LiveOnNY转发了
20 years ago I was given a second chance at life. I was dying from a rare genetic disease that I didn’t know I carried until it was almost too late. My whole body was shutting down and while I knew I was very sick, I didn’t truly grasp the gravity of the situation. I was under the care of the most incredible physicians, nurses and staff led by Lewis Teperman, MD, FACS, who cared for me and gave me the hope I needed to hold on until a suitable donor was found. An 18 year old girl I never met and her family saved my life. ???Because of their decision, I was given a second chance. ???Because of their decision, I was given a chance to get married to my husband Robby. ???Because of their decision, I became a mom to my incredible daughter, whose middle name Nadia, which means hope, honors my donor.? ???Because of their decision, I am here today. I know that everyone’s trajectory post transplant doesn’t have the same outcome as mine thus far, and I hold them in my heart. I share my story with the hope that someone will read it and consider becoming an organ donor. More than 100,000 people in the U.S. are waiting for a life saving organ transplant. Every 9 minutes, another person is added to the list. And every day, someone dies waiting. Not a day goes by that I don’t think about the magnitude of my donor family’s decision. I am forever grateful to them and to the amazing care I’ve received throughout the past 20 years. With all my heart — thank you, to my donor, her family, and the medical team who gave me a future.??? LiveOnNY DonateLife #OrganDonation #LiverTransplant