I'm just the girl with something extra. About 4 years ago a coworker of mine that I admire and respect and like very much had a bad bout with her Lupus. She had been diagnosed with Lupus many years earlier and had had it under control for some 20 years . . but then for whatever reason (stress can be a factor) it took over her body again and she was in serious trouble trying to battle it. At one time I understood what Lupus was but now I've forgotten it. Go ahead and research it if you want. All I know is that I felt so bad for her and she was in pretty dire straights. If you knew her she is just the best person ever.
She was in such serious condition that they feared she would need a new kidney. I thought to myself, "I wish there was something I could do for her." And then it dawned on me that I could. I could give her a kidney. So after having some serious discussion with the doctors about what this might mean and clearing it with my husband and kids, I underwent everything to determine if we were a match.
I can't remember everything that they tested but there were blood tests and physicals and pokes and prods and urine samples and doctors offices and labs and waiting and paperwork. Finally, lo and behold, the doctors determined that I was a match for her. She knew that someone was undergoing testing for her but she didn't know who because I just sort of felt like I wanted to keep it confidential. I told very few people about it because I felt shy about it.
Then, right before Christmas the results came in and I found out that I was a match to be a kidney donor for her. We were off of work for Christmas break but I was so excited to share the news with her so I called her up and made some excuse to drop by her house. I was trying to think of how I wanted to tell her that I was a match. I grabbed a piece of cardboard and glued a kidney bean + a piece of kleenex (tissue) and a matchstick to it and put it in an envelope . . . get it?? Kidney + Tissue + Match.
When I presented her with the card and she figured out the meaning she just couldn't believe it and she was overwhelmed with gratitude . . .. it was awesome. I felt so happy seeing the joy in her eyes. I requested that she keep it confidential, because . . . well, because . . it's personal. There were just a few more tests I had to undergo; including some X-rays and an MRI.
After another long waiting period, the results finally came back and much to the doctors' amazement . .. . . .they showed that instead of the two renal ateries that most people have coming down from the aorta leading into the kidneys, I have three and instead of just one ureter leading from the kidney to the bladder, I am lucky enought have two!!!!!! I'm just the girl with something extra!! (anybody who knows me shouldn't be surprised by this.) At anyrate I was informed, that after much deliberation by the panel of doctors who review this stuff for kidney transplants, they felt it would just be too risky, given my unusual anatomy. According to the nurse that informed me, there had been lively debate by the doctors and it was a very tough call for them.
So . . . . . I didn't get to be a kidney donor after all to someone who would have been so deserving. Alas, this story has a happy ending anyway. My co-worker has her Lupus back under control and (at least for the mean time) she doesn't need anyone else's kidney anyway!
Friday, January 30, 2009
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Company Picnics
Who goes to company picnics? Employees with youngish kids that are looking for something different to do toward the end of a long boring summer. At least that's why I went.
The year was about 1991. That would have made K & K about 7 and 5 years old respectively. I had just started a new job with a company called Stryker in Kalamazoo, Michigan. I worked at their small corporate office at the time and had only been with the company a couple of months when the company picnic was announced. A day or two before the picnic was to be held I asked around the office if anyone was going or not. Out of the people I surveyed only a couple planned on attending but my boss told me that I should go because although not that many people from the office were going there were bound to be quite a few people there from the manufacturing facility which was located a short distance from the corporate office.
Being the outgoing person that I am, and looking for some way of entertaining the kids cheaply toward the end of a long boring summer, I was game.
So on the designated day K, K and I loaded ourselves up into the car looking forward to sunshine, yummy food, a few games and a little social interaction with my fellow workers and their kids. I followed the map and as we pulled into the park the kids excitedly pointed to the red and white striped tent which was peaking out above the trees. As usual, we were running a little late so when we entered the picnic there was no longer an official sign-up/registration/name tag thing going on so we just started making the rounds.
The kids gorged themselves and hotdogs, hamburgers, chips, baked beans, and different salads . . . you know, the usual company sponsored picnic fare. Then they partook of numerous activities and games; facepainting, races etc meanwhile I struck up friendly bantering with my fellow adult picnic goers, commenting on their adorable children and making small talk about the beautiful weather and fine event we were attending.
Finally, the day had worn on and it was time to wind down. K, K and I grabbed the last of the ice-cream treats that were being doled out and plopped ourselves down on a little plot of grass to enjoy our dessert.
There was a freindly family sitting next to us so I good naturedly inquired as to the the couples' affiliation with the company; which spouse worked there and in which department. It wasn't until the guy answered back and named the department he worked in which was something totally unfamiliar to me, that I glanced at his name tag and noticed that the company name on it was not Stryker at all, but some other outfit in the Kalamazoo area. At that point I glanced up and what to my wonderment and bewilderment did I behold, but a blue and white tent jutting up into the sky just beyond the next stand of trees. I guess that's where they must have been holding the Stryker picnic!!
Ha ha ha ha ha. I laughed myself all the way home. I couldn't believe we had gone to the wrong company picnic and had such a grand time. Think about it . . .. . wedding crashing, picnic crashing. In these hard times you might be able to get a lot of entertainment for free.
The year was about 1991. That would have made K & K about 7 and 5 years old respectively. I had just started a new job with a company called Stryker in Kalamazoo, Michigan. I worked at their small corporate office at the time and had only been with the company a couple of months when the company picnic was announced. A day or two before the picnic was to be held I asked around the office if anyone was going or not. Out of the people I surveyed only a couple planned on attending but my boss told me that I should go because although not that many people from the office were going there were bound to be quite a few people there from the manufacturing facility which was located a short distance from the corporate office.
Being the outgoing person that I am, and looking for some way of entertaining the kids cheaply toward the end of a long boring summer, I was game.
So on the designated day K, K and I loaded ourselves up into the car looking forward to sunshine, yummy food, a few games and a little social interaction with my fellow workers and their kids. I followed the map and as we pulled into the park the kids excitedly pointed to the red and white striped tent which was peaking out above the trees. As usual, we were running a little late so when we entered the picnic there was no longer an official sign-up/registration/name tag thing going on so we just started making the rounds.
The kids gorged themselves and hotdogs, hamburgers, chips, baked beans, and different salads . . . you know, the usual company sponsored picnic fare. Then they partook of numerous activities and games; facepainting, races etc meanwhile I struck up friendly bantering with my fellow adult picnic goers, commenting on their adorable children and making small talk about the beautiful weather and fine event we were attending.
Finally, the day had worn on and it was time to wind down. K, K and I grabbed the last of the ice-cream treats that were being doled out and plopped ourselves down on a little plot of grass to enjoy our dessert.
There was a freindly family sitting next to us so I good naturedly inquired as to the the couples' affiliation with the company; which spouse worked there and in which department. It wasn't until the guy answered back and named the department he worked in which was something totally unfamiliar to me, that I glanced at his name tag and noticed that the company name on it was not Stryker at all, but some other outfit in the Kalamazoo area. At that point I glanced up and what to my wonderment and bewilderment did I behold, but a blue and white tent jutting up into the sky just beyond the next stand of trees. I guess that's where they must have been holding the Stryker picnic!!
Ha ha ha ha ha. I laughed myself all the way home. I couldn't believe we had gone to the wrong company picnic and had such a grand time. Think about it . . .. . wedding crashing, picnic crashing. In these hard times you might be able to get a lot of entertainment for free.
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