maleficent

I think I've told this story before... but eh -- I think it's worth retelling...

Many many moons ago- before I was a grouchy, surly, old lady... I was young... and I had friends who had a beautiful son... This son when he was in second grade was diagnosed with leukemia... after much treatments that didnt work -- the parents started with the search for a bone marrow donor - neither parent nor sibling was a good match.... They asked friends and family to donate platelets and blood for the kids treatment -- and oh by the way - would you mind being tested.... Guess what? I matched... I'm not sure if bone marrow counts as an organ but I had more than enough- so was happy to oblige... and even happier when I got to watch this kid graduate from college.

I did it again a few years later for someone I never met... never knew their name...just that it was a young man who needed marrow- who the hell was I to say no?

I feel the same about my organs -- my eyesight sucks... but if it helps someone else - -I won't need 'em... Liver, kidneys, heart (that's small and kind unused but hey - have at it)

What if they aren't deserving? Maybe it's the Pollyanna in me - that somewhere deep down I beleiveint he good in people - that if they got a new organ -- amybe they'd get a new outlook on life and change their ways and do some good.

I was talking to a friend the other night, this person hasn't been one of my favorite people lately because of a really bad choice they made (and I was having a hard time with the whole love the sinner hate the sin concept) Somewhere in the conversation I was asked -- would I still give a kidney? Yeah-- no question... That's always been a runnning joke with people close to me-- do you like them enough to give them a kidney...

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