The Daily Populous Saturday September 28th, 2024 morning edition
Image from preview.redd.it and submitted by nuevolondonPhan

nuevolondonPhan on September 27th, 2024 at 18:07 UTC »

Some context.

My uncle was suffering from stage 4 kidney failure resulting from Polycystic kidney disease and had been going slowly downhill for years.

He is a proud man and I had told him since his diagnosis that I wanted to see if I was a suitable match for donation but was rebuffed. I watched his disease progress and chided him often to give me his doctor's information so I could see if I was a match but to no avail.

Then My father passed away suddenly and unexpectedly last year. I was impotent to do anything except ultimately provide him with dignity in death.

After that experience I redoubled my persuasion campaign with my Uncle. Unwilling to lose someone I love if there was a chance I COULD do something. Having exhausted all other efforts and succumbing to my impassioned reasoning he finally acquiesced.

I'm active, healthy, in the prime of my life, a universal blood donor, and (obviously) biological family. The last 12 months of my life have been various medical visits, tests, mental health screenings, etc. Each step making it further and further in the process. A few months ago I got the final four ahead that I was a direct donation match for my Uncle and we set a surgery date of September 19th. This photo was taken on the 20th.

I also had the opportunity to participate in a pilot study where my harvested bone marrow and stem cells will be used to treat my uncle and hopefully negate or cut down on the need for anti rejection drugs. Drugs which are better than being dead, but have serious side effects.

**EDIT For further context The first day my kidney was in him it filtered an average of ~1 gallon every four hours. By day 2 his overall kidney values were ~90% of normal. Truly the best ROI I've had on any investment, and I'm sure that will remain true.

KS2Problema on September 27th, 2024 at 18:32 UTC »

Young lady, YOU are my hero!

Best of health to both of you.

nanakathleen on September 27th, 2024 at 20:57 UTC »

That's so awesome. I have stage 3 kidney disease and I am 71, if I should progress to stage 5, I will not go on any donor list, I have lived a full life I would much rather it go to a young person with their life ahead of them. What you have done is a very big deal and you are a wonderful human being. Best of luck and healing for both of you.