I Hate Dialysis Message Board
Dialysis Discussion => Dialysis: Transplant Discussion => Topic started by: monrein on June 19, 2008, 05:42:42 PM
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I was out all day today with my niece and nephew but my husband had to go to the dentist. When we got home he told me the most incredible story and I've just finished picking my emotions up off the floor and washing my face to regain my composure.
At our dentist's office, the receptionist who is a really sweet person, was asking Lee about me and dialysis and the transplant process etc. He had his appointment, was paying the bill when Karen, the receptionist, quietly said "You know if it all doesn't work out, I'd be prepared to go on the list". Lee thought she was saying something about his tooth situation but it made no sense so he looked at her quizzically and she clarified by saying "I don't want anything to happen to Gail and I know dialysis is hard so if none of you work out I'd be prepared to give her a kidney." I see this woman twice a year and I'm floored by her generous gesture. I don't expect this to come to pass but I'm so touched that she would make that offer and who knows what the future will actually deliver.
We're sending her some flowers tomorrow. Just thought I'd share this story about the kindness of relative strangers.
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She sure sounds like a very generous person. I wish that there were more people like that. Please let her know that she is special.
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Some people are just angels in disquise. :grouphug;
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Wow, that is touching. God bless her! I have had more of that from people I barely know also, it amazes me how someone like that can be so giving. Now if I could just get that same reaction from a family member that might actually be a match!
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I had the experience of having one of my close friends tell me personally that she would be willing to be tested as a donor for my husband. It was soon after we decided that we were going to let our friends know about my husband's impending kidney failure. It blew me away and I had no idea what to say. For me there is no easy way to verbally express the depth of feeling such an act of generosity can invoke.
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What a wonderful thing to happen. :2thumbsup; There are many angels in our lives and we never know who they are or where they will show up. My physical therapist told me last month that she had never thought about donating a kidney. But after meeting me, she said she would absolutely do it for family--- or me! How do you even respond to that?
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Its hard to know how to respond... Its an amazing feeling, and I always feel like the would be donor never really understands how powerful that is to the recipient
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Stories like this make the contrast with cases of close relatives refusing to donate seem all the more horrible. I read a case study in a medical ethics text by Beauchamp and Childress of a sister who was tested to donate a kidney to her brother, who would soon die because of lack of venous access for continuing his dialysis -- a cause of 15% of all deaths on dialysis. The sister was found to be a good HLA match, the right blood type, and to be in perfect health, but she begged the examining physician to lie for her and tell her brother that she was not a suitable donor after all, since she lost her courage. The doctor cooperated and lied for her. I don't know who is more morally bankrupt, the sister or the doctor.
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I really do feel blessed because of all the offers I have had, from family, friends and now an almost stranger. I can't judge people who don't have the courage to give but I sure can appreciate those who do. So far, I have had both my sibs, two aunts (my only two), my cousin, my husband, my sister-in-law, one of my former students, two friends, and now this woman. At my gym, one of the women also said once that if none of my potentials worked out she'd ask around and see who'd step up. The cool thing is that one of her sons donated bone marrow to a young man in the US whom he'd never met. He just felt it was something he needed to do.
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That is a very nice story.
There are good people in the world. Sending flowers is a good way of showing appreciation.
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Amazing how things happen. I'd be willing to bet that if she is a match she will do it. :grouphug;
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What a wonderful lady, you may only see her twice a year Gail but you must hold a place in her heart (as you do in ours). Blessings on both of you. :grouphug;
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Lovely offer... and irregardless of the outcome I am sure even the mere thought and offer (which seems genuine enough) would lift your spirits incredibly.. It certainly gives me faith thousands of miles away (hmm, I saw my dentist last week and no such luck!! LOL Must be because I stupidly accepted an appointment for Friday the 13th! :) ).
There are amazing people out there... and it's times like this that we're reminded of this.
On the other hand re Staufenberg's post.... IMHO it is the Doctor who is more morally bankrupt in this situation. The sister can lose courage or change their mind for whatever reasons and that is their right, even if it seems heartless to basically consign their brother to a death sentence. For me though the doctor is clearly at fault for LYING about it! OMG!! It beggars belief to me. So the sister didn't have the guts to admit to her brother/family "I'm too scared to do this" or something is horrible, but for a medical "professional" to support that by lying is amazing...
What contrasting stories....
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Monrein,
You never know that her offer may be the ONE! God sends angels ;)
Lori/Indiana
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Angels come in all shapes an sizes and u'll never kno where ur angel will b or who will b ur angel
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This was indeed very touching. It is things like this that give you a good feeling and renew your faith in humankind.
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stories such as this rekindle your fath in human kindness
especially with all the BS and crap going on in the world today.
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:cuddle; monrein. Now that's what I call an angel :angel;, and sure does renew you faith. With folks like that involved in your life, your wait for a new kidney won't be long. God bless that girl. :waving;