Taking Initiative

The greatest good is what we do for one another. – Mother Teresa

When I learned my Brother had to go on dialysis due to kidney failure, my heart sank. He was now limited in what he could do and where he could go. He had his wife and young children he wanted to do adventurous things with. He took the initiative to find out how being on dialysis would change his day to day life and what he needed to do to be healthy.

He completely revamped his diet and how much liquids he consumed in order to get through his treatments without any major complications. He got better and learned he qualified for a kidney transplant. He was told there was a long waiting list for an organ.

Ideally dialysis patients are encouraged to find a living donor so they would have a shorter wait time. He had a consultant with a hospital to have the test performed to identify the blood and tissue antigens that would need to be matched in order for him to receive a kidney. I know he felt great he improved enough to be a candidate to receive a kidney and be free from dialysis.

I took the initiative to invite myself to learn about kidney transplantation. Prior to attending the appointment with him, I did some research online about being a kidney donor. I wanted to understand the process and what was expected.

I wasn’t scared about anything I read. I offered to begin the series of tests needed to find out if I qualified to be a donor. The hospital also gave me a lot of literature to review. It was a blessing for my Brother.

He had many people who wanted to help once he shared he qualified to receive a kidney. After many trips for blood work, scans and examinations I learned I could donate to my Brother. I was more than happy I took the initiative to find out if I could help him have a better quality of life. I would have rather done something and know I could not help rather than do nothing then finding out I could have helped.

It is better to try something and fail than to try nothing and succeed. The result may be the same, but you won’t be. We always grow more through defeats than victories. – Soren Kierkegaard

See more about what I have learned in my Master Key Experience by clicking here.