My first steps on this journey were really just instinctual. I do not know Teddy's family well. We are in the same community (midwives, cloth diapers, babywearing, breastfeeding, natural parenting, etc.), and his mother, Sarah, and I have led groups together, but we don't spend time together or know each other well.
I knew through Facebook (with which I have a love-hate relationship) that they were worried about Teddy's kidneys even before he was born. Sometime after he was born, Sarah posted that he'd eventually need a transplant, and the first thought into my head was, "I'd donate if I was a match."
A little over a year later, Sarah posted that they were making plans for transplant. She had informational packets from the hospital for anyone interested, and again I just thought, "I am going to donate a kidney." Of course, I have thought a lot about this SINCE picking up that packet, but I did not have to sit and think about it before making that first step.
It is hard to explain, but it has just felt right - and from the moment I messaged Sarah about picking up the packet, I knew I'd be the donor.
The thought that keeps coming to me, especially when people ask me why I considered it, is "Someone would do this for me." And I know that. Someone in my life would step forward and help my family if we needed it. And I didn't want to sit around assuming that someone ELSE could and would do this for Teddy.
I knew through Facebook (with which I have a love-hate relationship) that they were worried about Teddy's kidneys even before he was born. Sometime after he was born, Sarah posted that he'd eventually need a transplant, and the first thought into my head was, "I'd donate if I was a match."
A little over a year later, Sarah posted that they were making plans for transplant. She had informational packets from the hospital for anyone interested, and again I just thought, "I am going to donate a kidney." Of course, I have thought a lot about this SINCE picking up that packet, but I did not have to sit and think about it before making that first step.
It is hard to explain, but it has just felt right - and from the moment I messaged Sarah about picking up the packet, I knew I'd be the donor.
The thought that keeps coming to me, especially when people ask me why I considered it, is "Someone would do this for me." And I know that. Someone in my life would step forward and help my family if we needed it. And I didn't want to sit around assuming that someone ELSE could and would do this for Teddy.
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