The Good I Could Not Withhold

100,000 people 3-5 years 9 minutes 16 a day  These are the staggering facts that solidified the conviction of the heart. It was the moment the heart and mind became in unison on this journey. Over 100,000 people are on the wait list to receive a kidney donation. On average, people have to wait 3-5 years for a deceased donor. It can range upwards to 10 years for those with rare blood types. Every 9 minutes a new person is added to the kidney transplant waitlist. And the saddest fact of all, 16 people die daily waiting for a donation. Tragically, many others die daily that are not included in this number as they became too ill to stay on the transplant list. These are moms, dads, brothers, sisters, friends all with real lives, real stories, real families and all with a dream of having a future and a hope.  This data and the fact that a living donation is the quickest path and offers the best long term outcome for the recipient, is why my mind became fully committed. I was willin...

It started with a nudge - the kind that wasn't loud, dramatic, or even a very clear thought. This story was being written well before I even realized it. A small stirring. A little hint of an idea. A softening of the heart.  A handful of years ago, a co-worker was undertaking a leukemia diagnosis. "I'm going to need a bone marrow donation." The first bubble popped to the surface. A bone marrow donation - what does that entail? I could probably do that if his family isn't a match. A quick Goggle of bone marrow donation led to the door being opened to the idea of donating to help others. The first nudge. Fast forward. A few years go by and it was so small of a nudge that the memory is a clouded blur. A man needed a kidney donation and was seeking a donor. It was a name. A person. A life. Someone, somewhere, was waiting for a miracle. A whisper came, "Maybe you can provide what this man needs." The voice was that of an almost silent whisper yet so loud it w...