I’ve known Jael Freedman now for about four years. I’ve written a couple of articles about her. She is funny, smart, adorable, intuitive, immensely and intensely creative, and incredibly compassionate and empathetic.
Oh, and one more thing—this lady has guts.
Jael called me today to let me know she is donating a kidney to her nephew, Joshua Wood, 20, who lives in Columbus, Ohio, and suffers from Goodpastures Syndrome, a rare autoimmune disease that affects the lungs and kidneys.
“I decided I had to do it,” Jael said. “I don’t know what the outcome will be. I just keep thinking, `I cannot not do this.’ The feeling was so strong. This is his life we’re talking about here.”
Jael didn’t make this decision lightly. She is a 39-year-old single mother of two daughters who works as a nanny, personal assistant and (believe it or not) occasional psychic. She has a full life and lots of friends.
But this Friday, April 23, she will undergo a kidney transplant operation with her nephew at Ohio State University Medical Center in Columbus.
For the month of May, Ms. Freedman will be recovering from the operation and unable to work. So she is relying on donations to pay her bills during that time period, and she’s hoping the Jewish community will be there for her.
“Anything given is so much deeply appreciated,” she said. “One thing I love about being Jewish is the sense of community and the `One for all, all for one’ [credo] we have. There’s nothing that as Jews we didn’t overcome, so it’s natural to come to my family for help.”
So where does she get her courage? After all, let’s be honest, how many of us could put ourselves through something like this, even for a beloved nephew?
“I have no idea where it comes from,” she said, “but I just think everyone has the courage in them. It’s there when we need it.
If you want to help Jael, she asked that donors send contributions to her PayPal address .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
or to 6537 Falkirk Road, apt. J, Baltimore, Md. 21239.
Jael, we’ll be praying for you and Josh. God bless you.
Jael,
I just wanted to say welcome to the Donor’s Club. I,too donated my left kidney to a family member on November 12, 2007. My recipient and I are both doing well so I hope that gives you encouragement.
I know all too well the compelling feeling and need to donate a kidney, especially when it is a family member. The stakes are higher and the sense of responsibility, and for me the sense of obligation, was intense. As you said, “I cannot not do this”. I think this is often the feeling in family donations.
During the evaluation process the transplant team’s job is to make sure the donor and recipient are suitably matched medically. They are also responsible to make sure that the donor will suffer no harm, following the ethical principle of “Do no harm”. Therefore, donors undergo rigorous medical tests to make sure they are healthy enough to give up a kidney and ensure that their body will be able to compensate for the rest of their lives as they live with one kidney. Donors also undergo intense psychological evaluations to make sure they are doing this under their own free will, free of coercion and that they are not being paid for the organ. One of the many purposes of being evaluated by the psychologist or social worker is also to make sure that you are financially able to undergo this elective procedure, that you have a support system in place and that you carry your own medical insurance. While kidney donors generally do well they need to be sure to have regular medical check ups to follow their kidney function as it may be compromised over time with one kidney. They need to follow a healthy lifestyle to ensure they do not get high blood pressure or diabetes.
I pray that your recovery goes smoothly and that you will continue to monitor your health. Please make sure the transplant team sends you forms to have your blood drawn, urinalysis and that this information is relayed back to them. Centers differ on their protocols but usually donors are checked a few weeks after surgery, 6 months, 1 year and every year after that unless there are abnormalities. They are obligated to follow donors for a minimum of 2 years and report back to UNOS. All expenses are paid for through an account set up at the time of surgery.
You can get good information from a livingdonorsonline.org, an online support group for donors. I have learned much from my donor buddies sand have been able to lend support to others. If you would like to get more information or just talk to another donor feel free to contact me at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
All the best,
Sherri
FEATURED JOBS
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