Counting Our Blessings

“Living Generously”

If you heard my sermon on the evening of Yom Kippur, you heard me retell the story of my Aunt Paula, who saved my mother’s life 22 years ago through the amazing gift of a kidney.  I believe we must all learn to live lives of generosity – giving of our love and friendship, our acts of caring and kindness, sharing our wealth, and when we can, even giving the gift of life, There are many ways to do so: one simple act is signing the organ donor statement on our driver’s licenses, for example.

Judaism teaches the importance of living generously.  We must share what we have with others, care for the sick, the homeless, the widowed, the bereaved, the orphan, the stranger in our midst.  Our tradition is clear that we must never remain indifferent when we can help another.

The Talmud tells us that “One who saves a single human life – it is as if he saved the entire world.”

Clearly, in economic times like these, the needs are greater than ever.  Every charitable organization, including our congregation, is in need of the generosity of each and every person who is able to do tzedakah, as generously as we can.

However occasionally, an opportunity arises to help someone in a more miraculous way – like my aunt.  Immediately following Yom Kippur, I received an unusual request so profound that I want to pass it on in hopes that one of you will consider making this gift or helping to find someone who will.

The email I received below told the story of the son-in-law of one of our long-time members who is seeking a kidney donor to save his life: This young man, a graduate student at Washington University, is a young husband and the father of a two-year son.  He has a degenerative kidney disease that will likely necessitate a transplant in the next year.  The ideal donor would have blood type O, be between 18-70 years old, and be in good health.  The family, of course, will cover all expenses, and donors generally have no lasting effects. 

Rarely do we have such a personal and immediate chance to save another human life.  If you are interested and would consider making such a gift, please contact me at Rabbi Bennett and I will put you in touch with this family.

Blessings,
James M. Bennett

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dear Rabbi Bennett,

We will leave it up to your judgement, or the feelings of the potential donors, whether they would like to be in touch with us directly at this stage.  Of course we would be very happy to talk with them!  But they might feel more comfortable remaining anonymous until they have determined whether they are a match, and have truly decided that they want to donate.

Here is some information for them:

The National Kidney Foundation web site has good information for potential donors, to learn more about the physical and emotional aspects of donating:  http://www.kidney.org/transplantation/livingDonors/index.cfm

If they would like to be tested to see whether they are a match for (my husband), they can call the Barnes-Jewish transplant center directly at 314-362-5365 (option 2) and let them know they would like to be tested for (my husband). The initial test is a blood test -- the transplant center will mail them a kit and they can take it to their own doctor, or they can go into the transplant center and have it done there.  This whole process will remain anonymous for the donor.

The donor must have their own health insurance in order to be tested.  This is solely in case the testing finds a pre-existing condition (such as diabetes) -- if the donor were not covered at that point, it would be difficult to get coverage with a pre-existing condition.  But their health insurance will not be billed for the testing.

All costs for the potential donor, including all testing and the entire transplant surgery, are covered by our insurance.  The donor would incur no financial cost except the cost of missing work for a week or so during the actual surgery.  Donors generally make a full and quick recovery.

I think that's all the medical info for now.  A little bit about our family:
(my husband) is 40 years old, and currently a PhD candidate in American History at Wash U (he returned to school as an adult).  He hopes to become a professional historian, teach in a university and write books.  I work part-time for a non-profit organization, focused on environmental health. We have a 2-year-old son, who is (of course!) our joy and delight. . . .

My husband has a rare, degenerative kidney disease called Alport's Syndrome.  It means his kidneys are slowly failing (he's at about 18% function right now) and he will need a transplant eventually -- probably within about a year.  (His nephrologist cannot say exactly when he will need it - it will depend how fast his kidney function falls).  We are hoping to find a donor now so that when he needs the kidney, it is ready, meaning that he would not have to go on dialysis while waiting for a kidney.  We are testing his family members and have put the word out to our friends and community, which is how the announcement came to be in the Shaare Emeth bulletin (with your great assistance!).

Again, we are all SO grateful for your help, Rabbi.  Please contact Rabbi Bennett for more details.