Transplant and Adoption

In the last month it has come to my attention that adoption and transplants have quite a bit in common. They both require paperwork, tests, and medial requirements in order to be approved and to get on the “waiting list.” Once on the the list it becomes a waiting game for the “the call.” 

The biggest and hardest part of both adoption and transplants is that both start with heartache and loss of a family member. Birthmothers, birth families, and donor families lose the opportunity to watch their family member continue growing and advancing in this life on earth. Birth mothers do not get to parent their child. The adopted child has no say in the whole adoption process. The donor most likely didn’t have any say in having their life cut short. I want to acknowledge that both of these grand events that have or may have a part in my life start with devastation and that will never leave my mind. The families involved in these scenarios are in my thoughts and prayers continuously. I take these gifts with great gratitude and a commitment to do my best with what I’ve been given.

“A child born to another mother calls me mommy. The magnitude of that tragedy and the depth of that privilege are not lost on me.” Jody Landers

“A birth mother always puts the needs of her child above the wants of her heart.” Skye Hardwick

“Without an organ donor, there is no story, no hope, no transplant. But when there is an organ donor, life springs from death, sorrow turns to hope and a terrible loss becomes a gift.” UNOS

“Don’t think of organ donations as giving up part of yourself to keep a total stranger alive. It’s really a total stranger giving up all of themselves to keep part of you alive.” Author Unknown

I decided to contact Stanford and ask what the next steps will be. My test results and information was sent to Stanford on Monday, Now Stanford will go through my information and it needs to be clinically approved. Meaning the doctors will give approval to move forward with my case. After I'm clinically approved then it will go to the financial team. The financial team will contact my insurance and make sure the transplant will be covered. Then they will contact me to go down and finish my evaluation. With the holidays coming up and others whose files were received before mine, I will most likely not be contacted until mid to late January.