03/12/2024
It’s no secret that I’ve had my fair share of medical procedures over the years. Last year I decided to add one more to the list by making the decision to become a living liver donor. There was quite an extensive testing process, but after almost a year of making the decision, completing the testing process, and waiting to be matched with a recipient, I have been matched with a child to donate to. Today I will have my left lateral section of my liver removed and placed in this child to be able to give them a second chance at life. With all I have gone through many don’t understand why I would willing go through this major surgery voluntarily for someone I don’t know. For me, there wasn’t even a second thought at the chance to help another for the better. It’s an undescribable feeling to be able to save somebody else by donating something of yours. Both livers, mine and my recipients, will grow back to full size in the coming months. The short term down time I will have will be nothing compared to the amount of life this child will gain. Organ donation is a beautiful thing, whether from a living donor or a deceased one. Our bodies have the amazing ability to help another and I am proud to donate part of mine. I will spend the next several days in the hospital and then several weeks at home before returning back to normal life.
This has also been a healing process for myself. It took me a long time to be okay with the scars I have received from my hip surgeries. I hated showing them for many years. I have come to love them, appreciate them, and recognize their strength. With this surgery I have made the decision to create a scar of my own choosing. Something I have never been able to do with my hip surgeries. Please say a prayer for the child that will be receiving my liver that their body will accept it and thrive! Tomorrow brings a whole new adventure for me, this child and their family. 💛
