The best gift I ever received was given to me at birth by God. God gave me two kidneys. I kept them healthy and strong for 39 years until November 1998 when I realized that all these years one of the kidneys never really belonged to me. I was simply holding it in storage for my father who needed it more than I did.
Blessed by the blessing is the recipient.
Blessed to be a blessing is the reality of every kidney donor.
When we learned our father needed a kidney transplant to live in March 1997, we were very concerned, scared and sad. As he and I sat listening to a kidney transplant coordinator in Lexington, Kentucky describe all the criteria that must be met and how many wait for 3 to 5 years on the transplant list only to die before a match is found, we knew our trust and answer could not be placed in the list. Every day 13 people die waiting for a life-saving transplant and every 14 minutes someone new is added to the list. The need for both donors and organs is greater than the number of people who actually donate.
My father didn’t have to look far nor long for his donor as my 3 sisters and I all offered to donate our kidneys, were tested, and were a match. Because I was with my father when he first found out and began the process, being the oldest child and only son, I received the honor of being his donor. Words can not adequately describe how joyful he and I and all the family was that his life would be extended.
Because he gave me life, the least I could do was help extend his life!
It is hard to bear, knowing someone you care about is dying. Strong, vibrant, and active people get weak and weaker and are encumbered. When the opportunity for restoration is real, the atmosphere and attitude adjusts appropriately. Family, friends, the donor, and the recipient were all supporting, praying, and getting more excited as the transplant date got closer.
Preparation for the transplant basically involved staying healthy over time and as the day approached, passing various heart, pulse, blood tests, and urine analysis for vital markers determining the kidney and donor are safe and secure for the transplant. They also mark you to make sure the surgeons see clearly who is the donor and who is the recipient. If you looked at Daddy and me and you didn’t know, you probably couldn’t tell because we both were so happy and grateful to GOD.
The surgery was a success, and recovery for me was about 30 days and full recovery about 3 months. My father did well and was back to his usual busy self about 3 months after surgery, but very careful to follow a strict diet, vitamin and medicine regimen. 23 years later, I am doing well and I have never felt any adverse effects.
Over the years, the blessing of being a donor has continued in ways that I never imagined. God has placed me in the lives of many people, who themselves were in need of a kidney and others thinking about and actually donating a kidney, to encourage and support them and their families. I have talked with mothers scared for their children, co-workers receiving transplants and to support my younger sister, Elsa Jones, who also is blessed to be a blessing to our father. Since the transplant, I have had the joy of participating in Organ Donor and Bone Marrow Drives, sharing my story to hopefully encourage everyone to be organ, bone marrow and cord blood donors.
My only regret is GOD did not give me 4 kidneys,
because I wish I had a kidney for everyone in need.
Meet Our Guest Blogger
William A. Jones, III “Billy” is a Vehicle Performance Quality Inspector at Toyota Manufacturing Kentucky. He is also a member of the Toyota Diversity Group. Billy is a graduate of Kentucky State University and has a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing. At church, he is the Children’s Worship Teacher. He also volunteers with the Community Feed Program. Billy can be reached at Jwaj34@aol.com
WatchMonkeyMama is grateful to Billy for being our first Guest Blogger and sharing his selfless journey of love with our father. Yes, I said “our father.” I am proud to say that Billy is my loving, big brother.
Today is World Kidney Day. WatchMonkeyMama is grateful for souls like Billy who gave a kidney to our father. I hope his story inspires you to become a registered donor.
If you would like to register to be an organ donor, please register at www.organdonor.gov Your local driver’s license agency is also a place where you can register. The process is quite simple. It is important that you tell family members your wishes of organ donation.
Thank You to those like Billy, who donated a kidney for a person in need. Thank you to those who have signed up to be donors. Finally, our prayers go out to those who are on the list waiting for a kidney.
OMG! COME ON LESLEY! You & Billy have me crying in the middle of the workday! I see the will & skill to write with such emotion is genetic for you Jones siblings! Seriously, I love your blog and all the emotional rollercoaster rides it offers. There is so much love, joy, & encouragement!
Serena
PS- I’m proud to be registered as an organ donor for many years.
Wow! Thank you Serena. I don’t even know where to begin. I am so glad you were touched emotionally by Billy’s story of giving dad a kidney. It was the ultimate act of love. Thank you for your tears of JOY! Tomorrow, our sister Beth will share her account of giving daddy a kidney as well. I couldn’t love them more for what they did to preserve dad’s life. Thank you also for the kind words about my blog and what it represents. I so appreciate that you read it. Lastly, I love that you are a registered donor as well! Be Blessed!
Awesome story of caring and sharing
Thank you so much Paula for reading Billy’s guest blog story of giving our father a kidney.
Beautifully Written Billy and such Priceless pictures of you and your dad!
Thank you Gloria. I totally agree with you about how Billy wrote his account. The images are so darling as well.
Very moving account of an opportunity to be a blessing to your father.
Thank you Nancy. When opportunity knocked, Billy never, ever hesitated. To this day, I am so grateful for his selfless act of love for our father.
Beautiful story! ❤️🕊
Thank you Brooklyn. It truly is one of the most beautiful acts of love. You are Blessed to have him as your father!
Lesley, thank you for having Billy as your guest blogger. What a beautiful and moving story; and the title, “Blessed to be a Blessing”, was so befitting.
I enjoy “Watch Monkey Mama” immensely. I look forward reading to the next blog.
Thank you so much Norma for being such a loyal reader of WatchMonkeyMama! I truly appreciate it. I am elated that you enjoyed Billy’s blog as a guest blogger. His story of donating a kidney to our father was the absolute act of selfless love! It extended our father’s life and we give God all the Glory for choosing Billy (and Beth my sister, you will soon read) as kidney donors for dad.
Billy you continue to be a blessing to many. Love you!
Thank you for reading Billy’s blog post Devonne. I couldn’t agree with you more!
A great act of love by one who understands “we are blessed to be a blessing”. One could feel the love BillI III shared for his father! What a blessing! May God continue to bless you and your family! Love, Prayers, and Blessings to All!
Thank you for reading Billy’s blog and feeling the love that existed between father and son! Their story is one that I hope encourages others to register as organ donors. Be Blessed!
My favorite pictures of your father and Billy…glad you could use them in your story. Both are taken at Crozer Seminary in Chester, PA. Billy was learning to walk in the grass, 1960. The other on a Sunday morning in 1962 at Sunnyside Apartments at Crozer Seminary just before we left for First Baptist Church in Philadelphia, a month or so, before Beth was born. Memories
Thank you for sharing these beautiful images to represent the love and bond of our family! They are beautiful and help with the story Billy told and the call to action for persons to register to become organ donors. I truly appreciate it and love you!
Billy, I remember well standing between the two beds, you in one and your father in the other. Your story is so beautifully written, steeped in love and caring for your father. He was so grateful for your willingness to come to his aid in such a magnanimous self sacrificing way. From a young tyke you leapt with joy when your father came into view, your life-lengthening gift was additional adherent to the existent bond. Love, Mother
I love your writing and cannot wait for you to be a Guest Blogger for WatchMonkeyMama as well! I concur with you. Billy’s writing was poignant and brought many to tears and varied emotions as they read it. Thank you for your unconditional love in all of our lives mommy! We learned to be selfless by the modeling of you and daddy.
Lesley, I appreciate you and I am honored by the opportunity to share my story and encourage others to be organ AND bone and cord marrow donors. Over the years it has been a true blessing to speak to many people, some whom I already knew and others I did not previously know, referred to me to offer encouragement, comfort fears, and put at ease worries about normal healthy living after the transplant. I have overheard people I did not know talking about themselves, or family and friends worried about the need of a kidney and new friendships and great bonds have been made as I introduced myself as a kidney donor and shared the successful and joy filled experiences of myself and our sister, Elsa Jones.
Not only are we blessed to be a blessing, your watchmonkeymama.com blog is blessed to be a blessing, too!
GOD BE THANKED!
Thank you so much Billy! I am truly honored that you are my very first guest blogger on WatchMonkeyMama! And the fact that you shared your kidney donation for daddy is super special! You have blessed so many with your story and selfless love. Thank you so much big brother! I love you! And I look forward to more guest blogging! 🙂
Lesley, as I was reading Billy’s story, it took be back to day you shared this with me. Billy, what an awesome gift to be able to give to your Dad and give him more time on this earth. Your dad was one lucky fellow to have been given a new lease on life from his first born. I know this was the happiest day for you and your sisters. Beautiful pictures of father and son! Memories are the best!
Thank you Shelia! We are blessed that you were able to be a friend for us on this journey of live given again from son to father! God Bless!
Wow such an amazing story/act of kindness. Much respect to you and your family. Parents give so much to us that for us to show that same unconditional love and sacrifice is a blessing. I am a former student of Mrs. Sessler from her teaching days in Brooklyn, NY many years ago. She was my third grade teacher and she instill the love of writing and vocabulary in me as well as my classmates. To see you have your own blog and still having a passion for writing is awesome. Much blessings to you and your family especially during these difficult times. God Bless
Thank you so much for reaching out. I truly appreciate it! I am so glad you enjoyed Billy’s blog. It is for sure an example of unconditional love we all have for one another in our family. I would love to reconnect with you. It’s been many years since I taught you. Please DM me on Instagram or Facebook so that we can catch up. I would love to hear about your life and all you’ve been up to all these years.
I actually sent you a friend request on Facebook and a message.
Thank you! I just replied.
A beautiful tribute to Lesley by her former student, Daquan Carter.
Thank you! One of the most beautiful gifts is that of a former student coming back years later to say, THANK YOU! 🙂 I am truly blessed!