12/06/2023
Let me tell you a story...My husband, David was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma in August 2020. They found this rare cancer of the blood because his kidneys went into complete failure. Immediately he was placed on dialysis and we didn't know if he would make it out alive in the early stages. After extensive chemotherapy followed by a Stem Cell Transplant; David was cancer free, but sadly his kidneys never came back. We were finally placed on the kidney transplant list in August 2022. We were told finding a living donor was best because currently the wait time on the list for a deceased donor's kidney was 7-10 years. I went to work and was determined to get the word out to find my husband a living donor. Let's jump ahead to August 2023. We just made a year on the list and still no match that was approved by the transplant board. I continued to share his story on social media. In early September 2023 we learned that we had a match! Now let me introduce you to Christopher, David's donor...his superhero! Chris and David did not know one another. David's grandmother owned and operated a daycare in the 80's where Chris was one of the infant's there. Small world right?! In the summer of 2023 Chris saw my post pleading with the public for a living donor shared through mutual friends. After seeing it a few times he decided he would get tested. He shared this news only with his sisters. See their father passed away of cancer a few years earlier and he felt a call that this was his purpose. He felt this would honor his father in all that he had endured with Esophageal Cancer. It turned out that Chris was a match and he continued to keep this secret until he was cleared by the transplant team that he could donate his kidney and still lead a healthy normal life himself and on September 8th there was a knock on our door. Chris and his family came to our home to tell David he was his match! By the way, Chris happens to live in the same subdivision in Meraux, Louisiana as we do. Literally just two streets over! Talk about neighbors helping neighbors! Our lives changed forever on December 1, 2023 when Chris performed the most selfless act by donating his kidney to a complete stranger who no longer was a stranger at all but a brother for life. We could never repay him for this amazing gift of life that he gave David, but we will spend a lifetime thanking him and reminding him of how much he means to our family. I believe his late father, Mr. Gary Stall would be so proud of him. I pray this story brings you encouragement to never give up. God is bigger than any trial or circumstance you may be facing. The Lord already had the plans laid out for both David and Chris over 40 years ago when Chris was just an infant at David's grandmother's daycare. I hope this story brings awareness to living donors and how you can save lives while you're still here on earth. You can be a hero just like Chris! Just so you know the rest of the story, the kidney transplant was a success! Both men are recovering from surgery currently, and that brand new kidney is working beautifully for David! He doesn't need dialysis anymore and his levels have returned to normal. We won't say this is the end of the story because this story is just beginning! Remember it only takes one! Donate your spare!
