Journal entry by Kerensa Crum —
We’re three days post-surgery and I’m back home. All 4 of us had surgery - me, my original intended recipient, the actual recipient and other donor who matched my original intended recipient - Thursday and it went well for everyone.
He’s about 34 and a married father of 2 young kids. This is his third transplant; his first was in elementary school. Meeting him was very emotional. Apparently, he’d been waiting on the list for about a year this time. When I met him, his wife said they’d been told her husband carried the other two kidneys “to term” and promised to take good care of this one. He said this one will allow him to see his kids grow up - despite all the pain, that right there makes it all worth it.
Because of his two previous transplants, he had a high antibody count and was tough to match. The doctor said it was kind of miraculous to find such a perfect match. Once it was confirmed that my intended and I were incompatible, I was matched with him within an hour. I told him we must’ve been waiting for each other.
I now think it was a good thing I wasn’t a direct match for my intended recipient. That things went this way the meant two people were able to get kidneys simultaneously instead of just one. It’s remarkable that my recipient’s brother was a match for my intended recipient.
I’m not religious but I am thankful for whatever powers or energy allowed this matchup. Until now, I’d said serving my country for 20 years and being a parent were my greatest, most meaningful accomplishments. Now, I have to say this takes top billing. Hands down.
The road to recovery for all continues...
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