Because I LOVE Dad

Foreword I love my dad. I love him so much that when he had to go through a severe health crisis, I had no trepidation or fear to help him out. I remember, as a hardworking dad, he vividly provided for our family while Mom stayed home to care for me and my two other siblings full time. He quickly became a very sick man. He developed a chronic kidney disease which eventually turned into an end-stage-renal disease requiring tedious hemodialysis treatments, which was his only life-line to live at the time. I would drive him to the dialysis center, at least three times a week for 4hrs or longer at times. This period of life was a very hard time, for all of us. Prior to me turning 18, I learned of the kidney transplant option as another way to keep him out of the dialysis treatments and possibly “cure” him or rather give him a better quality of life. I offered to donate my kidney, but Dad and Mom did not want to accept my offer at that time. I was told they were hoping to be able to go through the non-living donor program. I sensed they were worried about me so if there is another alternative that is the route they want to go. My dad registered for the transplant list program in two states namely, Michigan and Ohio. At first. I did not understand why because here I was volunteering to give my kidney but they were persistent in pursuing the other option. Later, I realized, they thought I was too young to have this kind of surgery and the risks scared them, as any parent would. Fast forward to when I turned 18. I did what I needed to do to get the process going. I had to go through a series of tests, physical examination and meetings with the case worker and surgeons. It turned out that my kidney was a perfect match, or almost-97.6% to be exact. I was extremely grateful, and excited, that I was able to help my father though this. He is as healthy as he could possibly be now and working again as a nurse. He has the same zest for life like he did before all of this started, if not a stronger one which is unimaginable to me. This is his story…