An Extremely Personal Post. Please Read, Share and Consider.

It's hard to know where to start with a subject like this. Especially because it ends with a very big question. 

Those who know me and my family know the struggles my sister, Sameera, has gone through with her health for more than half her life. And though she's been through more than I've ever witnessed elsewhere, she has never complained, asked why or taken on a lifestyle of self pity.  Instead, she had pushed through time and time again with courage that I only call immeasurably inspiring. 

In the beginning of 2008, a was awarded the absolute honor of giving her a kidney by the University Of Alabama Birmingham's amazing transplant team. On June 17th, 2008, with our family by our sides, we went through a very successful kidney transplant. Though her medicine cabinet was bursting at the seams, I was able to give her a full year of 'normal health'.   Unfortunately, like many transplant recipients, she went into rejection.  

In 2012, after a completely miraculous pregnancy and birth of my beautiful niece, my sister's health took some nasty turns. For the last year she has taken hit after hit, beginning with gall bladder surgery, and ending with emergency dialysis and open heart surgery. But through it all, her head remains high and her will remains stronger than most people I know. 

After an extremely tough year for her, her family and ours, Sameera has finally been cleared by Johns Hopkins University to undergo a kidney transplant. A transplant that can give her back her health, her well being and hopefully a life that she so greatly deserves. 

If I could give Sameera a kidney every year for the rest of my life, I would do so without a second thought, but unfortunately that's not possible. And here in lies the grand question. 

Would you be willing to donate a kidney? 

If at all you think that you would be willing to do this, I urge you to please contact the transplant coordinator at John's Hopkins (info below).  Even if you just have questions about the process, please contact Pamela or myself.  I will answer any and all questions to the best of my ability, having gone through the process myself. And anything I don't know personally I will find answers for. 

Whether you think you can do personally or not, please pass this on to any and all family and friends.  Unfortunately, Sameera isn't the only person in this predicament. There are thousands of people who are out there, hoping to find a kidney match to lead the type of lives we take for granted. 

For questions or to find out if you are a good candidate for donation, please contact:

Johns Hopkins University

Donor Nurse Coordinator : Pamela Walker

Office: 410-502-6153

1-888-304-5069 #2

Fax: 410-614-6906

pwalke15@jhmi.edu

www.hopkinsmedicine.org/transplant

Or you can contact me directly at Sharmanicole@gmail.com

I understand this is a very big question, but it's one that can not go unanswered. All I can ask if that you consider this and consider the amazing gift that you would be giving my sister and all those that know her. 

Thank you to those who have come forward already and many thanks to those who will.  The gratitude my family has for you all can only be called love.