Hi~
Just wanted to introduce myself. I'm 32 and will (hopefully) be donating a kidney to my younger brother (24) very soon. I've made it through most of the tests, met with the doctors, social worker, etc. Tomorrow I go get my TB test read and meet with the living donor advocate. The only tests left are BRCA1 & BRCA2 for the breast cancer genetic mutation (my mother is a breast cancer survivor) and then the CT scan of my kidneys.
I'm so happy to be helping my little brother but also scared as hell and a bit sad because my husband and I had planned on trying to start a family in March and now I might have one less kidney in March and have to wait 6-8 months before we can try.
I am also trying to deal with comments from people. You're a hero, you're amazing, I know it's coming from a place of love. At first it was nice, but it bothers me a little. I'm not a hero. I'm a big sister who loves her brother and wants him to have a better quality of life. And then some people have said I don't seem scared or worried. I don't know, I guess they'd have me bawling my eyes out every day or retreating to my bed all the time. I am scared, just because I don't show it (whatever that means) doesn't mean I'm not. And saying to me, "OHMYGOD I would be so terrified if I were you" is really not the best thing to say. Most of my friends have been awesome and some others have been surprisingly silent. It's weird, but I'm a very outgoing and talkative person and all of these reactions make me want to keep quiet.