Dear my donor family,
I wanted to write sooner, however I could not find the words to appropriately express my gratitude for the gift of life and sympathy for a loss as overwhelming as yours in the same letter. Your family gave me the world!
And I’m not American, I’m Japanese. I was scary to say it from the fear of making you disappointed. I was awkward. I imagine most Americans prefer to give organs to American and young people.
I have a totally different story. Let me start by introducing myself. My name is Taka, and I originally live in Japan alone. I have father and one married young sister. My mother was on dialysis for 20 years and passed away without knowing kidney transplant. (In Japan, 60% doctors don’t teach patients about transplant. Because no hope there. Only 160 brain death transplants in Japan history. My father tried to give me his kidney, but it didn’t work, he was too old to do that. He supported me a lot about surgery cost eating very poor food to save money from his poor pension. He eats poor foods and gave us all his money... it’s selfless love. He is not rich, just saving every pennies.
For the past 11 years prior to receiving my new kidney, I was on dialysis. I have full time job for a manufacturing company and I’m in a marketing division. I’m a marketing analysis and ad computer designer. It was a very hard life with the full time job and machine therapy every day. I was unable to walk well, travel-hard, or enjoy hobbies, eat and drink, play sports. During the last six months prior to my transplant, I couldn’t work and stayed at home. Tsunami made me tough to take treatment. I lived a life of hardships. I did not have much longer to live ... so I moved and started my journey to USA in the Tsunami month to look for a miracle.
American doctors taught me about transplant and “We can help you.” They opened my new life door. They added my name on the waiting list and American transplant team and a lot of generous American and my friends give me amazing support all the time during my amazing journey. I couldn’t do anything without the close support and encouragement from them. My transplant team and support network was gracious and wonderful. I’m privileged to know them.
Originally, I love travel and I love USA. I went there for 2-4 times a year for more than 20 years fot watching sports and concerts, exploring new places.. after getting disease, I visited lots of transplant centers to study it and joined volunteer for organ donation and many education seminars for giving back and paying it forward.
I love volunteer!! It’s my life-work. I was busy for volunteer before transplant with famous liver and lung transplant advocate or so. One day, I went to supermarket with her and got the call. I didn’t expected so, I didn’t understand at first. Life changed suddenly!! But it was the anniversary of your loving and irreplaceable family. I’ll never forget this day. I celebrate the day as kidney-versary and your donor’s death anniversary and I spend time with American goods, cupcake (I love it) and American atmosphere.
I heard your family really understood organ donation and talked with your family well. I am grateful that you agreed to help others during what must have been an extremely painful time. This decision is amazingly heroic. You’re my HERO.
Kidney was very healthy and perfect. And very big kidney for Japanese. (Regularly, Japanese size is 10cm, but your family’s kidney is 11.8cm... big American kidney!) We have perfect matching. Every time I go to pee, my heart skips a beat.
The transplant has tremendously improved my health and quality of life dramatically. I feel like a new woman. I no longer need strict diet or assistance of machine. I live my life in freedom. I sit back and take a look at my life and keep forward to dream, overcome and achieve next dreams. I’m ready to go on with my life. I called it’s AMERICAN DREAM. Maybe I reached for American dream!? America, anything happens in this land of opportunities, free and powerful country. American sure know how to have fun. I would like to learn a lot from you, culture, way of thinking ... Because of my mother’s tragedy, our family was breakdown, so I didn’t know warm family. But now I found some great new family in US... like transplant family and your family. Lately, I recover from disease, so I feel like having my own family, next dream! I’ve lived alone and done all things by myself.
I take long walks along the beach and see the sunset. I can watch Mt. Fuji from my window. I visited my mother’s grave and told happy news. I enjoy little things in my life every day... walk freely, sit on long time to watch movie without fatigue, fine in all day, drinking as I like, eating everything ... eating ice cream, fruits and veggies, Italian dishes, travel freely, doing sports, ... I love my life and I make my life as meaningful as possible. I have a lot of friends in transplant community and they have power of thought to transform people’s lives. I would like to follow them. I’m a Christian and was baptized in US after transplant. I will live a life of service. I’m very blessed and Heaven thank you and God bless you all.
I would not be here without American people support. A lot of people donated me, incredible people want to donated their kidney, support all my living in US ... Before for sightseeing, but this amazing journey, I realize how American is wonderful. Amazing helping, giving and sharing spirits, independent and free spirits ... every colorful moments in US are my sparkling treasure. They are precious treasure given in trust like your family for me , too.
I appreciate every day. You have given me a wonderful second chance in life. I feel every new day brings new possibilities and that I can accomplish things that were inconceivable before. I’m thrilled my bright tomorrow every morning. Next dream is living and working USA and give back and pay it forward to people need a help.
I know that no words I could possibly say could beguile you from the grief of your overwhelming loss, but please accept my heartfelt deepest sympathy. I will live the rest of my life with the pain of you.
Now I’m back to USA for kidney transplant post care. 1st Real American White Christmas!! It must be beautiful.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you for the gift of life. Thank you for the bottom of my heart... ever, ever after...I’ll walk with her/him forever.
Much love to you,
Taka
I’m not English native. I’m very sorry if I used word wrong and worry about getting your feelings hurt.
Letter to my donor family...❤
