This is the hardest question I have ever asked.

Hi.

In the nine years that I played Little League, there was one thing that was consistent literally down to every game and every at bat. I couldn't hit a curve ball. By the time he was ten, Gordy Whitehead had amazing control of his pitches and I was the sacrificial lamb at the plate when our dads, who grew up and went to college together, tried to work on our skills.

While I still can't hit a curve ball at the plate, I am getting better at handling the curves that life throws you. Life dropped a nasty curve on my wife and me on Thanksgiving. Out of nowhere, she was diagnosed with Stage Five Acute Kidney Disease, more specifically, Berger's Disease.

Our new Nephrologist told us that what he was about to tell us, normally takes two years to deliver. We got it in twenty minutes.

Jamie needs a new kidney. While she is preparing to receive a transplant, she will need to be on dialysis to replace her kidney's functions.

This is the hardest question I have ever asked of anyone.

Are you willing to donate a kidney to Jamie?

Here is what we have learned about the process of getting tested to be a Living Kidney Donor.

* Our insurance covers EVERYTHING from initial testing, first round testing, transplant surgery, and post surgery visit including travel and living.

* There is a form on line to fill out.

When you download it, you can enter data into, but CANNOT save your work. I learned the hard way. I had to fill it out and print it. When you save it, just the empty form is saved. When you complete the form, you can either mail it to:

The OSU Wexner Medical Center

Comprehensive Transplant Center Pre-Transplant center

300 West 10th Ave., 11th Floor

Columbus, OH 43210

or scan and email it to:

[email protected]

* To qualify as a living kidney donor you must be doing this on your own, no duress.

* Be in good overall physical and mental health

* Be free from uncontrolled high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, kidney disease and heart disease

* Be between 18 and 65

The Transplant team decides who makes the cut, not us.

We learned that an exact blood type match doesn't matter. OSU has a program called Kidney Paired Donation (KPD). It means that you can match someone else that has a match for Jamie. Team A gives to Team B and Team B gives to Team A. They have had as many as six teams donate at once. Participation is KPD completely up to you.

If you are willing, just drop me a note for Jamie's information for the form.

If you have any questions, feel free to call me at 312-375-3036 or the OSU Comprehensive Transplant Center at 800-293-8965 Option 3. There is also a ton of information at https://WexnerMedical.osu.edu/KidneyDonor

It's hard to put into words what this means to us. Your donation is the greatest gift of all. When Jamie's transplant is successful, and it will be, we will be able to pick up where we left off, living the dream.

Jerry & Jamie