I donated a kidney to my cousin, Jeff, at UCLA on March 31, 2016. I was a healthy 64 year-old woman living in Maine with my retired husband and golden retriever. Our children were grown and scattered. My cousin had been on dialysis for 6 months and his quality of life was unacceptable. There was no one else in the family who hadn’t had cancer so I stepped up and offered a kidney.
It was the easiest operation I could have contemplated. I was sightseeing on Santa Monica pier 4 days after the operation. I was walking the dog three miles a day within a week. I was walking 18 holes and playing golf 6 weeks later but feeling like I could have done it earlier. I cross country ski in the winter.
99% of the time I don’t even remember that I have only one kidney. I feel great and recommend that healthy people consider giving a kidney. My cousin is extremely appreciative and thanks me often. I wish I had offered earlier.
– Dorothy Jones
Leave a Reply