Sometime this year (and I can't recall exactly when), I found out that our dear family friend needed a kidney. He was diagnosed with Alports syndrome and while he is maintaining... his kidney function is dramatically reduced. His brother has the same syndrome and received a new kidney almost 2 years ago. A new kidney means a new life. I had thought about being tested over 2 years ago... but didn't. Looking back, I'm not sure I can figure out why I didn't... just, that I didn't. But when I found out that another kidney would be needed, I felt a strong "calling" that I needed to be tested.
What started as a call to my doctor turned into calls to the South Texas Blood and Tissue Center, which turned into a call to Texas Organ Sharing Alliance, who finally told me that in order to find out if I was a match, I would need to contact the hospital in St. Louis, contacting the recipients doctors.
They sent me a packet and instructed me to find a lab that would do a courtesy blood draw and then I would fed-ex the package back to BJH. After being told "no, we don't do that"... I contacted a friend who worked for University Hospital. My friend put me in touch with exactly the right people! Not only did they do the courtesy blood draw, but they also did the second round of tests as well.
I received a call on a Wednesday that I was a match for my friend. The nurse told me that our blood "lives in harmony together" and that I was a 2 out of 6 match. I remember crying and feeling so happy! Second only to that news was being able to call my friend and tell him. The best part was that we were all planning to be together in two weeks for my sister's wedding.
I have described this "calling" as something like this: Women who give birth, have children, give OF themselves and MORE than themselves constantly. It becomes part of who they are... this giving of more... something beyond themselves. Not having had children, I haven't HAD to do that. I feel like in some small way, this is a chance for me to experience that level of giving. Even if it actually doesn't happen for some reason... I have a small taste of giving something bigger than myself. This opportunity makes warms my soul and touches something deep.
stay tuned...
Back to Mary writing:
Now we are past the middle of the month of October and the next step will soon be taking place. I wanted to share some family photos from Carla's wedding, when almost all of the entire family gathered in support of Carla & Delvin. Kelly's wife, Elizabeth, was on call that weekend and couldn't come..but the 3 sons, 2 of their wives, and their 6 children, as well as their parents, Mike and Phyllis. Uncle Mike officiated at the wedding, and Aunt Phyllis contributed gift bags for the out-of-town guests staying overnight at the camp. It was a family gathering, indeed, and it was a very special time for Pat and Jo to talk about what was ahead of them.
On the left is Pat, who needs a new kidney, holding the youngest person at the wedding, his niece, Alice (who belongs to the youngest brother, Tim, seated at the right. Tim received a new kidney nearly two years ago this December and is thriving. In the middle is the eldest, Kelly, with one of his sons.
As the end of the month approaches, Jo flies to St. Louis to undergo the final battery of tests at Barnes-Jewish Hospital. Carla (aka Mrs. Rowlett!) will be with Jo, as well as Aunt Phyllis. We covet your prayers for everyone involved and you will be hearing more.
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