In February, my brother called to share the latest news on his husband's health (Oh yeah, did I mention that I have the ultimate modern family?): Howard's kidney was getting worse, and he was going to need to start dialysis soon.
I was on my way to work, and David's words kept echoing in my ears. I knew that Howard had gone on the kidney list several months prior, but that was a precaution, because Howard would need a kidney in the future. Now that he was facing dialysis, it was *real*. Howard needed a kidney soon.
I thought about it for a few days, and turned to my husband one night. "I want to get tested to see if I'm a match." Dan mentioned that if I was getting tested then he would too. I acted like he hadn't said that at first -- this was *my* in-law, and I wouldn't expect my husband, who has known Howard for only a few years, to step up. But he repeated that he was going to talk to the coordinator too. Wow, I'm a lucky woman.
I called my brother the next day. When I told him we wanted to be tested, he and Howard were stunned. Our relationship hasn't always been great, but I love my brother immensely. I don't think either of us realized until that moment just how deep that love goes.
Dan and I called the living donor coordinator at Piedmont Hospital the next day. Dan was eliminated almost immediately for a history of kidney stones. I was going to move forward.
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