"My 21-year-old daughter was diagnosed with stage four kidney failure in 2016. As a parent, you do everything in your power to protect your children, but when someone like this happens, you can’t do anything for them. It was heartbreaking and made me fearful for what her future may hold.
"We went through all testing to see if I was a match for my daughter and luckily, I was. However, we came to the conclusion that at her age, a younger kidney would help her better in the long run. Already in the mindset that I wanted to donate, I then matched with someone else who was desperate for a kidney transplant. I knew in my heart that it felt right – a stranger was saving my daughter’s life and in turn, I was able to give life back to a father and husband. That is such a fulfilling feeling that I will carry with me throughout the rest of my life.
"I speak with people all the time who ask about donation and I encourage them to read about all the good it does. It’s an incredible experience on both sides of donation – both as the giver and as the parent of a child as the recipient – to know that my daughter and I are a part of the longest living kidney chain. Through UAB, our stories and future are intertwined with so many others, and it’s a true blessing.
"My daughter is doing pretty good and is able to now live her life; she has a future. I was able to speak to my recipient by phone, and it was wonderful to hear that he is doing great as well. It’s humbling, but people say all that time that I’m a hero. To me, I did what any parent would do. I’m just a mother who loves her daughter, and this is an experience that I would do all over again if I could."