New Life Day

Okay so a year ago today I had the great opportunity to donate my kidney to a good friend. Alvin had been on dialysis for almost 6 years. When I first started the process I thought it was as easy as saying, "Okay I have the same blood type lets do it." Well it's a little harder than that. Even if you have the same blood type as someone that doesn't mean you will be a match to donate. I took blood test after blood test and urine after urine test. Even then I had to take a CAT scan, MRI, EKG, ex-rays of my kidneys, an ex-ray where they put dye throughout my body (which I can't remember what it's called),and many many interviews to check my sanity and dedication . Plus more blood tests and urine tests. Believe me it wasn't as easy as saying, "I will do it." By the time the surgery was scheduled I didn't think it would really happen. But on April 15, 2008 around 5:00am my mom, my sister Amber, Alvin and his wonderful wife Candace all met up at the hospital. They took me back and of course took more blood and urine, and prepped me for surgery. From this point on I didn't see Alvin until the next day. The nurses then took me to the hall right outside the surgery room. I met the doctor and the anestegologist for the first time. They talked to me for a minute about what was going to happen and the anestegologist started his magic (yes right there in the hall). The last thing I remember was the anestegologist telling me that he donated his kidney a year earlier and me saying, "Oh that is so woooooonderfuuuuuul." I said it in this very over dramatic way and I thought to my self 'that sounded more dramatic than I wanted'. The next thing I remember was waking up and not being able to open my eyes. I heard voices and was having trouble breathing. I then fell a sleep again and woke up to a nurse yelling at me to stop crying. I seriously had no idea I was crying. I definitely had no control over it. I was really out of it. They then took me to my room where my mom and sister Amber was waiting for me. The first question I asked was how Alvin was doing. He had been kept in ICU until morning for extra precaution but was doing great. When I finally got to see him, he looked great. He seemed a million times better.

The whole process was a huge learning experience for me. I learned so much about myself and what strength I do have. I learned how much my family really loves me and wants my dreams to be achieved. I learned that I put Billy through a lot of stress because he wasn't there to help. I learned that my kids really love me. I'm grateful that Alvin is doing great a year later. I'm so very blessed I knew I could do something beyond myself and that's why I donated my kidney. The hymn "Because I Have Been Give Much"....I too must give, explains exactly how I feel. I have been given so much. I have amazing parents, awesome brothers and sisters, and was raise in a very happy home. I married a man that I can't even express how much I love and am grateful for. He gave me 3 1/2 kids which I have the great opportunity to watch grow and they teach me so much. I had one huge worry about donating my kidney. I knew our family wasn't finished and I wanted at least one more child. I am due June 30th and everything is going great.