I was somewhere in the canned foods aisle in my Clovis, Ca. grocery store when I decided to donate my kidney to my husband. I was with my 25-year-old daughter. There were tears. I think a few people stared. And, I’m not going to lie. I was afraid. But let me tell you what happened.
My husband, Russ, has Polycystic Kidney Disease, a genetic condition that causes cysts to form on his kidneys, eventually making them fail. He is otherwise very healthy. But in the summer of 2016, his kidney function was dropping. As things continued to deteriorate, we realized that we were racing against dialysis. We did not want that.
So, in August 2016, in the grocery store parking lot, I filled out the online form to donate a kidney. I sent it to California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco, and the process began. Once I made the decision, I had this secret, excited feeling that it would work. So did my daughter. And we were both right.
After I passed the initial screening, I had to spend two days in San Francisco in January for testing at California Pacific Medical Center to see if I was a match. Turns out I was a really good match. And, after getting reports from various doctors who needed to sign off both Russ and I, we were told in early May that our surgery would take place June 14, 2017.
I’m not a fan of surgeries. I’ve had several. They all went well, but I’m a coward at heart and fear the “what if?” But everyone I encountered at CPMC did everything possible to put me and Russ at ease and reassure us that all would go well. Every step of the way the surgeons, nephrologists, radiologists, psychologists, and nurses were with us. I have never experienced this level of care. They were so careful. So precise. Sometimes it was frustrating, but they had earned my trust. And that trust gave me the strength to go forward.
On the day of the surgery, I was calm. I knew Russ and I were in good hands and that Russ would be healed. In fact, Russ was cleared to leave the hospital 2 days earlier than we expected. He made a fast recovery, beyond what I ever expected or planned for. My daughter, her husband, and their two closest friends all helped us recover at the hospital and when we came home.
Sometimes Russ and I ask each other if this all really happened. But we know that it did and it worked out better than we ever imagined. So, my message to you is this. Don’t be afraid. Give life by donating your kidney, either living or upon your death. So many are in need.
Thanks to Betsy for sharing her and Russ’s story of how being a living donor can change countless lives. If you’re interested in learning more about living donation and possibly being a living donor, click here.
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