People have a great capacity for goodness. We've all seen it: Neighbors coming to the rescue of a down-on-their-luck family whose house has burned down, helping them rebuild. A man picking up the restaurant tab for a family he has been watching in admiration for their obvious love of being with one another. Or the man of modest means who wills his hard-earned and surprisingly large savings to a school.
In 2006 we lost someone with such a spirit. Her name was Sheryl Bull and she had been Modern Healthcare magazine's talented and hard working advertising sales manager for a number of years. She gave of herself to family and friends, volunteering with her Lakeview church and two youth soccer organizations. One day, at the relatively young age of 54, she had a brain aneurism while visiting her mother. She was brought to hospital and placed on life support, with no hope of recovery. All of us who knew and loved her were absolutely shocked.
True to her nature, years before, Sheryl had designated herself as an organ donor. I remember her husband Tom telling me how surreal the room was with all the machines working away to keep her alive as he left the room for the last time. He told me that he felt that Sheryl would live on forever, as her heart and lungs and other organs were placed in the bodies of others who desperately needed new organs. Sheryl would have been happy to know she helped to save lives.
A dear friend of mine from Detroit, Kathi Prentice, told me a story recently about a woman who has made all the difference in the world for someone. The woman, Debbie Samalis, was part of a tight-knit community around senior men's hockey. Debbie heard that a friend's husband, Alex Luttschyn, needed a kidney replacement in order to live. She told her husband that she felt, because her blood type was the same as Alex's, that she would like to explore the possibility of giving one of her kidneys to him. After consulting with doctors, she agreed to do so. Kathy explains that all the wives were absolutely shocked by Debbie's decision. "She was always full of life and seemed so carefree about everything, but when it came to giving up one her kidneys to her friend's husband, she was as serious as can be."
The donation, which is an arduous process, was a success. Recently Debbie wrote a letter about her experience:
"Thank you to my wonderful family and friends for all your support during my kidney donation process. Alex and I are the lucky ones to have such loving family and friends. My dear husband, Tony, and wonderful daughters, Stephanie and Jennifer, have helped me to maintain my strength during this entire process. I love you!
Donating my kidney to Alex was an honor, and I feel blessed that I was able to help him lead a longer, healthy life. As my dear and talented folk singer friends, Kate Peterson and Sarah Cleaver, would say, I was nervous but excited.
I feel great, and Alex is doing well. He has a long road of healing ahead with support from his wonderful wife and children, I am sure he will soon be his old self again.
I would also like to thank the staff at the Beaumont Transplant Clinic. As promised, they provided the support, guidance and medical care needed through the transplant process. My surgeon, Dr. Steve Cohn, is a brilliant doctor, and I will always be grateful.
Also, thank you nurse Ellen W., who helped me with compassion, knowledge and patience. You are in the right profession and hopefully are rewarded well.
If anyone reading this has the opportunity to donate a kidney, do it! I will never be able to completely express my gratitude!”
At this time of year, giving to others is something the majority of us do naturally. It is an American tradition. But giving up a healthy organ to another human being in desperate need is something to marvel about! I do not know Debbie Samalis, but her sense of gratitude and devotion to others is absolutely incredible. She should be a role model for everyone. Hers is an extreme example, but shows the value and rewards of selfless giving.
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