Donate a kidney

Donate a kidney
The Bakersfield Californian | Sunday, Jul 19 2009 07:51 PM

Last Updated Sunday, Jul 19 2009 07:51 PM

It was particularly interesting to read the recent article about kidney transplants and the need for live kidney donors. I am at home recovering, less than two weeks after donating a kidney to a 17-year-old family friend at UCLA. It was a wonderful experience, the most profound in my almost 52 years of life.

I am certainly not a hero. I feel privileged to be able to take part in an experience that is truly life changing. Danielle has already regained her health and will no longer spend 15 hours a week at dialysis and feel lousy in between treatments. I look forward to watching her graduate from high school, college and medical school. This remarkable young lady plans to become a nephrologist and help other young people who suffer kidney failure.

If you have an opportunity to donate a kidney, please consider it. The success rate for live- donor kidney transplants is much greater than with cadaver donors and the risk to the donor is minimal. (UCLA has never lost a donor.)

My tummy hurts a bit, but I'm sure no more than if I had a C-section. I'll be back to work this month and Danielle will be back to school in the fall. I've been blessed with a third daughter and Danielle will have the healthy and joyful life she was meant to have.

CAROLYN BEHM SHERMAN

Bakersfield

http://www.bakersfield.com/opinion/letters/x1216783530/Donate-a-kidney