Kid-na-versary!

Yin and Yang by Laurie A. Blair copyright 2000

Ah Kid-na-versary! The celebration of the day Chandra donated a kidney to her sister Sara. Used to be a happy time of year for us, A great celebration!

But last year Sara's kidney failed and back to dialysis she went. So no Kid-na-versary!

The Yin and Yang drawing above is for the girls to celebrate their oneness and their separateness. This is them in my womb.They are identical twins. As we understand it  that makes them freaks of nature, not hereditary, just a crazy old egg that split in the womb.

They have always been close. And as we have observed over the years other set of twins, both identical and fraternal. We have noticed something interesting. Either they love each other and are really close or they are related but hate each others guts. Strange huh?

The girls cannot fathom the latter...

This kidney thing has been a real game changer for all of us. Sara had just turned 18 and at first they thought it was acute glomerulonephritis. Caused by a sudden infection of the throat or skin. But two years after her transplant we found out during a follow up biopsy that it was something much more. FSGS or Focal Segmental Glomerlo Sclerosis. It is hereditary... We have no idea which side of the family carries the gene as I can find no reference in family medical history of anyone suffering from kidney problems, and my husband is adopted. We have no medical history for him. (That is another conversation alltogether!) We know only one of us carries the gene or all our children would be suffering from this disease.

Truthfully we don't want to know now. It wouldn't help and would use a lot of money that could go to other things.

But it is funny how identical twins from a split egg, which is not hereditary, could have only one of them carrying a hereditary gene that causes this horrible disease.

But even more amazing is the fact that one sister, Chandra, stepped up to share her health with the other, Sara. We did not ask it of her, nor did we encourage it. We already had one daughter whose life was at risk. But she at 18 years of age had the courage and will to help her sister. She gave Sara 9 years of a practically normal life. Time to get married and have a baby, that they said was almost impossible! Time to have a life.

Oh don't get me wrong I am grateful for dialysis! But believe me when I say Dialysis gives you life, but it also takes it away...

Now as Sara is on dialysis again waiting for another transplant. I pray for a cure for all who suffer from these horrible afflictions. That they might have a real life.

So as it comes to this former day of celebration for us, I think I will call it the Kidney Memorial day. I ask that you pray, that you look into what you can do,
be it to donate money or time ,http://www.kidney.org/support/

Get involved in fundraising activities in your area.
The Kidney walk is coming up.
http://donate.kidney.org/site/PageServer?pagename=WALK_homepage

And if you can and are healthy enough to, and desire to give the gift of life, get tested. Donate a kidney. You could really change a life!
Thanks