9 years ago today, I got this...
Its a kidney!
I got it from this person below on the left. My little sister. Well she's now taller. My big little sister.
How awesome is that? And how awesome is the kidney photo? Gory I know. But I remind myself of this not just every day, but extra specially ever year on our transplant anniversary.
I cannot tell you just what a gift it has been. To think of my very very poor health before the transplant when my face was so swollen from steroids trying to keep my kidney functioning as long as it could.
My sick body with little filtration to keep in the goodness & push the toxins out. I felt like I was living with poison inside. My skin was a grey/yellowish. My eyes were sick. And oh the exhaustion!
There was minimal hope for children. I worked a full time job but it took all my efforts. It wasn't a pleasant life.
I am eternally grateful for this gift Janie & to my husband & brothers who all came along to the red cross for tissue matching. It could have been any of them.
I am seriously so lucky. I recognise that although kidney disease & eventual renal failure is not lucky at all, that I had family who were not only willing to share their organs, but were so closely matched to me.
My sister was a perfect tissue match. My brothers were perfectly matched to each other and a very close match to me also but even closer than them was my husband Jeff. Amazing.
Without this transplant, I would either not be here or be on dialysis. I almost certainly would not have A child, let alone 5 beautiful babies.
It is so overwhelming sometimes that I can't really talk about it. It hits you in the throat you know. Uncontrollable big dollopy tears spilling over lids kind of emotional.
I also recognise that there are so many others not in my position who are sitting, waiting on dialysis for the best gift ever.
Seriously - the gift of life.
If you don't think you'll need your organs after you are gone, there are others. Hoping. Wishing. Praying.
It would be lovely & I would be eternally grateful, if you might consider sharing them.
You can register here on the Australian Organ Donor Register but please also tell your loved ones your wishes should the unexpected happen.
There is no proper gift for someone who gives you their kidney but I do like to give my sister a little something every year. I bought my sister 2 presents to celebrate today. One of them she already had so I get to go shopping again to find somethig else!! Yay! Love shopping!
Love the ugly kidney Jane, its doing superbly! Love you forever xoxoxoxoox
Kate xo
