Gift of giving

Gift of giving

ELEANOR TAYLOR 19.DEC.07

It is a gift you can't buy at a mall, a gift not offered in any catalog. It is a gift of ultimate sharing, unselfish, loving compassion for another.

No red bows and Christmas wrapping were a part of Sharon Vaughan's gift to her brother, Sean Raymond, 34. The gift was "exchanged" when both were patients at the University of Maryland Medical Center.

Sharon's gift to Sean, who has been on kidney dialysis for two years, was one of her kidneys.

Sharon, the financial center manager at the Glyndon branch of Wachovia Bank, said, "Sean said to me that he was concerned about asking me, but when he said, `Could you be a donor?' I answered, `Yes, set it up.' We had known for six months that the dialysis was not working."

This was just the beginning of investigations and myriad tests that began last June and ended with surgery in late October.

Sharon said, "I had many scans and very extensive blood work, physicals, heart and kidney tests. Along the way it was discovered that I had a rare blood disorder, no cause for any concern or treatment of me, but requiring me to have more testing every 10 days."

Surgery, Sharon explained, took place simultaneously in two operating rooms. Surgeons communicated constantly by telephone. Five incisions were required for Sharon's surgery.

Personal tragedy struck while both were hospitalized. Their mother, who had no known heart problem, was found dead in her home. Because of this Sharon was released from the hospital just three days after surgery because she was needed at home.

Through it all, Sharon said the support of her husband James and her children, plus her strong religious faith kept her intact.

Back to work on Dec. 10, Sharon said she feels "stronger every day," although intermittent fatigue is expected to continue for some time.

And Sean?

Sharon said he lost 50 pounds of fluids and in two and one half weeks was back to work in the Baltimore school system.

"What a change for him from going straight from work for four hours of dialysis three times a week. He had no quality of life. Now, he's really doing great!"

Family and friends will gather at Sharon's home for Christmas. It will be a true celebration of Christmas as a time of giving.

Eleanor Taylor writes from her home in Glyndon.

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