Three seems to be this number that keeps popping up all over my life this year. My sister Molly was diagnosed with Advanced IGA Nephropathy in 2007. It is a genetic kidney disease that has slowly damaged her kidney's to the point she is at now; 5% function. So now we are on the verge of transplant. The moment i heard that Molly was sick i said right away that i wanted to give her my kidney when the time came. Back then it seemed like something that we would not have to worry about for years and years. But a few months ago her levels started to get progressively worse and now her doctor is trying to put off dialysis in favor of transplant. So in the past several weeks i have been going through a number of tests in an attempt to become her living donor. So far each test has come back with positive results. Tomorrow i go in for my final test. A CT scan of my kidneys. This test will determine which kidney they will take and also to check the blood vessels that go to my kidneys. If this test comes back with good results we will get a date for the transplant. Both Molly and i are so excited for the possibility, but trying to not get too ahead of ourselves because there are so many things that can happen between now and surgery.
But if all goes as we hope and pray it will, in May Molly will have 3 kidneys (mine and her old 2) and most of her energy back. I know that is what she is looking forward to more than anything. Molly has always been a go getter. She has worked full time from the age of 15 and even now with all the nausea, swollen ankles, fatigue, and just general crappy feeling she still manages to run a business with my mom, raise her two beautiful daughters, and never ever complains about how sick she feels.
Whenever someone hears that i am trying to donate a kidney to my sister they always say, "wow that is amazing you are so generous." I always say the same thing, "no, my sister is amazing."
And i mean it. I would do anything for her.
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