Kidneys and Things

This week, my friend Phats put up a great post about organ donation. If you didn't read, it, hop over to his blog and check it out. I told him it's my most favorite post he's ever written.

Phats knows about organ donation firsthand because he's been the recipient of it. When we were sixth graders, he had to have a kidney transplant. His father donated a kidney to him and now, 21 years later (wow, we're old!), he's still doing great! (This is how he gets to completely kill me in every game at every game night.)

Phats asks at the end of his post if you've considered organ donation and goes on to tell how you can make sure your donation wishes are known, should something happen to you. I've always said (or at least since I've had my license, where I could list that I want to be a donor) that if anything happened to me, and something could be used for someone else...take it. I'm dead. Why do I need it?

But I have to tell you that I went through a time a few years back, when I struggled to be as eager about the whole idea...if I were to be asked to donate an organ while I'm still living. I feel like a horrible person saying that - especially since Phats' father was in that very position and I'm so glad he did it! But it's true. I did struggle.

A friend of mine, who is actually a couple of years younger than I am, also donated a kidney - to her father. She was young, newly married, and hadn't had kids or anything when she donated, and I remember hearing the story and being so terrified for her. What if something went wrong and she died? Or what if she ended up being told she shouldn't have kids because it was too risky? (She didn't die, she does have kids, and her father is a healthy and active man because of her gift!)

I knew it was stupid of me to get so worked up over it. It didn't involve me in ANY way, and it was certainly her choice to make. (And she was eager to do it!) But it did make me think long and hard about the idea of sacrifice. It's one thing to say you'll donate your organs if you're dead and you don't need them. But what if you're asked to share what you might still need? Would you do it?

I hope I've grown up enough now and have moved past my selfishness enough that I'd be as eager to help someone as Phats' father and my friend did. I hope I would be honored to share, not frightened to give.

So that's what's on my mind about kidneys and things. And the whole dead or alive issue aside, I would really encourage you to read Phats' story and think about being an organ donor!