THE CALL!!!!!

Six months ago today, I got THE CALL!   I had been waiting for almost 9 years.  Had a few false alarms but 6 months ago, it was the real deal.  When I was 14, I found out I had Polycystic Kidney Disease and at some point, my kidneys would fail.   Many years later, they did.   This required me to go on dialysis and to have my name put on THE LIST.   For 9 years, 3 times a week, I would go for dialysis after work.   Each session was 3 and a half hours long.   It was very tiring and often I missed out on things my girls had going on.   They were forced to grow up early and take on tasks such as cooking dinner and doing their own laundry.  Their father was not much help.   I missed out on band and orchestra concerts they were playing in, helping them get ready for dances, helping them with homework, and just getting to spend time with them.  A lot of the time, I would be so tired even on my “days off” that we really couldn’t do much.  It was like a really bad part-time job!   But, that all changed 6 months ago!   It was the day after Labor Day and we were back in school.   I got a call from a strange number during class.   Message said they might have a kidney for me but they would have to call back later and let me know.   Don’t eat anything after 12 noon.   I went about my day.  After all, I had gotten 2 of these calls before in the past week but it wasn’t MY KIDNEY.   After school, I did tell the principal and one of the deans, just in case.   I made sure my desk was in order, just in case.   Went home and waited…..and waited…. and waited.  Called my brother, just in case I would need a ride to the hospital.  At 11pm, I went to bed.  Guess what?  at 11:30 they called back, “come on in!”  I hurried and called my brother, went on line and put in for a substitute, and texted my principal.  I couldn’t believe it, it was my TIME, my CALL, my NEW KIDNEY!  Thankfully, all is going well.  I returned back to work about 7 weeks after my surgery.   I am grateful every day for the family who donated their loved one’s organs, giving me and who knows how many others, a new chance at life.