I don't know how to blog but here I go. If this ends up in cyberspace and people read it , then kol hakavod to me!! I wanted to write about donating my kidney. I was inspired by hearing someone I respect talk about how she had to raise money and fly to S. Africa to have a kidney transplant, otherwise her health would fail and she would not live very long. Then I saw an email from KidneyMitzvah.com seeking someone with blood type O+ to donate a kidney to a 47 yr old mother with 6 kids. I inquired about this last Oct/10, and one thing led to another. Now, let me say, as an Anglo (English speaking ) Olah Chadasha (new immigrant ) to Israel, the thought of dealing with the medical establishment alone scared me off. Then I was connected to the mother of the recipient, and she took charge of advising me what tests I needed to get, drove me to appointments, anything to make it easier for me to move forward. with this. I was under no "legal" obligation to donate throughout this process. I wasn't even approved as a match until March/11. But by then I knew that I was committed, I just didn't want to get too excited about it until it was a reality. So then, nothing happened. Purim came/went. Pesach (Passover) came/went. I wanted the transplant to occur in the winter or early spring, when business was slow. We manufacture modest swimwear in Israel.. (MarSea Modest Swimwear www.MarSeaModest.com) and I was (and am) worried of how my impending transplant will affect my business. I won't be so available to advise women and help them select and try on our styles.
We hope to be busy in May/June/July/August G*d willing, and the later I get slotted to donate, the more into swim season we will be. I understand that I should be in the hospital for 3-4 days, and should be able to walk around / sit around also within a few days, but I wouldn't be able to work the long hours as I am accustomed to. But, as my potential transplant date nears, (May 17/11 IY"H), I look forward to doing this great Mitzvah of hopefully saving/prolonging a woman/mother's life.
We hope to be busy in May/June/July/August G*d willing, and the later I get slotted to donate, the more into swim season we will be. I understand that I should be in the hospital for 3-4 days, and should be able to walk around / sit around also within a few days, but I wouldn't be able to work the long hours as I am accustomed to. But, as my potential transplant date nears, (May 17/11 IY"H), I look forward to doing this great Mitzvah of hopefully saving/prolonging a woman/mother's life.
