Can I borrow a cup of sugar? Thanks! How 'bout one of your Kidneys?
For many, many years - so many in fact that I can’t pinpoint the beginning - there has been a group of 6 or so of us ‘neighbor ladies’ that get together for each of our birthdays throughout the year. It’s really just a tangible excuse to be sure we all stay in touch, because even living on the same street can still find life taking over, and the days without contact can turn into weeks, and then months. I’ll admit with my tail between my legs that I am probably the most guilty one of the bunch having a lack of awareness of how much time has lapsed. Each of us women all have very different day to day lives, personalities, backgrounds, careers, families and hobbies, but we truly cherish one another and enjoy these birthday gatherings.
Today two of these ladies and their families have me especially honored to be in their world and be witness to some really beautiful gift giving.
The first is Shelley, the tallest and quietest of our bunch. She isn’t shy necessarily, she simply doesn’t talk just for the sake of talking and has a gentle calm demeanor. She is never demanding of attention, time, the spotlight or public opinion, but yet is very passionate about her beliefs and the things she chooses to be involved in. She is incredibly loyal and always makes you think that whatever you are ranting about now is interesting. For the last 7 years, Shelley’s health has been steadily declining, and she’s had to make some lifestyle changes. Finally a few months ago, with her kidneys barely functioning, she was put on the Kidney Transplant List and told to ‘start looking for a donor’.
Not exactly an easy task - it’s a kidney, not a cup of sugar. Especially for someone who doesn’t feel comfortable in the spotlight or talking about herself. But her desire to stay alive and get as healthy as she can to enjoy more time with her family trumped that discomfort, and we started setting up a few social media accounts for her. She wrote out ‘her story’ and sat thru a few quick, informal coaching sessions with me. How do you even ask someone for a kidney? We titled her first blog post 'Hi, I am Shelley – I am looking for a kidney!'
A few houses down the block from Shelley lives another one of these wonderful women, Debbie, and her husband Darrell. Debbie is a perpetual motion machine, and on a normal day has more done/cleaned/baked/recorded/worked-out/organized/filed by 7am than I will even be able to think about all day. She is a take charge person with bottomless empathy, and when she sees a need she fills it. And if it’s beyond her capabilities she will bring you home baked cookies and pray for you. She puts procrastinators like me to shame, but hey, if there weren’t us procrastinators in the world, no one would ever be able to appreciate the enormity of what she does (*smile*). Honestly, she is simply a beautiful giver. Debbie and Shelley have a special bond, and their families all know each other very well. In fact, Shelley’s daughter went to Debbie’s house for daycare her whole life.
When Shelley was placed on the transplant list, Debbie’s husband, Darrell had a hunch he could be a match, right from the beginning. He didn’t make a big public deal out of it, but quietly went thru the initial testing, and then continued on with each successive battery of tests as time went on. He passed each test, and was moved closer and closer to being a match. Although some people, when they found out he was considering doing this, questioned him and asked if he’d really thought this through, Darrell never waivered. He is a man of strong faith, and feels that he’s been blessed in his life, and this is simply in his heart as being the right thing. Debbie is touched and proud of her husband and his selfless gift for her dear friend.
So in a few short hours from now - Thursday morning, December 29th 2011, at 5:30am, Shelley, her husband Scott, and Debbie and Darrell will travel to Hennepin County Medical Center, where the doctors will transplant one of Darrell’s healthy kidneys into Shelley.
What a great Christmas present =)
If you are a person of faith, say a little prayer for them today, will you?
photo courtesy of http://flic.kr/p/539Hgr
Update 11am 12/29/11
I just heard from Debbie, and this is what she is reporting:
"Shelley's doctor was just in and she is now in recovery. Should see Darrell in about 15 minutes. Her transplant went well. Darrell had a nice big kidney for Shelley. They had to remove some scar tissue from it could have been from an old injury when he was a kid. So a little more bleeding for Shelley. They will now monitor it to make sure it starts working for Shelley.
Update 7:30pm 12/29/11
Shelley and Darrell are both doing well, and resting in rooms near one another at HCMC. Shelley had just called Debbie on her cell to inquire how Darrell is doing =) So awesome!
I learned that they actually left Shelley's two barely functioning kidneys in, and then added Darrell's, so now she has three! Things are looking good so far for both of them.
This is amazing when you think about how not all that many years ago this would not have been possible =)
Update 12/30/2011
WCCO was at the hospital a short time ago and interviewed both Shelley and Darrell and will be airing the story tonight at 6pm =) WOW!
