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A Thanksgiving Tribute To A Living Donor
by Emilie Turalba

When I hear about organ donation, morbid thoughts always come to my mind. Someone has to die to give the gift of life. Today, I’m going to tell you a story of a living donor who sacrificed so much to prolong a loved one’s life.

My brother , Nonoy, was diagnosed with IGA nephropathy about 15 years ago. This immune system disease primarily affects the kidneys. It eventually results into renal failure that would require dialysis in its latter stage and ultimately the need for a kidney transplant.

Nonoy started his peritoneal dialysis in the fall of 1995 at his Florida home. It was then when we started discussing kidney transplant. My older brother John, offered first to be the donor. He was tested for compatibility at the kidney center in the Philippines. He was a perfect match, but they rejected him because there were problems with his other laboratory works. I was next in line, so I was also worked up for compatibility . I was only a 50% match. But even if I was just a 50% match , the specialist said that this would not be a problem because they even do zero-matched individuals. I guess they just bombard the recipient with anti-rejection drugs.

I was willing to donate one of my kidneys to my brother, but the thought of having a major surgery terrified me so much that I cried day and night. I prayed so hard for strength to go through the ordeal.

One day, as I was eating by myself at the hospital cafeteria, a former patient sat beside me. He started talking about his daughter who donated a kidney for her brother. I never started the conversation nor mentioned anything about my problems . All I could think of was that this must be an answer to my prayers. He gave me his daughter’s phone number and I called her up and talked to her. I found out that, 25 years ago, she was in the same predicament I was in. She was also tested for compatibility as a kidney donor for her brother and was also very scared. In fact, so scared that she left the hospital on the day she was about to have an arteriogram to test her vessels for patency. And she added that when God thinks I’m ready, He will let me know.

I waited for that time, but I did not feel any sign until a few months later. My brother Nonoy said, that his wife (Eve) had herself tested for compatibility , and that , she is 50% matched. And Eve has agreed to be his kidney donor. I thought , this must be another answer to my prayers because my fear of undergoing a major surgery was overwhelming. I suggested laparoscopic kidney removal, but this technique is only done at the University of Maryland Hospital . And due to HMO insurance restraints, the procedure had to be done in Shands Hospital, at the University of Florida in Gainsville.

Since both of them were to undergo surgeries, Nonoy and Eve’s greatest fear was the possibility of leaving their two children , Ricky (13) and Aileen (17) as orphans. The children’s greatest fear was that mom and dad would not wake up from anesthesia, as the kids in school, say.

But their faith and great love for each other, gave them the strength to see them through this most difficult time.
“On March 15, 1997, Eve donated a kidney to her spouse, Nonoy. She gave my brother, a second gift of life, without giving up her own”

Since the new kidney is placed as a piggyback and the old kidneys are left alone, Nonoy only had, a 3-4 inches abdominal incision. On the otherhand, Eve had an 18 inch incision, a chest tube, three IV’s, oxygen, a foley catheter and an epidural line. They removed one of her ribs, to get to her donor kidney. Since her name is Eve, the joke was, “Eve returned a rib to Adam” (Nonoy, her spouse). Her post operative recovery was most difficult. I told Eve, “I hurt just looking at you!”

Now, I pose this question to everyone especially to those who are married. Will you go through an ordeal like this for a loved one? Some say they can for their children, and others say they will for their spouse. All I can say is a million thanks to my sister-in-law for loving my brother so much and for sparing me from a major surgery.

Nonoy and Eve are doing well now and my brother is back to work. This Thanksgiving is extra special for our family, especially for my mother who is so thankful that only one of her children had to undergo surgery. My thanks to all my friends who were very supportive during this most stressful time of my life.


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