pay it forward

I'm pleased as punch to announce my presence on the timesunion.com's 'Pay it Forward' blog!

I have been an avid reader/viewer/snooper of the Times Union's (TU) blogs for many years now and never really thought that someday I would be a contributor.  This past summer, I was contacted by the TU to contribute to their many bloggers online. I was up to my elbows in martinis alligators, and knew I didn't have time to dedicate to more work. Times have changed, and when they contacted me again in early 2012, I decided this was something that I not only wanted to do, but needed to do.

I will be joining Mary Kenney, on 'Pay it Forward', where I will share my story about my donation, along with some other sarcastic commentary I feel I need to vent weekly to those that are bored enough to visit. Mary and I share the same philosophy, the same cravings for margaritas, and a helluva head of hair. She's the total package and I'm blessed to have made this connection with someone so special. Plus, she's smart. I love smart people.

So, give us a try and tune in often to see what kind of goodness and genuine concern we can bring to the table.

My introductory post is up today, stop in and see me! 

60-person chain of transplants

The National Kidney Registry has facilitated an unprecedented
60-person chain of kidney transplants.

The New York Times has done a beautiful and thorough piece on this, and I encourage any prospective donor to read the article. Again, another example of how important non-directed donors are in yielding larger numbers of kidney transplants annually.

Click here to read the article in the New York Times.

Kudos to Garet Hil and his team at the National Kidney Registry!

free beer and hot wings... thank you

I'm not talking about the feast of hops and fat. I'm talking about the men I wake up with every weekday morning - my radio guys, the Free Beer and Hot Wings morning show.

This syndicated, morning talk show has been my daily happy pill since Howard Stern left our local radio station for satellite. I remember tuning in that first morning they took over, and as soon as I heard the name I was turned off. I'm glad I gave them a chance, because after enduring their stupidity for about two weeks, they really grew on me. I know it sounds ridiculous, but I feel like these guys are a part of my family. I've been with them through their ups and downs, the births of their children, their personal accomplishments off the air, etc... and they've been with me through mine. Right.

They stop in Albany for live remotes about once a year and you can guarantee that regardless of what watering hole they show up in, I'm there. I've met them countless times and they are always kind, considerate and willing to take the time to chat with all their fans. I. Love. Them.

And I'm sure they love me. Like me? Maybe. I tune them in as soon as I hit my car in the a.m. for my dreaded trip to hell the office. I wait in the parking lot until the commercial break, then run into the office, pop open the laptop and continue to stream them until the show ends at 10am. Then I pout.

I'm particularly attracted to their show because of the wide range of current events they cover. They are all bright and humorous men, but their commentary is always fair, honest and very real. They have this ability to speak their minds without creating a partisan fog attached to their brand. I don't always agree with their social and political views, but they have a brilliant way of speaking their minds without pissing off the natives. Stay with me because I do have a point here. I'm just being selfish because these guys mean so much to me, I feel the need to brag about them.

Eric Zane, of (FBHW) and I
Summer 2010, Ravenswood Pub

This Wednesday morning, they updated the audience on the story of Marine Cpl. Kelsey De Santis' date with Justin Timberlake. I won't bore you with the details, but the premise of the story led them to the topic of emotional blackmail, and how these type of requests from us 'little' people to celebrities could easily get out of hand, and where do you draw the line? Agreed. 

It was then that the guys read an email from a listener whose mother was in need of a kidney transplant. This woman asked Eric Zane if she would go on a date with her mother, to raise awareness of her mother's need for a kidney. And he jumped all over that and said, "Of course... not." In a few short minutes, the conversation quickly transitioned into kidney donation, and that's when I got a little bit excited.

I have their call-in number on my phone, for that one time in my life that I think I'm actually going to have the balls to call in and spew my opinion to the national audience about flatulence, pornography, animal abuse, or any number of the intelligent topics they cover. I took a deep breath, hit the call button and prayed they wouldn't pick up. They picked up, and then I peed my pants. 

Within 15 seconds I was on the air. Honestly, I don't even remember too much of what I said, and I'm thankful that I will never have the opportunity to hear myself. I do remember expressing my thoughts on being a living kidney donor and sharing with them the opportunity that I was blessed with and how easy this is for the healthy segment of this population to consider being a part of.  I explained that I was a non-directed donor, that I recently met my recipient (btw, that blog post is around the corner), and how terrific and healthy I still feel.

Producer Joe, Free Beer, Eric Zane, Hot Wings and Steve

And so, within a minute I was on and off the radio. This made my day. For two reasons: I got to talk to my radio guys, and, they let me share my story and bring this very important issue to the airways. You can't imagine how much this meant to me. Best part of all is that they were nice to me. I expected them to deliver sarcasm at their best. Nope. See, they do like me. 

The conversation continued for a short bit, and they took several more calls on this. I was so happy that this was being discussed on national radio. But, I was even happier to see the positive feedback offered by their listening audience. They were as surprised as I was, getting a slew of emails from listeners expressing genuine interest in being a candidate to donate their kidney to Kelley's mom. Success!

Much to my surprise, Thursday brought even more interest in the topic, and again, my guys delivered. More listeners called in to express interest in the show then added Kelley's blog link to their site, for those that were requesting more information on the recipient's story. I quickly shot an email to the show and added that they need to explain to the listeners the seriousness of this process and that's it not to be taken lightly. Free Beer read my email on the show and pointed the listeners to the National Kidney Registry, should they want to learn more about how to become a donor. Once again, I peed my pants. Success, part deux!

I think I'm still riding on the high of this experience. Never in a million years did I imagine that two of my favorite things in the world would come together as one. I have since emailed Kelley, and shared with her my own personal journey, and promised her I would contact her again soon to give her some contacts. Kelley's story is just one of 80,000+ right now. 

What I found to be surprising about this conversation on the air, was the overwhelming and sincere response of listeners that were actually interested in pursuing this. I still think that if we could have more opportunities to spread the word and bring awareness of living kidney donation, the misconceptions of surgery could be dramatically reduced. I'm also convinced that the media outlet to share this information needs to be re-thought. Why do we need to limit our conversation and exposure to health fairs and expos only? Why can't our voices be heard more on the radio and TV? The general public needs to be informed more often, from us donors. We've been on this journey to save a life. We continue our adventure, with only one kidney, as living proof that it can be done.

Until next time... please tune in to hear my radio guys. I guarantee you will be insulted, shocked, humored and even impressed. 

national kidney registry... thank you!

On the weekend of May 1, 2011, the 11th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Tranplant Surgeons and The American Society of Transplantation, met in Philadelphia, PA for the 2011 American Transplant Conference. The word 'American' is used way too many times in that sentence. The National Kidney Registry (NKR) was a participant. I can only assume that there is a tremendous amount of scientific and clinical information regarding solid organ and tissue transplantation exchanged and discussed among some of the top surgeons and scientists in the world. Yawn. As interesting as I'm sure the presentations were, I would imagine it would all sound Greek to me. I am intrigued (for the obvious reasons) by this area of study, but know I would last all of 5 minutes as an audience member.

NKR, specifically Diane Zocchia (my transplant coordinator), was kind enough to invite me to attend a reception at this event on the evening of May 2nd. I was thrilled at this opportunity to mingle with the rich and famous NKR Management Team and other transplant center medical staff, but even more excited when she told me that I would be meeting 10-12 living donors. Since my surgery, I have not yet met another altruistic donor and the thought of being able to share stories amongst other donors was very exciting to me. Diane told me I could bring a guest that was with me during my donation experience. Since Derek was knee deep in season, I chose my mom. What a trade-off, eh? Off we go in the Jetta - me, mom and Xanax, on our little roadtrip to Philly, adding a few days to make it a mini vacation. Wow.

Monday's agenda started with a small donor meeting in our hotel so we could all be introduced to each other. What a wonderful group of people, but then again I expected nothing less. Diane asked if we could attend a press conference at City Hall to help publicize the National Kidney Registry. Sure, why not. What we didn't know then is that we would all be asked to speak at the press conference. Thank God for the Xanax. Although I was terrified to speak in front a crowd full of cameras, it was a great experience and I was honored and proud to be there to represent NKR. State representative Robert W. Godshall of PA was in attendance as well to receive a Political Action Award for introducing ground breaking legislation in the Organ and Bone Marrow Act.

(L to R) Lynne Samson, director of the National Transplant Foundation, State Representative and bone marrow recipient Robert W. Godshall (R) Montgomery County Pennsylvania, Gary LeBlanc, director of education and outreach for the National Kidney Registry, Janele Guzik, donor from CA, Judith Pasquarella, donor from MI, Daryl Julich, donor from IA, Hope Preston, donor from NJ, Angela Stimpson from NY and Chris Pricco, COO for OptumHealth Care Solutions (Photo courtesy of AP).

That evening, NKR hosted the 3rd Annual Awards Reception, honoring the achievements of the American Transplant Community. All 11 of the altruistic donors were invited. What we didn't know until that day is that we were all being honored with the American Hero Award. Had I known, I would have upgraded my consignment shop ensemble for something that cost more than a meal deal at McDonald's. Oh, how I wished I had worn my cha-cha heels. I had the opportunity to meet my recipient's coordinator, out of the UCLA transplant center, and also chatted with my coordinator from Weill-Cornell.

Garet Hill, the Founder and President of NKR,  gave a beautiful speech that featured just one of the many success stories of transplants that NKR has facilitated.

Garet Hill (center), pictured here with eight of the donors.

Award presentations followed, recognizing individuals and organizations exhibiting an extraordinary commitment to saving and improving the lives of those suffering from kideny failure through paired exchange. I just plagerized that entirely from the program. Last but not least, all the donors were honored with the American Hero Award. Woo hoo! Check it out, it's actually aesthetically pleasing, unlike the slew of bowling trophies lining my mantle.

All 11 donors were presented with this award. 

I was so moved, and felt touched that the NKR recognized us for what I feel is not an achievement, but an opportunity. Not everyone is blessed with a clean bill of health that would allow them this experience. The National Kidney Registry was a significant factor in the seamless process of my donation experience. Diane's presence in my life before, during and after my donation made for a beautiful experience that isn't always the case with a lot of kidney donations. NKR is an informative, organized and passionate organization that has facilitated 276 transplants since the program started in 2008. I urge anyone that is considering being a donor to make their first step a visit online to their website and register.

Thank you, National Kidney Registry, for this beautiful award but more importantly, thank you for being there for me during my donation.

Until next time... The monsoon seems to be over and summer is just around the corner. Happy girl!

support, please? - part II

In my lifetime, I've found most often that any support I've needed has come from immediate family members or very close friends. After all, they know me best and the trust and loyalty I need from them has been well established for many years. So, I guess I would say that I would never imagine that I would seek support from someone that I had never met before, yet alone ever spoken to.

As I began my journey of donating my kidney, I found that I didn't have a choice and would need to look elsewhere for this support. I wanted to find others that would be able to give me the knowledge, information, facts and honest opinions to all my questions about kidney donors, and their experience. As much as I love my family and friends, there was no way in hell they would be able to help me with this. They weren't even aware at this stage of my journey, so seeking support from them was out of the question. I needed a new friend and mentor to be there for me when I was 'stuck' with crazy questions about everything ranging from how to successfully accomplish my 24-hour pee tests to filling out the numerous documents required.

I had spent many hours doing research on living kidney donations and at this point I was confident that I had collected all the information I needed to feel comfortable with the actual surgery. What I didn't have was information about the personal and delicate questions that any patient is hesitant to ask of their physician.  I knew there were many tests to come, prior to my surgery, and then I also knew that recovery would be another area I was lacking information about.  When I connected with Harvey Mysel (Living Kidney Donors Network), I asked him if he could possibly provide me with contact information of other living kidney donors. My thought was that if I could talk to others that had been there and done that, I would be able to absorb the entire experience more thoroughly, through their words. Harvey suggested I contact two donors; one was a woman from New Jersey who donated in March of 2010, and the other was a woman living in Chicago that was going to be donating in the upcoming weeks.

I didn't delay the connection I needed with them for even one day. My first phone call was to Hope Preston. Hope lives in NJ and donated her kidney at the same hospital where I would eventually end up having my surgery. She was so kind and helpful, providing me with the answers to the questions I had about Weill-Cornell specifically, and also sending me a copy of a journal that she kept detailing her daily progress before and after her surgery. This was extremely helpful and it really broke down the experience much more clearly for me.

The following day I called Cara Yesawich, the other donor Harvey told me about that was soon to have her surgery. Little did I know just how much this woman would become a part of my life. I new she was someone special after the first phone conversation we shared and I also knew that she would be the mentor and friend that I needed during this inquisitive time for me. Cara provided me with all the answers I needed, even the most embarrassing and personal ones. I felt so comfortable talking with her and never hesitated to ask her something regardless of how stupid I thought it was. I think knowing that she honestly didn't mind helping me was a huge relief. I never once felt as though I was bothering her and got a positive vibe from the beginning, that she truly cared. 

For those that are in the process of becoming a living kidney donor, please request a mentor if you find you need someone that can be there for you who has lived the experience. You will be so relieved and comforted just knowing you can rely on a buddy that will give you guidance as you progress through your journey. I'm persistent when I want results, and I will be assertive to get them. One thing you won't find in all the literature you receive is answers to questions (honest answers) about pain, scarring and digestive difficulties during recovery. Ya know, all the poop questions. What about all the mobility challenges I would encounter after surgery? I never even thought of that. Cara prepared me for the little struggles I would have like preparing meals and getting in and out of bed. I also would have never known if all the weird things spinning in my head immediately before surgery were natural. All these thoughts were so easily dismissed in my mind with a quick phone call or email to Cara. The discharge papers they hand you when you leave the hospital are about as informative as a clue on a scavenger hunt. It's a joke, really, and I can't tell you how much post-op information I got from Cara, daily. She was my angel, and still is.

So, should you be in the beginning stages of your donation, I urge you to find a mentor. The Living Kidney Donors Network, the National Kidney Registry, Living Donors Online, Cara, and myself included, would be more than happy to help you with your questions. We are not doctors, and don't claim to be, but during such an important experience in your life, you have the right to ask virtually anything you want. And, you have the right to get an answer, with a lot of support and care packed into it.

Thank you, Harvey, Cara, Diane, Robyn and all the other donors that were there for me when I needed support - when I needed a friend.

Until next time.... hope you're all enjoying the Christmas spirit.

support, please? - part I

NOTE:  Until now, this blog served as an online journal for me, and those that chose to follow me. I feel as though I was successful in delivering that content. I will be approaching a 3-month post-surgery date soon and I need to shift my focus now on mentoring. Going forward, my intent is to provide more material to inform & educate donor-wanna-beez. My goal is to give those beginning their journey, the information I felt I needed most when I made the decision to be a living kidney donor. For good measure, I'll toss in a few irrelevant posts for my audience - to some I will humor, others I will bore to tears...

I can clearly recall the night I decided to take the leap to explore living kidney donation. I spent hours online, Googling this and Googling that. I didn't even know there was a term that would describe what would be the experience I would be able to undergo only 6 months later. I was all over the place and eventually got bounced to several sites providing me with scrumptious recipes on kidney bean salads. Ok, so I got a little sidetracked (and felt a little gassy just reading about them.) Anyhow, I was putting a hell of a lot of effort into this research but I didn't really know what it was I should be researching. Good thing I wasn't on a deadline or I would have failed the project.

My brain is a sponge for information. When I'm on a mission to learn something new, I thrive on the minutia. Give me details, please! My research that evening, and many others to follow, provided me with more material on kidney transplants/donations/surgery than I could ever absorb. So, here I am with all this crap and I don't know how to digest it all. Do I begin with educating myself on kidney disease and those who are suffering while waiting for a transplant, or do I jump into the fire and call my local hospital and ask them where I sign to donate my kidney? This was the start of what became my only frustration of this journey... not knowing where to begin, and then how to follow through.

I knew what I needed. I needed support. I needed a 'go to' person, web site, contact, book, video... whatever. I just needed a good solid source that would give me a step-by-step plan to follow. I'm also a teeny-tiny, itsy-bitsy, lil' bit of a perfectionist and thrive on guidelines and rules (except for my sugar intake.) God forbid I make a move forward if I'm not following a proper protocol, especially with something as important as donating my kidney. I couldn't believe how many web sites include 'network', 'organization', 'foundation' or 'association' - preceded by 'kidney'. My attempt to determine which one was more credible than the other failed and I was becoming more frustrated by the moment. I couldn't help but think to myself, if they are all offering equally accurate information, then why can't they all get together and create one giant site called...  everythingaboutkidneydonations.com. Nice ring to it, eh?

You'll be shocked to know this, but, I'm impatient. I know, I know, I have a flaw and I can't believe it myself either. I was anxious to kick this up a notch and really make some progress. Don't know how many of you have heard of Facebook, but I decided to give it a shot and post a query on my status update. Bingo! You should try it sometime. Harvey Mysel, president of the Living Kidney Donors Network, was quick to respond to my post and within days we had shared our first phone conversation. Harvey became that source that I was seeking, the support and clarity I needed to move forward hitting fewer roadblocks as I aimlessly surfed the web.

Now I could really get down to bizness! Harvey's guidance was instrumental in my introduction to become a living kidney donor. Armed with more knowledge about the process, and the direction to move forward to yield solid results, I registered online at the National Kidney Registry. I would soon learn that my journey becoming a living kidney donor would give me not only a meaningful experience, but a very special connection to a support system of other living donors.

-  Part II to follow...

Until next time... as you shop for holiday gifts, don't forget about your favorite non-profit organization.

thank you, and you, and you...

Today is two weeks to the day of my surgery. Aw, kinda like an anniversary. I'm recovering well, I think. At least I feel like I am. Today was my second full day at work; I went back last Friday but could only tolerate a half day. Monday wasn't too bad, but I left at 3pm. Up until Monday night I have not been able to sleep through the evening and have been experiencing the worst of my pain in bed at night. It's because Derek hogs all the space in the bed. It's because I can't get comfortable.  However, last night was great! A full night of sleep and I felt like a million bucks when I woke this morning.

Because my pain is diminishing daily and I haven't been as distracted, I've had more time to ponder and reflect on this journey, specifically the recent surgery. As most of you know, I live alone. I don't have a husband or a child to annoy care for me. What I do have is an unbelievable support system of friends and family that makes me feel like the luckiest woman in the world. Were it not for their concern, care, comfort and genuine generosity, I know that this recovery would have been extremely challenging, lonely and emotionally painful. I am fortunate to have many friends, almost too many (do you want some?) and this has probably been the first time in my life when I have truly needed their help. It's hard for me to ask anyone for help, and I know that's an ongoing character flaw that I've yet to lose, but I've discovered that these people in my life are there for me because they want to be. What a great feeling it is to know that I have surrounded myself by some of the kindest friends a person could ask for!

So many people did so many wonderful things for me, and I wanted to take some time to thank them, here. Let me start by saying that I can't possibly list them all, the Facebook friends list alone would have you all napping by the 10th name, but I do feel the need to express my gratitude for a select few. If you don't want to stick around for this, then go ahead and bounce over to water your crops on Farmville or tweet your friends about who you hope will be kicked off of Dancing with the Stars next week. Just know you'll be missing what to me is the most important post I've offered yet. Buh-bye.

In no particular order, so don't get all weird about this, ok?

• Amanda (my sister)  -  You were there to entertain me, make me laugh, reassure and comfort me, calm me and most importantly, provide me with your unconditional love and support. Thank you so much for being there at my side prior to my admittance and after the surgery in the recovery room. You're the best sister anyone could ask for.
• Mom - Your support of my decision to be a donor means more to me than anything you could ever do for me in my life. This was the most important and meaningful decision I have ever made and knowing you were behind me 100% made this experience so pure, without any hesitation, because of your love. I love you so much.
• Cara Yesawich (my donor mentor) -  Although I've never met you, I feel like I've known you forever. Your time, information, honesty and care are more than I could have asked for in a mentor. Your phone calls and emails of encouragement, support and post-surgery tips were priceless to me.  I hope to one day be able to meet this angel that I feel so connected to... thank you for being there for me, Cara.
• Robyn Wheatley (my donor mentor)  - You too live so far away but I feel like you're right around the corner. Your daily emails and calls to me after surgery comforted me and made me feel secure about my progress. It was so nice to know I could just pick up the phone or email you and within minutes you had all the answers. I hope you and I can run a race together one day, just because we only have one kidney doesn't mean we won't kick ass!
• Harvey Mysel - Without your response to my Facebook status update, I don't think I'd be writing this blog. Your kind and honest approach in providing me with direction and support as I was processing my decision was the confirmation I needed in knowing that this was the best gift I could have ever given to someone. I hope that in the future I can return the favor by helping your organization by becoming a mentor. Thank you for providing me with wonderful mentors and accurate information. I admire your strength and motivation.
• Diane Zocchia (transplant coordinator - National Kidney Registry) - I know, I ask a million questions, and you deserve a raise! Your specific information and detailed account of your own kidney donation was so reassuring to me. I appreciate all your work on the logistics of our lodging at the hospital - that big 'ol city scares the hell out of me and thanks to you, I didn't worry about a thing.  NKR is lucky to have you on their team and I am so fortunate to have had you with me every step of the way.  Thank you for adding the personal touch to this journey that I found to be so comforting to me.
• Sue Rice - I now have enough food in my freezer to last me until St. Patrick's Day. Thank you for your generosity and thank you for adding more junk in my trunk.

I want to thank all my friends for the beautiful cards, emails, text messages, phone calls and special gifts you have all given me.  Just knowing you all cared is what really is important, and I thank you for that.

I hope to post a nice detailed account of my recovery soon, as I feel it's very important to share this information with all potential donors that are just beginning their process of being a living kidney donor. Just as it was important to me to know the facts and the personal experiences of other donors, I hope to now be able to mentor others with the same intent.

Until next time... can someone please send me some very hot sunshine and warm weather? I'm already gettin' the winter-time blues...  :-(

exciting news

At 3:40pm today I received a phone call from my transplant coordinator at Weill-Cornell. They have found a match for me! Unfortunately it's not Derek Jeter. Oh, wait... that's another match I'm waiting for. Hubba, hubba.

I'm so thrilled to receive this news today and much to my surprise, it has come much sooner than I anticipated. I don't know much, other than this: it's a 28 year-old female. (We might have a problem here if it's Snooki.)  Apparently her husband wanted to donate his kidney but is not a match for her. Because he is willing to donate his kidney, my kidney donation may be part of a paired donor exchange transplantation! (Watch the video imbedded in the article, it's a great story that explains this process and how if benefits so many.) See, I give mine to my recipient, her husband then gives his to yet another recipient in need, and so on, and so on.

So, what happens now you might ask? Gee, I don't know. Kinda like I haven't really known too much throughout this entire process until it's actually happening. Maybe that's a good thing. I received another phone call today, shortly after the call from Marian (my transplant coordinator). Suzanne, a living donor transplant coordinator from UCLA, called to brief me on my recipient and to explain the next step in this process. Just as I predicted, more blood. I'm not going to have any left at this rate. They will be mailing me a blood test kit and yes, I again will need to get more blood drawn. Immediately after, I will schelp it over to FedEx and overnight it to California. I have a better idea, why don't I go to California and let them draw the blood there. I've never been and could use a little vacation right about now. Once they receive my ziploc 'o blood, they do another round of tests to confirm that I am indeed a match. Within two weeks I should be getting a call to confirm that I'm ok. Soon thereafter, the transplant coordinators schedule my surgery date. Then I need to put down the glass(es) of wine. Kidding. No I'm not. Yes I am.

Throughout this journey I have been doing lots of thinking. Too much, probably. I've been thinking about the 85,000+ people out there that are in need of a kidney and what their days/weeks/months/years are like on dialysis, their quality of life and the pain and discomfort they have to endure every day. I know that I have yet to have my surgery, and that there is going to be pain and discomfort in the near future for me. But it's temporary. It's a very small sacrifice that I have to make that will enable someone to live a full life again, and for longer. I'm reaching out to my audience to please take a moment to review some information about how to be a living kidney donor at the National Kidney Registry's website. As I've said before, I know that this is not for everyone, and I get that. I also know that for many others it's only a matter of educating yourself to feel confident and comfortable about taking steps to become a living kidney donor. I did - please follow me.

Until next time... I'm taking in the sounds, sights and flavors at Saratoga Race Track this weekend - and I can't wait!

matchmaker

I wanted to get to this about three days ago but I have been very busy with a freelance project, plus a girl has to sleep and eat, ya know! I mentioned in my last post about feeling so anxious to get the results from my exams at Weill-Cornell. I had anticipated approximately two weeks of waiting, biting my nails, tapping my fingers, twisting my hair... ok, you get the point. Anyhow, much to my surprise, I received a call on Thursday, July 15th, 2 DAYS AFTER MY TESTS!!! Can you believe it? Well, I can't.

I saw the 'missed call' on my phone and when I checked to see who it was, a rush of excitement mixed with concern filled my tummy. I hesitated for about 5 minutes before I returned the call to Marian. Over the past month I had put a lot of thought into how I might react should I get the unfortunate news that I would not be able to donate. I also decided that should it come to that, I must accept it for what it is and know that everything happens for a reason. However, in my heart I just knew that this was going to work out and that I would pass with flying colors. I did!

It was in the middle of the afternoon and I was at the office - I wanted to scream and shout but thought I might wake the dead that I work with. I can't describe the joy, relief and excitement that I felt. It was almost as if Ed McMahon rang my doorbell and greeted me with a handful of helium balloons and an envelope the size of a VW Bug. Ok not really, but close. The conversation was short and sweet and she told me that the next step was to release the results to the National Kidney Registry so that they could then find me a match.

Again, I was going to give this about 2 weeks, and then I was going to get on the horn and annoy everyone at the NKR to fill me in as to whether they had received the paperwork yet. They must have been having a slow day (or they want to get the Stimpson file off their desk), because I received an email on Wednesday, July 21st, from the NKR. Diane, the administrative coordinator at the Registry, shared the wonderful news with me that they would now begin to look for a match for me! WOO HOO! I certainly hope that they have better luck in finding me a match for my kidney than I have had trying to find a match for my lovelife. This could end up being a 4+ year quest if they encounter the challenges that I have in that department. Let's move on, shall we?

I'm so impressed with the flow of this process as of yet. I think we can all agree that when working with the medical field, speed is not exactly their strength. Not unless they want a payment of course. I am truly surprised at the seamless transition from one institution to the other. I know, they have done this before. I also know that they are experts in their field as well. I guess I just anticipated having to make numerous phone calls and send dozens of emails to get answers and progress reports from stage to stage. None of that has been necessary and thank God because I'm a woman on a mission and they don't wanna mess with me when I've gone too long without sugar. Oh, did I say that out loud? Anyhow, I'm so pleased, I'm grateful and I feel like a million bucks that the last two weeks have been so progressive for me.

Now I sit and wait, and wait, and wait. It's all good though because I am savoring my moments in my journey. I'm enjoying the process, the phone calls, the information, the new contacts I have made with other living donors, and most of all I have enjoyed the love and support that I am getting from all my friends and family. I want you all to know that your presence in my life has made me the person I am today, and I thank you for that.

Until next time... don't ever think it's a good idea to run a 5K when the humidity is at about 130% with the temp at around 80. Just a thought.

may the testing begin...

My decision to become a living kidney donor gives me the option to donate to a specific individual that I may personally know (whom I might be a match for) or, be a non-directed donor to a recipient that would essentially be a stranger. My hopes are that I might be a candidate for a never ending altruistic donation. It appears complicated at first, but if you view this short animated diagram, it explains in simple detail exactly how this donation chain happens. If it’s possible to donate to one recipient and allow an opportunity from that transplant to set off many others, I would be crazy not to be a part of something that could help so many others. As I mentioned in my earlier post, Cara was an altruistic donor that set off one of these chains. At this point in my journey I have no way of knowing if this will be a possibility for me as well, but I am hoping and praying that this opportunity becomes available.

Having made the decision to be a non-directed donor, my next step was to complete a Medical Certification Form from the National Kidney Registry. This form features the many blood tests, and a 24-hour urine test, that I must have completed by my primary physician here in town. I made the appointment to visit my doctor immediately after downloading the form. I remember telling my doctor “Please don't think I'm crazy but I have something to tell you.” I shared with him my desire to be a part of this process and was curious to get some feedback and opinions from him as to what his thoughts were. He expressed his support, and I was back in his office on May 11 to complete the blood work.

Along with the blood work required for this initial basic set of tests, is a 24-hour urine capture. What? I know, that’s what I said. Bottom line is that for a 24-hour period, I have to save all my urine and keep it refrigerated, right next to my eggs and milk. I needed to pick up the container at another office and was a bit surprised when they handed me what seemed to be no more than a quart-sized container. I looked at the nurse and laughed and said, “oh, that won’t do, I will need at least 2 of those.” The last thing I wanted was to be without a container after filling one jug and having to reach for a half-empty pickle jar to complete the test. Well, I can say that upon completion of this fun test, I barely filled 1/4 of one of the jugs. What the hell was I thinking, being all Superwoman-like, as if my urine was all powerful and so strong! I’m sure a Yoo-Hoo jar would have been sufficient.

I received a phone call from my physician on May 17 with some positive results from all my tests and felt relieved that he didn’t find any red flags that might eliminate me at this stage. At this point in my process, I was put in contact with an administrative coordinator, Diane, at the National Kidney Registry. Diane was my liaison with the NKR to ensure that my paperwork was being received and evaluated. She was extremely helpful in answering more questions I had about the process and also filled me in some more on the actual surgery, should I be considered as a donor. On May 25, the NKR still had yet to receive my blood work results and I was growing impatient. I called my doctor and asked the secretary to fax ME the results and I would then forward them to the appropriate department at NKR. On May 26, I received an email from Diane confirming the paperwork was received. Now I had to wait for their medical board to review the results. Tick, tock, tick, tock....

On June 3, I received an email from Diane stating that the medical board had reviewed my results and everything looked good! I almost peed my pants!! I was so relieved, excited, anxious and happy. From the beginning of my contact with Diane I had discussed my wish to have my surgery with the team at Weill-Cornell. Diane then put me in contact with a Transplant Assistant with Weill-Cornell who would be handling my case with the team there. After exchanging some emails and a phone call with Julie, I requested a date to go to New York to begin my tests and be evaluated as a potential kidney donor. On July 13, at 9am I will begin what will be approximately 8 hours of medical tests and a psychiatric exam. I can’t remember a time when I have been this excited to visit a doctor!

Until next time... it's summer, don't deprive yourself of one of life's simplest of pleasures - ice cream!

baby steps

As I mentioned in my earlier post, Harvey Mysel from the Living Kidney Donors Network, was instrumental in providing me with the information I needed that led me to the decision to be a living kidney donor. Harvey established the LKDN after recognizing the need for better resources while pursuing a successful living kidney transplant in 2006. If it wasn’t for his patience and his generous time with me, I know that I might never have taken the steps forward to get me to this point where I am now.

One of the most important factors in my decision, was the ability to be able to talk with a non-directed donor so that I might get all the information I needed, straight from the horse’s mouth - so to speak. The internet will only provide data that is in the best interest of the organization in which you seek to retrieve information. I wanted to build a relationship of sorts with another woman that I knew would be honest with me about her journey, not just a voice behind the process to convince me to hand over my organ. Harvey was kind enough to make a connection for me, and that angel is Cara Yesawich.

Cara lives in Chicago and I was so anxious to talk to her, as we had been emailing for about a week. Excited to finally hear her voice, I was a bit hesitant to get involved in the conversation for fear she would tell me something that might spook me. I didn’t want to hear anything that might create a wave of fear and cause me to terminate my progress towards being a candidate. I can honestly say that my reaction to her story was just the opposite. She was so candid, kind, informative and knowledgeable. I was elated to find her to be as enthusiastic about her journey, just as much as I was about the prospect of being able to donate my kidney. Cara’s story was so inspiring and beneficial to me, and I know it’s because she shared with me the good, the bad and the ugly. I was lucky enough to start my correspondence with her prior to her transplant surgery, which enabled me to get a feel for her emotional state both prior to, and after. Cara was an altruistic donor - a domino that set off a kidney pairing that enabled 8 people to receive a kidney. Calling her an angel is an understatement. I encourage readers to visit her blog to explore her story. She has been such an inspiration to me and I value this new friendship.

Harvey also made a connection for me to another non-directed living kidney donor, Hope Preston. Hope lives in New Jersey, and she too had recently recovered from her surgery. Hope was so informative, providing me with a written journal that gave me detailed day-by-day progress up until and after her surgery. Hope’s transplant surgery was at Weill Cornell Medical College, in New York. She was very pleased with the care and treatment she received there and had suggested that perhaps I look into the possibility of moving forward with that hospital as opposed to a local one here in Albany. So, I began researching more into that option. Hope gave me contact information of her administrative coordinator at the National Kidney Registry and suggested that should I decide to choose Weill Cornell, that I might give her a call. Hope’s speedy recovery, and her positive experience with her transplant team convinced me to work directly with Weill Cornell. Hope too, has been such a positive influence in my decision-making process, and I owe her many thanks for her time, kindness and patience with my inquiries.

On Monday, April 26, 2010, I made the decision to register online at the National Kidney Registry to be considered as a donor. My homework was thorough, and establishing a relationship with Cara and Hope, only solidified my decision. My first step in the process in becoming a living kidney donor was complete and I have to say that it was probably the best decision I have made in a long time. My internal spirit was lifted and I knew that my journey had only just begun.

Until next time... start each day with a big stretch and a glass of water - you will feel refreshed and better prepared!