T. Renee
This story depicts the love of two soul mates and the miracle of life that was given: a kidney. She knows a “higher power” allows unbelievable things to happen. Their lives together survive the good times and slow times of prosperity, to the diagnosis of kidney failure. From the blue days of his dialysis treatments to the day after surgery, their lives are a true inspiration to those who love “Dialysis Patience” and hope for a donor.
I’ve always been a person who was conscious of taking care of my body, so when I awoke that morning in 1996 I knew organ donation was the purpose of my life, to save my husband, my true soul mate. Eight and a half years after the transplant we are enjoying life to the fullest. I’m working as a classified ad consultant in Tampa, Florida, while James enjoys fishing while retired. Our 2 adult daughters are nearby spoiling us on weekends.
Also, enjoy my first book, So You Want to be a…Landlord.
Little did we know that something would happen that he never expected.
A nice sunny Saturday morning, we were talking in the dining room when I saw blood. Blood was dripping from his nose to his shirt. He didn’t even feel it. “Look!” I shouted. He said, “Look at what?” I was pointing at his shirt. He walked over to the mirror. The blood was still dripping. He ran and got a towel. He was cursing like a sailor. I took the bloody towel and got another. His blood pressure had been up but we didn’t think anything like this would be happening. That day scared the mess out of him. He called my mother and asked her if she wanted some cigarettes. Of course she said yes and that day, in 1982, he quit smoking “cold turkey”. I looked at him and smiled. I told him he could do it and supported him all the way. No patches, no new medicine gimmicks, he just quit. Seeing blood was all it took.
