My friend is being tested tomorrow

[Bette]

One of my best friends volunteered to be tested for a donor for me and her appointment is tomorrow.  I'm really nervous.  I don't want to get my hopes up.  Both my brothers went to be tested and neither was a match.  I took that very hard. 

I hope it works out.

[mallory]

Bette, I'll be praying for you.  I've had several people say they will get tested for me, but I'm not at a point to try for a transplant yet.  I can't even imagine how hard it would be if they get tested and don't match.  I really hope everything works out for you!   

[Sluff]

I hope things work out for you.

[Bajanne]

Our prayers and caring thoughts are with you at this time.  However, you still have to be thankful that you have people who are even willing to be tested.  I hope everything goes well.

[goofynina]

Bette, i'll have my fingers crossed, but remember, everything happens for a reason, so if it isnt a match, dont take it so hard, maybe for some unseen reason it just wasnt the right time.  We all are with you 

[Bette]

Well, my friend called and she was not able to make the appointment because she had the flu.   She is going to try to get tested once she goes back home to London.  I am really disappointed. 

I get the feeling that she may not be too into donating.  I don't want to push because donating a kidney is a really big sacrifice.  I don't know what the next step is.

[Jill D.]

When my first transplant surgery was cancelled because I had antibodies against my donor (my sister), my doctor first suggested I try to find a new donor. When the word got out, I had several people ask about the requirements for donating and indicated an interest in looking into it. What I would do is e-mail them the criteria and my transplant coordinator's phone number for further info. I would also stress that it was a big decision and something they should discuss with their immediate family. I would also ask that they NOT let me know if they decided to get tested, as I didn't want to a) have them feel any pressure from me or anyone else (especially non-related potential donors) and b) be disappointed if it didn't work out.

I did have a couple of friends tell me afterwards that they had been tested (and were not a match), which was fine to know at that point, since it was after the fact. I was so moved and honored that they would even consider doing such a thing as donate a kidney to me, and I would tell them! They would usually say that they were surprisingly disappointed that it didn't work out, which said to me that they were really serious about going through with it. 

As it turns out, my sister was able to donate a kidney to me through a positive crossmatch program at Mayo Clinic on December 5, 2006! I have since heard from other friends (and even acquaintences!) that they were tested as well. I can't tell you what that means to me...it brings tears to my eyes that they care so much! 

[jedimaster]

  good luck!.....really!!!!!!!!

[nextnoel]

Well, my friend called and she was not able to make the appointment because she had the flu. She is going to try to get tested once she goes back home to London. I am really disappointed.

I get the feeling that she may not be too into donating. I don't want to push because donating a kidney is a really big sacrifice. I don't know what the next step is.

Sorry about your disappointment;        I hope better results will come for you soon.  Meantime, just keep putting one foot in front of the other, take nice deep breaths, and stay in touch!