Dana, Guest Writer, My Three Little Ducks (@my3littleducks)
February 24th 2007 was the day that everything changed. It changed how I parented my 3 week old. It changed how I was a sister, a daughter, a mom and wife.
That was the day I lost my dad to cancer. That was the day I became a member of the awful dead dads club. That was the day that everything went black for a very long time. The only thing that kept my head above water was the sweet little human that needed me and only me. She kept my heart beating.
Months went by and I wish I could remember them. Thankfully I have pictures. Pictures that reminded me that I was a good mom and I did smile, laugh and I did play with my sweet little kids. Who both needed me.
June 17th 2008 was the day that everything started to heal. That was the day I donated my right kidney to my uncle. My dad’s younger brother, the man who most looks and sounds like my dad. My Uncle Johnny’s kidneys where failing and all he needed to have a healthy life without dialysis 3 times a week was a new kidney.
When I found this out six months after I lost my dad I knew I had to do this. My uncle has a 21 year old daughter who my dad adored. The thought of her having to go through the pain of losing her dad was too much to think about. I picked up the phone and asked my uncle if I could give him my kidney, and he cried. And I cried. And then he said “Of course”.
Ten months later, and hundreds of tests, a ton of paperwork and a bazillion phone calls brings us to June 17th. The whole process was amazing. Everything was in slow motion. My sister flew to Denver with me for the two weeks. My mom stayed back to help my husband with my 2 kids and 2 dogs and my sisters 2 kids and 2 dogs.
In Denver I had an amazing support team. My sister, my aunt Kimmy, aunt Dee, Johnny’s wife Linda and the amazing staff at U of Colorado hospital.
Dana & Uncle Post-Op
Once I got home my amazing friends and family stepped right in helping us where ever we needed it. Everything seemed to be going like it should until my 6 week post operation mark. I was so nauseous and I couldn’t sleep. Something was wrong.
My transplant nurse wanted me to go see my primary care doctor and see if maybe my left kidney wasn’t adjusting to single life very well.
Turns out it was adjusting just fine. I just happened to be ten weeks pregnant! I frantically did the math and realized I would have been 4 week pregnant when I donated. No longer did I feel the pain from the surgery. All I could think about was this little fetus growing inside me and what it had gone through.
Since it was only Friday I had to wait what felt like forever, but only 2 days to see my OB. When I did see her she reassured me everything was going to be fine and then she figured out the due date. February 24th.
“What! That can’t be right!” I yelled.
What kind of crazy universe do I live in that my unexpected little gift was suppose to come on the day that my dad died two years later?
When February 23th 2009 rolled around and we finally got to meet (one day early) our sweet little blue eyed Molly and I locked eyes with her. I knew at that moment she was going to be my daily reminder that life is amazing and everything is for a reason.
Molly - A New Gift
What a heartfelt post! Left me in tears because it shows how blessings comes into our lives in a most unexpected times. This is such a beautiful life testimony and than you for sharing it. Hope your uncle is healty
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Wow! What a great story! It gave me chills.
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Wow..amazing story. Brought tears to my eyes. You are an amazing woman.
Definitely in tears over here. What an amazing touching story!!!!!
I know I have told you this before. But you are truely an amazing person. The things you have done in your life keep people like me inspired that not all is bad in this world. God will always look over you Dana you are his true blessing.
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Dana Brennan, Erin . Erin said: Reading @my3littleducks' The Day that Changed Everything… | Our Mommyhood: http://bit.ly/d8KuSf Amazing story. [...]
Twitter: themommanerd
Wow! So inspiring! God bless you!
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Beautiful story!!! Gorgeous little girl and I have to say… I want a picture like the last one here in your post with each of my kids. What fun! Thank you for sharing this!
Take care,
Dee
I donated my left kidney to my fiance on May 18 2010. They have just recently diagnosed him with FSGS, which has no cure. They only have a way of slowing the progression of the disease. We have a one year old son together, as well as having more in the future. I couldnt bare the thought of not having him in my life or in my sons life. It would be horrible to see my fiance come out of dialysis very ill, with the issues of the failure, he was unable to work, and we do not have money. I would pick him up from dialysis 3x a week. Finally we signed up with a local hospital with the transplant clinic back in February and only 3 months later, after me being tested for everything under the sun, i was a PERFECT match. The doctors thought it was too good to be true, they would joke and say that we were some how related lol. But i did it, i donated my kidney, and he had to do a few more sessions of dialysis after the transplant and now a few sessions of plasmaphresis, but he is doing ok for now. we just have to make sure his medication slows the disease. I have never felt more completed in my life until i saved his. I am now and will be forever his guardian angel.
Dana, So proud of you…
Love you,
mom
I LOVE this! Life is a beautiful thing, and I am truly inspired! Thank you for sharing!
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Thank you everyone for your kind words!!
What a beautiful story, you are so courageous and an inspiration. And your daughter is gorgeous!
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Chills and tears. Gorgeous story.
What an amazing story. Thanks for sharing!
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What an amazing story! I love how things work out like that–totally amazing! And Molly is precious!
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God is good and loves us. You will remember your Dad every time you look at your little one.
Dana,
Love your story. You are an inspiration to so many. Thank you for your friendship.
Molly
Twitter: saididneverdo
Amazing. Thank you for sharing your story…and your kidney!
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Ok, here I sit bawling my eyes out when I should be making breakfast. What a beautiful story. I’m sorry for your loss and incredibly touched by the miracles that have taken place in your life since. I lost my grandfather to Leukemia two months before my first child was born. My grandfather raised me and was much more like a father to me. I was devastated, I knew he wanted nothing more than to meet my son and hold him in his arms. Times were hard until his namesake was born. Fast forward 4 years later, and I am still in awe of how much my little guy is like my grandfather. All of the same traits they possess and it makes me smile knowing he’ll grow up to be an equally amazing man, father, husband and grandfather … even though they never met. I believe he got many of these characteristics somehow magically from my grandfather … the rest I know, he is getting from me … and that always brings a smile to my face.
Thank you so much for sharing your story
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Twitter: unexpexpectbaby
What a beautiful post! Your selflessness is inspirational!