Receiving the gift of life from a living donor versus a deceased donor or an altruistic donor evokes different emotions. I was too ill to be placed on the transplant waiting list but needed a kidney to survive. I received my kidney from a living donor, Sally Robertson, which has made every part of our journey joyous, as we are able to celebrate milestones together. Sally’s love has provided me with endless opportunities and a profound purpose for my life. In honor of Donate Life Month, I want to share thoughts from my donor with you. She is a beautiful, selfless, kind woman who eloquently articulates words of wisdom and love like no other person I know.
Credit: Lauren Fair Photography
Happy Donate Life Month! My name is Sally and I am blessed to be Valen’s kidney donor and would like to share why I chose to give her my kidney. There really is only one reason, one word, and it is Love. My daughter, Emily, loved Valen as teenage friends and as a result, I loved her too. She would show up at our house with a huge beaming smile and the latest styles! My love for her was beginning to grow deep roots in my heart, preparing me for what was to come. When Emily told me Valen’s kidneys were failing and she was going to have them removed, I knew that the Lord was leading me to help her. He was just beginning to unfold His beautiful and life changing story in our lives! As we approach Easter, I am reminded again of what love really is; it is giving up your own life for someone else. Jesus is our greatest example of this beautiful and sacrificial love and I am so thankful He gave Himself for us! I continue to see the beauty in His plan, have His hope for the future and have been blessed beyond measure through our transplant. I love Valen more today than I did the day I knew I was to give her my kidney and I look forward to each time I get to see her beautiful face and beaming smile! Jesus said in the book of John, chapter 15, “Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” If we give of ourselves and love others in such a way as this, we will receive more than we could ever have imagined! Peace and Blessings to you! – Sally Robertson
That is truly a beautiful and inspiring story!
Hi Carolyn,
Thank you very much. I am so grateful that my donor opened up and shared her beautiful thoughts on my blog. I hope you are doing well. I miss you!
Sally, what a beautiful and inspiring story. I’m sure your rewards that you have already experienced here on this earth are nothing compared to the ones that await you on the other side. Blessings and may both of you and your precious families have a wonderful and blessed Easter. xoxoxoxo <3 Marsha
Marsha,
Thank you for expressing your kindness to my donor. So beautifully said and so true. Have a wonderful Easter my sweet friend! xoxo
I love this so much. I pray (don’t we all?) for this happy ending. I worry that I am placing all my eggs in the ‘I will have a LIVE DONOR’ basket. I can’t help but aim high and hope high. I can’t stop hoping for the best outcome and I won’t stop. I want everyone to be SALLY. I do I do!! I may come crashing down some day when the truth reveals itself once I’m ‘there’ but meanwhile, I hope on the highest level for a Sally.
Hi Adriana,
Keep putting all of that positive energy out there and I too hope on the highest level that you will have a ‘Sally’ in your life. xo
So, so, so great.. all I can do is smile 🙂
Trinity,
Thank you sister! Our family and the love we are surrounded with is a beautiful thing…no words to describe its greatness! 🙂 xo
This scripture inspired a potential living donor who wanted to donate his kidney to my husband several years ago: Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:13) Go Sally! And Go Valen! Your inspirational story is spread to thousands of people.
Hi Amy,
So beautiful! Thank you for sharing!