so a man walks into a restaurant with his kidney, and their spouses … ? Happy 2nd Kidneversary!

two years ago today
Went out to dinner at a nice Greek restaurant in Astoria last night, with my wife (of course) and my left kidney and her husband. Huh?

Long-time readers of Manhattan Loft Guy know that “my left kidney” means Susan, a woman without functioning kidneys of her own, who two years ago today left Columbia Presbyterian with my left kidney and has been healthy (knock wood!) ever since. Such readers also know that in a roundabout way that surgery led to my unauthorized sabbatical from blogging at the end of 2009, but (I hope) most have forgiven me for that.

So indulge me for a minute on a subject dear to my heart.

paging Moss Hart & George S. Kaufman
No, you can’t take it with you. Any part of your body that gets buried after you die that could have been used for someone alive is wasted, to be frank. There are more parts of your corporeal presence that might benefit the living after you are gone than you’d think. See the New York Times article linked in my June 18, weekend diversion / feel-good edition for just one example (or, just 5 examples).

On this day last year I channeled someone who by now has got to be a Minor Celebrity, if she remains celebrated at all. In my September 4, 2010, Happy Kidneversary Day to all:

I feel like Sally Struthers
Thousands of people die every year without having gotten the organ donation that could save their lives. Millions of people die every year without having made arrangements to donate any usable organs. You can do something about that today.

Of course it is E A S Y to do something about it: just fill out some paperwork. This is from my morning-of-surgery post September 4, 2009, do any of you people know how to pray?:

will you need your kidneys after you die?

Uhhh, no, you won’t. Nor any other parts of your body that someone else might benefit from having. The New York Donor Network website is http://donatelifeny.org/, where you can get information about donating organs after you don’t need them. There’s a form you can fill out, print and mail that enrolls you in the donor program, which you can access here. The main site has many, many links if you want further information about organ transplants.

Even though it is a holiday weekend, the inter-tubes are open today and tomorrow. Click on the damn links above and fill out the paperwork, print it out, and mail it in. Encourage members of your family to do the same. DO. IT. NOW. Please. (Other states have similar procedures and websites; use The Google to find ’em if you are not in New York.)

some back story
If you are curious about my relationship with Susan before and after, we were profiled together in a newsletter from the school we both have some connection to, with details and link in my January 20, 2010, adventures in nephrology / about that kidney donation…..

one more appeal
Moss Hart & George S. Kaufman & Sally Struthers & Susan & Manhattan Loft Guy & all those families in the NY Times are begging you.

DO. IT. NOW. Please.

© Sandy Mattingly 2011