I consider myself a realist.
Pragmatic, positive, focused on the upside, the opportunity ahead. Very aware of looming darkness and dread in the world, but leaning in so intently to what is good I can’t get consumed by dangers all around. Like a storm chaser staying just out of reach of the swirling, twisting devastation around him. One trivia game asked a deep question recently…. 'When did you face your hardest challenge?' And if you know me, you know my answer.
My 14-year old son’s liver was failing, and he was placed on the waiting list for a donor liver. I was approved to be his living donor and our dual surgeries were scheduled a few months ahead. Selfishly, the weight I felt of that privilege and responsibility with simultaneous multiple week stays in 2 different hospitals (the adult one and the children’s one) on opposite sides of town, rehab, lifelong medication, not to mention massive financial expense of not 1 but 2 such complex operations... all of it was enough to trigger a brief panic attack.
Yet it wasn’t meant to be. With weeks to go until our D-day, we got the call and miraculously a donor liver was found. His 12-hour surgery was a success; he’s been doing well for years now with a healthy liver and new lease on life. So how can I possibly not be an optimist?
If you take anything from this, I encourage you to be an organ donor. The sacrifice of one person can save or radically improve the lives of 8 or more people. My son (and I by extension) received that gift firsthand and are changed forever by it.
Oh and probably also this: ‘tough times don’t last. Tough people do.’
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