CAN I HAVE YOUR KIDNEY?

A friend in need

When I was 11 years old, my uncle succumbed to kidney failure (both) and resorted to the dialysis machine every 3 days in a week. Whenever he comes home from the dialysis, he would lose his appetite and vomited… almost the entire day, feeling tired and sick.

He wanted to take drastic measure by getting a donated kidney and get on with his ordinary life. We scouted around for next-of-kin who would be willing and suitable to give a kidney to him.

My mother was the first to volunteer. She underwent a few tests to determine before she was found to be the perfect donor. Then, the entire family hesitated, even my uncle, because, should anything happened to my uncle, as he was in dire state, and passed on, my mom would be left with only one kidney the rest of her life.

Then, I told my mother to let uncle have my kidney instead, being reason that I was younger and healthier. You might think that I was young and probably still dumb, but I was nevertheless, compassionate. My mom was touched and speechless. She gently dismissed my expression of great love to my uncle at such a tender age. I bit my lips in order not to shed a tear to show how serious I was.

My uncle went to India for his kidney transplant. He died the next day due to heart failure, not organ rejection. We were all devastated as he was our one and only uncle, one and only brother of my mom’s family, one and only man left in the household. And he had left us for good. God bless his soul.

As I see it, I wonder how many of us would be willing to give a kidney or part of our body to a dear friend, a relative or a stranger even, in order to save life.

For me, I wouldn’t hesitate one bit, as I have signed up with the National Kidney Foundation to donate all my organs should I kicked the bucket suddenly.

I posted this blog out of anger actually. The management of my Company has gone mad and assigned all staff (not only the sales and marketing staff, even the clerks also kena) to recruit at least 10 new members for credit cards by the end of this month. Being someone popular and surrounded with different sets of friends, you might think, 10 is sub sub sui. (Cantonese: Easy job). But NOoooOOOOoooOO.

Excuses, excuses, excuses

Friend A: Sorry. I don’t want to have another card in my purse. Sorry dear.

(You can keep them in your house? DUH?)

Friend B: It is annoying to cancel the card when you don’t need it. More cards, more trouble.

(It is only a fax away. DUH)


Friend C: I will sign up if you climb Kinabalu with me.

(Are you going to pay for the expenses for the people to carry me up there as I don’t want to scale the slope? DUH. *they charge by the kilos – I was told)

Friend D: What freebies they provide? No freebies ah? Only 2 years’ waiver? What for?

(Nothing in this world comes free. DUH)

Period.

I didn’t even ask them to use the card. I didn’t even ask them to mail the application form themselves to the company. I didn’t even ask them for their kidneys. Just a simple, small, miniscule, tiny, inny, weenee, favor for me to meet my quota.

Well, can’t blame them. They have their own issues. They have their own principles. A friend has to respect each other’s decisions no matter how crappy they are.

But should any of these so called friends are in need of a kidney, I wouldn’t hesitate to give them mine.

Sorry lah. Was damn irrationally frustrated when I wrote this. Didn't know this post would end up like this.