You wouldn't think it would be so hard to give away an organ. My kidney donation has been proceeding with tests, tests, and more tests. At each test, there is essentially the same result. Some medical authority, in some office, flipping through blurred-ink papers and then looking up at me to say, Hmmm. This result looks good. You're healthy.
The variation on that is, Hmm. This result looks okay. It's almost not okay, but it's actually fine at this point. You might get really sick in the future.
Followed by the grudging admission that as of today at least, I am actually quite healthy.
Then said medical professional points out my weight and my need to lose weight. Yes, I get it. I need to lose weight. That would be even MORE optimally healthy. Yes, if I don't lose weight, I just MIGHT get ... fill in the blank here... hypertension, heart disease, strokes, diabetes, arthritis, etc. - BUT I do not CURRENTLY have any of those conditions.
So lose weight.
I'm like, Okay, so I'm healthy, so can I just give this kidney to my friend now and move on with my life? Because all of these tests, appointments, and emotional ups and downs are quite distracting from... work, writing, parenting, housekeeping, marriage building, vacationing, etc.
I met with the Nephrologist yesterday to undergo intensive scrutiny. Big surprise, she loved me. And I really liked her. She's from Romania and she taught me to say "Que Fache? - How are you?" (which is more like Portuguese than the French I was expecting.) All of these people are cool on a people-level. She poked me and prodded me and asked lots of questions and looked through sheaves of test results and did complex calculations on a cool medical app on her iPhone and ultimately said... Yep, there are absolutely no counterindications to donating.
She also made sure to tell me at least ten times that I am obese. Yes, my BMI is 34.8, actually down now to below the 35 cutoff. Yes, I get it. I am losing weight. It is a slow process. I already gave up wheat - what more do you people want from me?
So I'm saying - For God's sake, just take the damn kidney and let me heal and move on with my life.
OR just tell me NO. Thanks, but no thanks. Nice of you to try.
And don't make me go to any more appointments!
5 comments:
*hugs* Rant received with love and respect. :o)
Marie, what an amazing thing you are doing. You have every right to get frustrated with the nitty gritty of it all. Om shanti xx
Thanks, both. I do feel really good about it overall, and I am ready to leave the preparation/decision phase behind and just move ahead!!
Glad to hear it Marie! Kick out the negative energy and move forward...and sorry, I thought I'd logged in as green ink for the other comment, hope my alter ego didn't confuse you too much :P x
Right - all energy ahead! First, the kidney, then yoga teaching, then weight loss, then more writing, successful soap selling, and then... who knows what else might come!!
I actually thought you'd logged in alternatively on purpose to lead me to your other blog! I like it a lot!
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