HERO FAMILY

[WYOAnne]

This last June I met my true hero family. I had a transplant 22 years ago and had always wanted to meet my donor family. This last June it finally happened. That is me in the middle with Ann on the R and Jeff on the L. It was an experience that I will never forget. It was so emotional!!!! How do you thank someone for saving your life?!@#$ especially when it was their 16 year old son, Ryan.

It was a wonderful visit. They kept telling me that they knew I was taking care of Ryan's kidney. Over the years I had told them of how I was giving back with my work with my local Donor Alliance and the NKF.

For me, this was truly a life changing event! What a wonderful and caring family!

[Hidden]

My 1 year anniversary was sept 24. I received a living donor kidney as part of a swap — my wife donated to a mother, her daughter donated to me. We had no luck exchanging info through our university hospital. Yet, both parties wanted to get in touch. I found my donor on Facebook last week. Wow! What an awesome lady. We were just in time to send her a wedding anniversary card. Loved how she donated, to me, in order to save her moms life — identical to my wife’s donation. Cool!

Coincidentally, we are all White Sox fans—and all grieved when they were trounced by them “cheeting” Astros. 😉

Also, my dad had a deceased donor kidney transplant 15 years. My family was the only one to get in touch with the deceased donors family. Although, separated by 400 miles, my mom chats with David’s mother almost every day.

As you mentioned wyoanne, these are particularly special bonds. It’s difficult to believe my donor, my wife would make these live saving donations.

Congrats on 22 years 😀

[WYOAnne NKF Ambassador in reply to Hidden]

I encourage every recipient to get in touch with their donor family. For me, it was important to let them know how much I appreciated this GIFT. That first letter was probably the hardest thing I ever had to write. But after I always let them know what I was doing when my daughters married, my husband and I went on trips to Europe, Caribbean, etc. I always wanted them to know I was really living life, thanks to Ryan. Ryan was killed in a car accident at 16 and they donated all of his organs.Meeting them this summer was the ultimate experience. The Mom, Ann, and I just kept hugging each other. Very emotional for all of us. For me...this was a little eerie Ann and me Anne. She believes that it was meant to be. 22 years post transplant from a deceased donor when I was told it would fail after 12-15 years.

Take care and keep posting. Thanks!

[Hidden in reply to WYOAnne]

It’s cool that our donor family is connected to us through my wife/Esther and me/Elsa. Plus, we are all in the Chicagoland area. As you say, those donations are a Gift.

[WYOAnne NKF Ambassador in reply to Hidden]

I received my "GIFT OF LIFE" at U of WI Transplant Center. 5 years ago we moved to WY. My husband was in the Air Force for 25 years and he had 2 assignments in Montana. It was always our dream to move back out West. Those mountains get in your blood. Montana taxes are too high and Wyoming has no state income taxes. A no brainer...we moved to Wyoming. Casper Mountain is right out my window.

[Redbone55]

That is AMAZING!!! 😊 I am post transplant 8 months ago and it was a very emotional for me to thank my donor family but it kept weighing on my heart and I finally did so I hope one day that I will get the same JOY that you did to meet my donors family. BLESSINGS TO YOU ALL 🙏