What do you do when you have a ton of school work to do? Write a blog, of course! Sometimes good news just has to take priority over work.
So today, while I was teaching period 5, I could hear my phone vibrating. I wouldn’t normally answer my phone during class time, but my Fitbit also vibrates and shows the number calling when my phone rings. I recognized the number and had to answer it. There was another teacher in the room as well, so I took the call in the hall and no students were left unattended. I am responsible after all.
The call was from my nurse coordinator at Maine Transplant. She was calling to let me know that they have a willing donor who is a match for me. I think I was in a state of disbelief, especially when she said it’s possible for the transplant to happen in 5 to 6 weeks. Then I went back to class and carried on, but with limited concentration as my mind raced with this news.
On my drive home this afternoon, my phone rang again. It was the nurse calling with more information. She asked me how I felt about having the transplant on October 11th. Apparently my donor is able and willing to do this! That’s only like four and a half weeks away!!! So crazy!
This whole process has gone much quicker than I ever expected. People wait years for a kidney and often have to go on dialysis while waiting. And I’m so lucky to be getting a living donor! This wouldn’t even be happening if it wasn’t for my friend. As soon as she knew I was referred for a transplant in April, she contacted Maine Transplant to see what she could do. She went through the testing only to learn that we weren’t compatible due to my elevated antibodies that rejected her. Although she could’ve stopped there, she opted to proceed with the Kidney Paired Donation program. I discussed this process in the last blog. Her willingness to donate a kidney to a stranger in order to help my odds of getting a compatible donor is amazing. I only got that call today because of her generosity. In addition, the woman donating to me was also part of a swap. I don’t know much about her for privacy reasons, but I do know she’s from Maine and her husband has had a transplant as well. He received a kidney and now she’s ready to give that same gift to a stranger. These two ladies are incredible and beyond generous.
So, October 11th is penciled in on my calendar. It’s all so unbelievable, but exciting at the same time. This is the call that people on a transplant list wait for and mine came thanks to my friend (who I hope someday will want to be revealed)!
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| Whenever people learn that I'm in need of a transplant, they always seem shocked and comment that they'd never know I was sick. I found this quote on a site for people with kidney disease. I thought it was funny! |
