Hey Brother, Can You Spare an Internal Organ?
I got a letter recently.
Greetings In The Name Of The Lord…..
Hello my name is __________ and my brother __________ is a member of [your graduating class]. [He] is in need of a kidney transplant, but before he can even be considered to be put on the list, money has to be raised first, but whatever we raise, the kidney foundation will match it. I know that times are hard for everyone right now but if you could find it in your heart or whatever God lays on your heart to give, a donation or a love offering would be greatly appreciated to help out with this cause. We appreciate all the love and support, but most of all we thank you with all of our heart. For more information and where you can send your donation you can contact the following:
MAY GOD BLESS YOU!!!!!!
(*Note. Two names, one address and two phone numbers were provided. Neither number included an area code.)
I did what any decent, caring person would do in this situation. I Googled. Since this sister didn’t specify which kidney foundation required cash for being assigned to their waiting list, I went with the first one in my Google search — the National Kidney Foundation. I looked through the entire site — I even took the quiz — and couldn’t find any mention of the need to raise money in order to get on a waiting list, so I moved on.
At the American Society of Transplantation, I decided I had kidney disease. In their online brochure, “Getting a New Kidney,” there is a list of symptoms:
- tire easily
- have trouble sleeping
- feel itchy
- feel sick to your stomach
- be short of breath
With the exception of feeling sick to my stomach, this list describes how I feel pretty much all of the time. I’m exhausted, I never sleep well, I’m easily winded and am frequently itchy. Especially on my back right in that spot where you can’t reach. I spend quite a bit of time in doorways rubbing against the jamb like I’m Baloo.
As an asthmatic worrier who is allergic to all things nature, I’ve been sleepless and itchy my whole life. So, in order to talk myself down from my kidney disease, I checked out WebMD for info on asthma and hay fever (allergic rhinitis). Their symptoms include:
- tire easily
- have trouble sleeping
- feel itchy
- be short of breath
They do not include feeling sick to your stomach. So, turns out, I don’t have kidney failure. I have allergies and asthma. Phew.
Unfortunately, turns out, the brother mentioned in the letter actually does have kidney failure. I know because it says so on Facebook. Yeah, that’s right. Facebook. I had to go back several months in postings, but I finally found a reference to kidney issues on his wall and was convinced.
I felt kind of crappy investigating before even considering sending money to possibly save someone’s life but, if there’s one thing I learned during my three-season addiction to Law & Order, it was to never trust a donation request.
If there were two things, the other one was that you ALWAYS ask for a lawyer.
March 3rd, 2011 at 10:22 pm
You’re back and pro-f-ing-lific! Don’t know whats gotten into you but, I love it.
March 4th, 2011 at 9:45 am
YAY! Thanks for waiting it out with me … I’m on a mission.
XO