Today marks six years since I did the best thing I’ll likely ever do: donating a kidney to a stranger. Donating a kidney is doable, and doing so gives life back to someone. That’s worth more than any amount of discomfort or inconvenience I experienced. I’ve written more extensively about my donation here, here, and here.
If I have any regrets, it’s that I have no more to give. Especially after starting at Network for Hope (the organ procurement organization I work at), where I meet people who desperately need that gift of life, I wish I had more spare kidneys. But plenty of you do! Please consider being that life-saver for someone.
One of the people I’ve met, whose story I’d like to use this blog post and occasion of my anniversary to highlight, is Maria Valentina Almeida. Maria is a fellow Miami University (Ohio) graduate, and also like me, she’s a twin and has an interest in journalism. She’s been living with only one kidney for the past 13 years, and that one kidney is down to 10 percent functioning.
Her full story was relayed on Network for Hope’s This Thing Called Life podcast, which you can watch here:
A living donor stepping up would save Maria’s life. That’s not even remotely an exaggeration.
If you’re interested in learning more, please follow her on Instagram at findakidneyformaria or email findakidneyformaria@gmail.com.
Milam's Musings 
Very emotional write up.
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God Bless and Prayers ❤️💯🙏
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