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It's personal - just thought you should know.


As April draws to a close, I would be remiss if I didn't bring up something near and dear to my heart.  Organ donation.  It's a very personal thing for me and has affected my family several times over.  I have personally seen how a living kidney transplant breathes life into a weakened body.  How it brings color back into the skin.  How it gives someone hope for tomorrow. 

My father and sister both had kidney transplants in their 20s.  My dad received a kidney from his brother when transplants were still new and being improved.  He had that kidney for 31 years when cancer took him - not kidney disease.  My sister had two transplants.  One from her mother and after that one failed, one from our step-mother.  Sadly, my sister died at age 35, leaving 3 children behind. 

Now it gets really personal.  The disease that both my dad and sister had is inheirited.  I have it too.  I wasn't diagnosed until I was 45.  My doctor told me nine months ago that I would be on the list within a year.  My last visit showed an improvement in my kidney function (something I was told wouldn't happen).   I'll share my lifestyle changes with you in a future post.

I'm not worried about this disease.  It is a part of my life, but it doesn't run my life.  It tires me out but God gives me the energy to keep going. 

Organ donation is something that most people don't think about.  I do.  I think about it every day.  If you haven't checked it out, would you use this reminder to do so?  Would you learn about it?  You could make a big difference in someone's life.

Here are a few places to learn about donations:
National information
Congressional Kidney Caucus
National Kidney Foundation
organtransplants.org

Thanks for allowing me to share.  Tomorrow we'll look at something more cheerful.

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Comments

  1. Sheri O.April 29, 2010 at 12:09 PM

    All mine are up for grabs when that day comes!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Donna V.April 30, 2010 at 8:16 PM

    Mine too!

    ReplyDelete
  3. NicoleMay 1, 2010 at 6:17 PM

    A young man in our church has cystic fibrosis and was on a lung transplant list for 3 years. It was terrible to see him have to wait that long. Just a week and half ago, he got a new set of lungs! And while I know there will be bumps in the road, to see the color back in his skin and the coughing ceasing, was a miracle. When I had my license renewed, I made sure I was an organ donor. I never knew how important it was until I saw someone need it so desperately.
    Nicole

    ReplyDelete
  4. CrystalMay 1, 2010 at 8:02 PM

    I'm a donor! )

    (Came over from Musings of a Housewife)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Julie From InmatesMay 3, 2010 at 8:56 PM

    I always say I hope to save a life someday. If all else fails, I'm an organ donor. =)

    ReplyDelete

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