Growing up, we fought. Oh yeah. Because it's only two years difference. And we
used to fight, but I was always protective of her. Nobody messed with my
sister. Over the years growing up, we've always had our differences. But when it
was important and whenever we needed each other, it was about being there for
each other.
I had Alport Syndrome. Then i went deaf. I went deaf for two years, and then I got
the cochlear implant. But one day, I went to my doctor, and it's like my kidneys were
failing. And my kidney doctor told me I had to get on a transplant list. And when
I found out my insurance would not cover everything, I cried. I cried. I just wanted
to give up on life. And then my insurance called me, and they told me if I went to
Georgetown, my insurance would pay for everything. And so, I was happy with that.
Transplant really can represent the best option. We advocate living donor kidney.
Living donor kidneys tend to work faster and last longer.
So if that is an option
for somebody, we strongly encourage them to pursue that. So it was just one of
those things where I prayed about it, and it just kept coming back to me. and I was like
Lord are you telling me to donate a kidney? This, you know, all right. This is
His will. It's not about me. So I sat her down, and I said I'm gonna see if I can
donate a kidney to you. Oh, she started crying. Seriously? Seriously? I'm gonna
call him right now. And it was like bring her to you evaluation with you. I said
okay. So before I could go downstairs, I just bust out crying. I'm was like I don't
even believe this. So before I went downstairs, I wiped my tears right.
I said, you ready for this? She's like what? I'm a match. Oh my gosh, it was just like. And
then it went so fast after that. They didn't waste any time. It was like pick a
date, and I'm glad because I didn't want her to have to go on dialysis. Dialysis
is a wonderful thing, but dialysis does not work like your kidneys do. It just can't
match the function of a good kidney. So that's why in almost all studies
transplant has shown to be better than dialysis for people.
Six months before the kidney surgery, I had back surgery. And they went in
through my stomach to operate on my back. Well Dr. Verbesey went into the
same incision, so it wasn't like a new cut or what. It went into the same
incision, and it was only extended about an inch longer. And, I was like wow. My
incision was awesome. I thought I was gonna get cut across my stomach. They cut
me right here. The incision is that big. I just did not have a worry in the world. I
cannot explain it. That's how I know that it was meant to be, you know. God got this.
They did a wonderful job. They did. And I thank God, and I said, you know, my
sister she was there for me. Yeah, she's my hero. My hero. She really is.