Friday, March 19, 2010

It's Almost D-Day...

For me, D-Day is Donor Day, March 20! Four years ago today, I as prepping for a kidney transplant. Luckily, I was the donor, not the recipient. I donated to my dear Aunt Sher, my mother's sister.

She had gotten an infection years before that had shut down her kidneys, but her doctors were able to get one of them up and running again. Then five or six years ago, it started slowly losing function. She was then told she either needed dialysis or a transplant.

Long story short, I ended up being the best match for her, so I did it. And I'm so glad I did.

I not writing about my donation to trump up how great I am (although, you know, if you say so, I wouldn't refute you....), I am writing about this because I want people to consider looking into becoming donors themselves. Even if it means just signing a donor card, or going online and registering to become a donor. You don't have to donate a kidney, it could be bone marrow. And from what I hear, bone marrow donation isn't anywhere near as painful or difficult as it used to be. Please think about donation, there are many people out there who need someone to just make that little step.

National Kidney Foundation

National Marrow Donor Program

Organ and Tissue Donation Initiative

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