“My grandmother, Annie Stewart, went through dialysis for almost two years, and watching her go through that always tugged at my heart. She means the world to me, and when I found out there was something I could do to ease her pain, I wouldn’t have it any other way.
“Besides seeing how much better my grandmother feels, the most amazing thing about this whole process to me is that she and I share the same birthday as my recipient, Clarence Young. We were all born on Jan. 19. I asked my coordinator if they did that on purpose for some reason, and she said no. So, I take that as a sign the Lord meant for all of us to come together in our lives.
“By choosing to become a living donor, I helped the dearest person in my life and the one responsible for most of my success. I also gained a whole new family. I call Clarence ‘Daddy Clarence’ now, and we talk every day. His wife, Gloria, is one of the sweetest people on the face of the Earth, and I’ll never forget how much she cried when she found out I was her husband’s donor. It was very emotional for both of us.
“When I met ‘Daddy Clarence,’ he was so thankful, so warm and so inviting that we just clicked immediately. Then when we found out we shared the same birthday, we knew this was definitely meant to be.
“I am a caring individual and constantly giving of myself to others. I want to be a blessing to others. When I found out about the UAB Kidney Chain, and the system that was in place that allowed me to help my grandmother by helping someone else in need as well — which is truly genius in my opinion — it seemed very natural for me to do it.
“There were never any second thoughts on my part, and that is what I would tell anyone else who is considering becoming a living donor. If you think you want to help people in this way, just follow your heart, and you won’t regret it.”