Give the gift of life

Lawrence Allan is hoping that people took the time to learn a little about organ donation during Organ Donation Awareness week that ended this past Sunday.
As a recipient of a new kidney over a year ago, Allan knows first hand how important a person’s decision is when giving an organ to a waiting patient in need.
“It is not an easy decision to make, but it certainly means a lot,” Allan said.
“I was fortunate enough to have my daughter donate her kidney to me, but there are many people out there who are waiting for a transplant.”
Diagnosed with chronic renal failure in February 1996, Allan and his family knew that there was a chance that Lawrence would have to have a kidney transplant.
“The thought of having a transplant was always in the back of our minds,” Allan said.
“We mentioned it to the doctor as a possibility. He then went on to tell us that he did not like to do them on patients over the age of 65. We mentioned this to the transplant nurse at the hospital and she said that they can do them on anyone of any age as long as the patient is deemed a suitable candidate.”
Despite his failing health, Allan decided to forego his doctor’s recommendation for dialysis and instead opt for a strict regimented diet.
“I was placed on a low protein, low sodium, low phosphorous, and low potassium diet,” Allan explained. “My wife posted two lists in the cupboard and in the fridge. I would open the cupboard and see what I couldn’t eat and then open the fridge and wonder what I could.
“We did the best we could to try and restrict the kind of things going into my system,” Allan added. “And between myself and my wife I managed to stay healthy and off dialysis for quite a while.”
In October 1999, Allan’s good health began to waiver, and in November 1999, the decision was made to go on dialysis.
“Being on dialysis was very restricting,” Allan remembered. “Before I was placed on it, the idea of a transplant seemed like a very far away thing. Once I got on it though, it sure got me thinking.”
After nine months of dialysis, Allan and his family finally decided to make the decision to have a kidney transplant.
“I had no idea that my daughter [Lisa Morden] was going to be the donor,” Allan said. “I was not really in favour of her giving me her kidney, but she put up a really good argument.”
Though the decision was a hard one to make, Morden knew that the alternative was simply not imaginable.
“Looking back now it really was not a big deal,” Morden confessed. “It really was not an easy decision to make. At times you would feel nervous and then guilty about feeling that way. Overall I had the benefit of the operation to live with and that was reason enough.”
Grateful for his daughter’s decision, Allan and Morden made their way to St. Louis to undergo the procedure.
“If the shoe had been on the other foot, I would have been able to make the choice in a minute,” Allan said.
“But who would think that God would put so much love into a daughter’s heart that she would be capable of doing something so special.
“Before she went into surgery my wife asked her if she was sure and that she could change her mind,” continued Allan. “Lisa said she was sure. I could never thank her enough for making that decision.”
After months of recovery time and some unexpected complications, Allan and his daughter can now look back on the entire experience with laughter and a few tears.
“You don’t go through something like this without becoming emotional,” Allan said with tears in his eyes. “For now, we live day to day. This whole thing has really helped to put things into perspective.”
“To give the gift of life is one of the greatest things a person can do for someone else,” concluded Allan.
“If anything could have been accomplished this past week, I hope at the very least someone thought about being a donor and signed their donor card. Miracles still do happen and I am living proof of that.”