"My journey of becoming a kidney donor began in June 2017. One of my dear friends at church, shared with us that she had found out that she had kidney disease and would shortly go on dialysis if a living kidney donor was not found soon.
"There are 100,000 people on the waiting list for a kidney transplant nationwide. It was not likely that she would get a transplant before she would need dialysis. I watched my mom suffer and eventually die from the results of dialysis, and I couldn’t imagine my friend going through that.
"Each week I could feel God laying it on my heart to ask her if she would accept a kidney from me. She finally agreed after asking me multiple times if I was sure. I was sure!
"I started testing in July; she had completed her testing in May. Even though my blood type and tissue type matched hers, she had antibodies that might cause rejection. I wasn’t a perfect match for her. However, we signed papers agreeing that we would do a paired donation if another transplant patient and his or her donor matched us.
"In late October two other people were found that matched us! That was our first miracle! We underwent surgery on Nov. 2. All four of us were blessed to heal well with no complications. (That was our second miracle!)
"In the meantime, my husband had been diagnosed with prostate cancer and needed two months of radiation treatments in Atlanta. Four days after my surgery, I was able to recover with him! (That was my third miracle!)
"When we put things in God’s hands, He will work them out. During this whole process, I trusted in this phrase… If He brings you to it, He will bring you through it.
"I encourage everyone who is healthy to consider becoming a living kidney donor. Two people got a kidney because another person and me were willing to donate. That also means another person suffering from kidney disease moved up the list.
"After our surgery, we found out that we were part of UAB’s ongoing kidney chain, a series of transplant surgeries that have given 88 people so far, a new lease on life. The chain is now the nation’s longest ever. I am donor number 82. According to UAB’s website, there have been at least 6 more kidney transplant recipients since my surgery.
"Living Kidney Donation is the most gratifying thing I have ever done, and I have been blessed beyond measure. Imagine yourself giving someone 'The Gift of Life'!"