Hubby's niece is having a kidney transplant today... with the help of her sister
By mentalward
@mentalward (14690)
United States
June 29, 2009 5:28am CST
My husband's sister's oldest daughter has had kidney problems her entire life. She's only 25 years old and her kidneys have been failing quite rapidly in the last year.
It turned out that her only sister is a perfect donor match and has agreed to help her sister live by donating one of her kidneys. That surgery is going to be this afternoon.
This is what I consider to be the most significant thing one sister could possibly do for another. This is love in it's truest form.
The best thing about this, aside from her sister getting a new kidney and a chance at a long, healthy life, is that the youngest sister JUST graduated from college and recently became engaged to be married. She has just really begun her own life, yet has put that all on hold while she helps her sister.
Isn't that wonderful? Just the thought of it fills my heart with an overwhelming sense of joy, love, compassion, and all those other good feelings.
Do you know of any family members who have willingly and unselfishly sacrificed their own lives, even temporarily, to help out their loved ones on such a magnitude?
It's ironic, too, that this is my oldest son's birthday. My niece-in-law is getting a new chance at life so, in a way, it is her birthday, too, the first day of her new life.
5 people like this
21 responses
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
5 Jul 09
Quoting you: This is what I consider to be the most significant thing one sister could possibly do for another. This is love in it's truest form. I want to thank you so very much for saying that because, my jackass brother, the one that's given hubby and I a hard time with his darling son and daughter, is legally blind. It's due to some sort of disease he got as a baby or is supposedly hereditary but no one in our family has it or had it meaning the past ones. Just like my having lupus, no one has or had it in the past so hereditary my azz. Anyway, I offered my scum bag brother an eye. I was willing to give him one of my eyes!! And yet he still turned on me like he did!! I could go on and on about this Marti but I won't but I will say hurt? Hell yeah I'm hurt!! BEYOND hurt!! How dare he think of me the way he did!! How dare he think of me or my hubby in a bad way after offering him one of my eyes!! Even after years of hurting me, although he doesn't realize what he's done for I've never told him in the name of peace in the family, still, I offered him an eye and he turned on me to side with "HIS" children!! Excuse me but to him "F___ YOU and all that you stand for!!"
1 person likes this
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
7 Jul 09
I haven't spoken to him since December of last year aside from one email telling him to leave me alone.
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
29 Jun 09
my ex husband said he would gladly give his kidney to my son, but my son never needed a kidney transplant, thank god it never came to that. I think it is wonderful those sister's are just so close.
@mentalward (14690)
• United States
1 Jul 09
Yes, both girls are doing great. The kidney began working perfectly immediately upon being put in. The youngest niece woke up shortly after surgery and kept saying, "It's all over, Mom. It's all over, Mom" to her mother. The oldest niece is doing exceptionally well and producing urine perfectly. She's still in intensive care but that is only because they have to monitor her very closely for now.
I don't know anymore yet, but wanted to let you know that the surgeries went perfectly.
1 person likes this
@mentalward (14690)
• United States
29 Jun 09
Yes, it is wonderful. I'm so glad that the sister's kidneys are a perfect match. A lot of times, they aren't and the only alternative is dialysis until a match can be found and that can take years sometimes.
The surgery was supposed to begin at noon today but got a late start because of a surgery before hers that was taking longer than expected but her surgery began at about 3:00. We'll know how it went in a few hours.
1 person likes this
@ElicBxn (63594)
• United States
29 Jun 09
that's quite a sacrifice, and I'm sure one given gladly to help her sister
I've heard of strangers do it too, but wow...
And by giving one of her kidneys she will now have to watch what she does with the rest of her life, not drinking too much, or doing things that could damage the one she has left. I'm sure she doesn't consider it a great hardship considering what she's saved her sister from.
@sudhajosyula50 (3808)
• India
29 Jun 09
Hi friend,
After reading the new i felt proud of having such a good family members in your family.In this today era every one are being selfish towards their own family.I hope every thing would be fine and she would recover very soon with all your good blessings to her for life long.
Have a nice day
@mentalward (14690)
• United States
29 Jun 09
Thank you for those kind words, sudhajosyula. My husband's niece is indeed very fortunate to have such a loving, generous sister. We should know how it went in a few hours.
You have a nice day, too! 
@mentalward (14690)
• United States
1 Jul 09
The surgeries went very well and the new kidney is functioning perfectly. Both girls came through it without any problems. We're all very happy.
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
29 Jun 09
That is wonderful news. A new lease of life, how precious! I have a close friend who has been living with fifteen precent kidney function for years and a few months ago she was advised by her doctor that the time has come for her to go on dialysis and she was very distraught about the prospect of fours a day three times a week on a machine.
We found out last week that her sister is a match for a kidney transplant; she lives in the U.K. and we are in Australia so it is going to take a bit of organizing but the trip will be made and my friend will have her new kidney.
It is a gift of genuine love; my friend’s sister has put her plans of having a baby on hold to help.
I hope all went well with your niece-in-law, thank goodness for the special people in the world!
@mentalward (14690)
• United States
29 Jun 09
That's wonderful news, too, paula! Thank you for sharing it. Like dragon54u above said, we need more good news and less bad news.
I know that I would give anything to have my sister back with me but there was nothing I could donate or do for her. She had muscular dystrophy. But, if the doctors said she needed anything that I could possibly have given her, I would have been there in a heartbeat!
She's in surgery right now. Hopefully, it won't be long before we hear anything.
1 person likes this
@melon007 (32)
• United States
30 Jun 09
That is great to hear. I used to do medical screening for organ and tissue donation, so I helped coordinate the transplants. It is a little different then a living donor, but it still warms my heart to hear about people getting a second chance through organ and tissue donation. Congratulations!!
@mentalward (14690)
• United States
1 Jul 09
Yes, this is truly a very heartwarming story. I just HAD to share it.
The surgeries went perfectly and the new kidney began working immediately, just as it was hoped. They are both doing very well.
@Loen210 (1540)
• United States
2 Jul 09
Thanks for sharing this beautiful story with us. I'm so glad to hear that things have been going as planned in the surgery, with (crossed fingers) successful. I nkow it is so easy for organs to be rejected even if the same type of organ that matches. So glad it's goign smoothly.
Warm hearted, good hearted sister. Well, the sisters will be joined together now TRULY by blood and body. I bet that this will make such a strong love between them. And bless the sister who is donating. Will make everyone around her love and see what a beautiful, loving person she is.
@dragon54u (31634)
• United States
29 Jun 09
What a wonderful thing to do! I think that most of us wouldn't have a second thought about donating for our family. I'm so glad that your niece will have a second chance at life and that her sister loves her so much. They should publicize more of these stories so the rest of us can be reminded that there is something else besides bad news--it always feels so good to hear of things like this!
@mentalward (14690)
• United States
29 Jun 09
I couldn't agree more, dragon. We need more good news. That's the reason I had to share this with everyone here. It was too big just to keep to myself. My husband told me this morning that the surgery was today, in a matter-of-fact way. I guess he doesn't see it as anything spectacular, but I sure do!
Giving the gift of life IS a big deal. It's a HUGE deal! I think my husband has negative feelings towards his oldest niece because of her wayward ways. She has always been a wild child, taking risks she shouldn't have. But, I see that as her way of dealing with the knowledge that she might not live very long.
I'm so very happy for her and extremely proud of her sister! What a sacrifice!
@mentalward (14690)
• United States
1 Jul 09
The surgeries went very smoothly and the new kidney is working perfectly. They both came through it exceptionally well. Just wanted to update you.
@neildc (17239)
• Lapu-Lapu City, Philippines
2 Jul 09
Dear mentalward,
There is one TV series that is now being aired in our place, entitled "Tayong Dalawa" (We Two). Two friends got to know they are twins only when they became soldiers. But as they were getting to know each other as twins, they became enemies because of one girl.
There came a time that Boy1 got shot in a mission and one of his kidneys had to be removed and transplanted. They can't find a good match of a donor. Boy2 was the perfect match.
Boy2 black-mailed the girl, who was her former boyfriend. He asked her to marry him, in exchange of his kidney. Girl loves Boy1 very much so she accept Boy2's proposal, just to let Boy1 live.
Anyway, this is just a story and the series is yet to end. I don't know how this will help.
So, I guess by this time, your niece is already recovering from the operation. I hope the transplant is successful.
Neil
@leenie50 (3992)
• United States
10 Jul 09
Hi Marti,
I know this is late but things have not been the best around here. While I just sat down to delete some old emails, I came across this. First of all, it sounds like you and hubby are getting along much better these days, I hope.
Well back to the subject. Your husbands niece is a very lucky girl. I'll say a prayer for her.
And yes, my first husband also donated a kidney to one of his younger brothers. My ex is the oldest of 5 brothers. My ex had a much harder healing process than his brother but all is well now. How are your nieces doing now? I hope all is well. Hugsssss
leenie
@commanderxo (1494)
• Canada
29 Jun 09
Wow! Truly fantastic news. I don't even know any of the members of your family, but for some reason, this story makes me feel very proud indeed. Here's wishing all goes well today.
cdrxo
@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
29 Jun 09
That is a great story! Very inspirational. I wanted to give one of mine to my grandmother a couple of years ago. We had been estranged for several years and once we were reunited we were very very close. I would have done anything to have a little more time with her and offered on several occasions. She would not have it. There were apparently other issues besides her kidneys that were not curable. I would have done it in a heartbeat though.
@mentalward (14690)
• United States
29 Jun 09
That in itself is a wonderfully inspirational story, Jen! Thank you for sharing it. I know the feeling, believe me. My sister had muscular dystrophy and if there had been anything at all that I could have given her to cure her, I would have.
@aikhong (661)
• Malaysia
29 Jun 09
Yeah, indeed that's a very good and wonderful thing to do. It's so touching that the sister is willing to sacrifice selfishly to help and save the other one. Ya, it is the truest form of love between family members indeed. Thanks for your sharing. This can be again a reminder for all of us that our family members are the ones who're closest to us and the one who will always ready to help whenever we need them. Thus, we have to always keep in mind that we should appreciate and take good care of our loved ones and family members.
@mentalward (14690)
• United States
29 Jun 09
Truer words could not be spoken, aikhong! We take so much forgranted sometimes and it's a shame that we don't always appreciate what we have until it's too late.
@mentalward (14690)
• United States
1 Jul 09
Yes, this was just too much for me to not share with everyone which is why I posted it. We were told that the kidney began working immediately after it was put in and both girls are doing great. I am so happy that the oldest niece now has a chance for a long, healthy life. She's still in intensive care but that is because they need to monitor her very closely for now, but she's doing great.
The younger sister is priceless. She's so sweet, loving and thoughtful. We're all so very proud of her!
Thank you for your warm response and welcome to myLot!
@sylvia13 (1850)
• Nelson Bay, Australia
30 Jun 09
That is a very nice and generous sister, I would say. That is sure love in its truest form! Congratulation, good luck and God bless!
@yugasini (12893)
• Secunderabad, India
30 Jun 09
hi mentalward,
helping each other in all aspects, that is family, father,mother,brother,sister and every body in the family, will help each other in all respects, so that is called family
@eileenleyva (27560)
• Philippines
30 Jun 09
This is a story about unconditional love. Sacrifice for a sibling. It's not something you hear about everyday. Hey, tell the sisters to eat a small piece of banana each meal. Helps the kidney a lot. More birthdays to come...
@wittytemptress (43)
• Philippines
1 Jul 09
wow! Love must be truly unconditional! How can someone do that for his own family? I know a friend, whose brother's kidneys do not work anymore, so her sister gave her other kidney to him. It was so wonderful just to think that there's someone out there whose ready to sacrifice for the sake of his / her own brother. I could say that they should celebrate that!
