If you don’t already know my best friend, Shaun, let me introduce you to her. The first thing you’ll remember about her is her generous smile. Which will very likely lead to her signature short giggle. It’s one reason I love having her in my life. She brings out the joy in my own heart even when that joy can seem hidden under rubble. When I’m with Shaun, I laugh. Like really laugh. I’m sure she has had this effect on so many people in her life. Her smile and giggle haven’t been diminished, even though she’s been fighting a serious battle with lupus for close to a decade.
She’s endured countless procedures, hospitalizations, two rounds of chemo, and cycles on meds that came with intense side effects. I’ve watched my friend battle this with grace and perseverance. But now, her kidneys have started to fail. Shaun isn’t on dialysis yet, but this is the next step once her kidney function dips lower.
The only thing that can save her from being tied to dialysis three days a week for the rest of her life, is to receive a kidney transplant. Several of us have been tested as donors and for one reason or another, have been disqualified as possible donors. Being taken off of the donor list was heartbreaking for me. I wanted so badly to give this gift to my friend. So I turn to you, my friends, and ask a question that I don’t expect anyone to take lightly...can you prayerfully consider giving my friend the gift of a better life? Giving her a kidney?
Shaun is currently on a donor list. This means waiting for an average of five years to be matched with a deceased donor. If matched at all. I value your time and thank you sooooo much for taking a moment to read this so far. Below are some links on topics that can give you more information to pray about. And please, if you feel even a little compelled to get tested as a match, reach out to me. DM me on Instagram or Facebook or call me, Imtesal “Susu” Elhassan, (570) 778-6404.
And please share this site with others.
It’s a big ask. A generous gift. A great love.
Consider if you are a good candidate
Learn more about the process from National Kidney Foundation. www.kidney.org
If you've decided you'd like to participate in becoming a donor, contact me.
Start the evaluation process to make sure you're a good match for Shaun.
As a living organ donor, you can shorten the wait for a transplant patient. More than 100,000 people are on the waiting list for an organ transplant in the United States. Many transplant candidates wait years for an organ from a deceased donor. Only about half of the people in the United States sign up to donate their organs when they die. This number is different in every state and region, so the wait can be longer depending on where someone lives. Every year thousands of people get removed from the waiting list because they have become too sick to do well with a transplant. To shorten the wait, family, friends, co-workers, and even strangers offer to be living organ donors.
When you are a living organ donor, you can improve the chances of transplant success.
Kidneys from living donors generally have high success rates:
Living donor transplants can help shorten or eliminate the wait for an organ by:
Am I a Good Candidate?
Potential donors for Shaun need to:
Check out these additional resources to educate yourself on the process.
National Kidney FoundationRegister to Become A Living DonorIf you feel moved to help Shaun or have any questions, please reach out to me!
Imtesal “Susu” Elhassan
(570) 778-6404
Masoolie@yahoo.com
Instagram @yullahabibi