ElaineNY

Hello! I have not and do not plan to meet the recipient. I like the idea that it could be anyone that received my kidney. Also, I do not want to be thanked or perceived as if I am owed anything. In total 4 people received new kidneys because of the chain that was initiated. Thinking about the four of them living a dialysis-free life makes me feel very happy.

Hello! I am also a very big baby. I despise pain and anything medical. I need to lie down when blood is being drawn. I cannot watch or even think about anything medical without feeling woozy. The happy surprise is that the procedure did not bring me much pain. The surgeon advised me to use the pain pump generously at the beginning so that I would need far fewer pain pills in total. When we get into a high pain state, far more painkillers will be needed from that point onward to achieve a non-pain state. I was happy I found this out because I experienced aches but not pain. In other operations I have had, the pain was far greater. For example, I had varicose vein surgery and would rate that pain a 9. The kidney surgery gave me a pain level of 4. I was on the hospital prescribed painkillers tramadol around the clock for a week. Then extra strength Tylenol for 2 weeks. By the 3rd week, no painkillers were needed. So do not fear the pain.

In the US, if a donor chooses a hospital that is connected with the National Kidney Registry, after donating, the donor would go to the top of the kidney donation waiting list in addition to one of the donor's loved ones. This serves as a kind of kidney insurance for both people. The kidney waiting list in the US currently has 113,000 On average, kidney donors live longer than non-kidney donors because a donor needs to be in top health, both physically and emotionally, in order to qualify to donate. If one kidney gets health issues, then both will. In the case of an injury, a single kidney could be negatively impacted. 1 in 750 are born with one kidney. They did a CAT scan on me to make sure I had two kidneys.

An altruistic kidney donation is when someone gives a kidney to a stranger. As a donor, I had the right to change my mind until the moment I was in the operating room, prepped for surgery. My body feels the same as before. This is my fourth week after surgery. I am working full time and enjoying life. A kidney is only 4 ounces. Here's a video I made about my adventure. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSsI7IkkmPY

I'm not motivated by money in this case. The currency for me, since the moment I got the news that I was approved for the donation until now, has been joy. I frequently think about the four people in my kidney chain who are off dialysis and able to have great mornings, noons and nights for decades! I don't want to be thanked because often people react to a gift by thinking they owe the giver something, causing an uncomfortable imbalance. This dynamic, for me, diminishes the gift. This gift has no strings attached, only life attached. I'm 51, & I never thought I would have the opportunity to save a life. It's a great feeling that I highly recommend.