Never would have thought that a Cape delivery would turn into a kidney donation, but then again, magic is always happening at TinySuperheroes !
Six years ago today, right before putting me under, a surgeon asked me, ‘are you sure you want to go forward with this? You can change your mind now and we will make a medical excuse for you.’ He was dead serious, but so was I. We were doing it. I can’t explain why, but I had no doubts in that moment, no doubts in the months prior, and no doubts in the six years since… Donating a kidney to Michael was exactly what I wanted to do. On January 17, 2018, at St. Louis University Hospital, Dr. Chintalapati Varma removed my left kidney, put it in a cooler, walked it through an underground tunnel into Michael’s room at SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital, and magically made it Michael’s kidney. Within a day we both had full kidney function. It’s remarkable to recall that the entire journey started with Michael’s TinySuperheroes Cape! A local tv station wanted to interview a mom and film a Cape delivery, and Michael’s name was on my list! We met at a park near the hospital after his dialysis. Michael was just 1 year old at the time, and it was during that interview that I learned an adult could donate a kidney to a child…and it BLEW MY MIND. ?? I can't explain this, but I knew in my soul, right then and there, that I was going to be Michael’s donor. ***This is entirely insane to say, as months of testing are necessary and there was no way for me to actually know that I would be his donor… but I’m telling you….I knew!*** Awareness is so critical here. Over 100,000 people wait for a kidney on the transplant list every year.?And every year, only 16,000 get one.?That means 84,000 people did not. Kidney donation might not be everyone’s calling, but if we open our eyes, we’ll find that opportunities to make real impact are all around us. People carry on to me about what a kind gesture this was - but here is what I think most people miss… Donating my kidney gave as much life to me as it did to Michael. The sooner we all learn that giving to others brings us the joy we are all seeking, the sooner we will put down our phones and start engaging in the beautiful world with the beautiful people around us. Donating my kidney is one of the most fulfilling experiences in my life. I will forever be grateful that Michael and his family accepted me with open arms. When the surgeon visited me the day after surgery, I asked him how my kidney was doing.?He assertively replied 'It’s not your kidney anymore.'?It made us giggle, and it is true, and I couldn’t be happier about it. #donatelife #organdonation #organdonor #kidneytransplant #kidneyhealth #tinysuperheroes #kindnessmatters National Kidney Foundation Donate Life America SSM Health KSDK - 5 On Your Side ST. LOUIS UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL - ANHEUSER BUSCH INSTITUTE
