Your organ donation stories

Susan Winkler to receive kidney donation from 9 News anchor Tanya O'Rourke
Photographer: Greg Singleton
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Posted: 01/26/2012

9 News anchor Tanya O'Rourke is not the only one who's ever been a living donor. Read below to read your stories of organ donation. And share your stories in the comments section below.

From Jane - January 5, 1993, 19 years ago I gave my son a second chance for life by giving him one of my kidneys. We are both doing great. God's blessing to both your and the person who received your gift of life. We are regular viewers of WCPO news and will certainly be watching this evening with special interest.

Brenda P.- I, like Tanya donated a kidney to my younger sister. I totally relate to everything that Tanya said in the article. It gives you such a great sense of peace to know that you are helping someone live a better life that has to struggle day in and day out just to get out of bed. My sister lived with my kidney for just over 26 years without the need for dialysis. Unfortunately the scar in 1982 was a lot different and larger than they make them now. I hope that Susan lives a very long and healthy life. Wishing you all peace and happiness.

Brenda L. - After seeing the story about Tanya donating one of her kidney's I wanted to let someone know about my 21 year old son donating one of his kidney's to his best friend to save his life. They go in for surgery on tuesday morning at Children's Hospital in Cincinnati. I think the world needs to hear more stories about the wonderful things people do.

Steven S. - Hi Tanya, We are aware of your donation saga….I heard you mention this eve that you will be doing a story(ies) on organ donation, kidney transplants etc. the week of 1/23. My wife donated a kidney to me on 1/21/11 – our 1 year anniversary is in 11 days – as you know reaching 1 year is a major milestone. Do let us know if we can lend any info for your coverage – we also know several other locals who have kidney donation tales as well. My wife has a local friend who donated a kidney to her father in the past few months. Are you aware of the monthly support group meeting held @ University Hospital for donors & recipients? Let us know if we can help with your endeavors !!

Janet and Craig N. - Dear Tanya, Just heard on the news tonight that you've donated a kidney to a local woman. I just wanted to tell you that my husband and I are now praying for you and the recipient. Your gift of life was an amazing and generous gift to that woman, and something that far too many people would never, ever consider! I lost my first husband 18 years ago to a heart attack on my 40th birthday, and 8 different people received eyes, bone and skin donations from his 6' 3" body. It was the least I could do to say thank you for a life well-lived. How fortunate you are to have the privilege of being a living donor! We'll be looking forward to be welcoming you back into our living rooms :-) May God bless you, your family, your recipient and her family with all you richly deserve.

Cherie S. - I don't have Facebook. So this is the way I can express myself. I was so moved by that story on the news. You are a brave woman to step up and donate your kidney since you were a match. You and Susan will have a long life to enjoy together. I am a recipient of a kidney myself. My mom was my donor. We had surgery at University Hospital on Sept. 10th 2009. It has been 2 years now since our surgery!!!!!! My mom (the donor) is doing EXCELLENT. She had laparoscopic surgery. Her scars were very small. No incision like myself. I had to deal with dialysis unfortunately, without choice. So I did dialysis for about a year and a half. No fun... Anyway I know things will go well with you I'm sure the two of you have gotten all the details for aftercare. Hopefully, you will get Dr. Tevar-works with UC and Christ ( he's a cutie ) That's who my mom had. I had Dr. Woodall. I'll be thinking of you guys!

John A. - Tanya, Welcome to the club!! In February, 1998 I was blessed to match and donate a kidney to my fantastic wife at Christ Hospital. You are in great hands and will be up and fully recovered in no time. I am happy to report that my wife, Monica is doing great and I have not skipped a beat. I truly admire people who take such opportunities to heart. You have given this wonderful person a new life. Bravo!!!

Mary L. - Dear Tanya, I am a long time WCPO viewer, and I am also a kidney donor. I just wanted to wish you well and let you know that I will be thinking of you and Susan in the weeks ahead. I donated a kidney to my father almost two years ago. Overall, the surgery was not as bad as I expected. The discomfort was over much more quickly than I expected (I am not a brave person in terms of pain). I was tired for a long time, but nothing (debilitating). Any inconvenience I had was by far overshadowed by seeing the healthy my dad has enjoyed since the surgery. I wish you and Susan the best, and wish you both an uneventful surgery and a quick recovery.

Bruce L. - I just viewed the story about Tanya's kidney donation. This is an amazing thing for her

to do. I was born with a dormant kidney. However, this was not known until I was kicked while playing high school football. Tests revealed that I was bleeding internally because I had a bruised dormant kidney. It was later removed. (That) was over 40 years ago. I turned 60 this year. My one kidney has served me well. Doctors tell me that it has grown to double the size of a normal kidney to compensate.. When I die someone is going going to get a bonus with my big kidney! You are to be commended Tanya for what you are doing. God bless you.

Nancy C. - First, I will be praying for both of you for a speedy recovery. I am emailing you to tell you that your story hit home for me. My husband has Type II diabetes and we are in the same situation as the woman you are donating to. My husband is to the point of getting ready to start dialysis and he also does not want to go on but it is a matter of life and death. I am glad you had this story on and hope that your viewers will step up and get tested to be a donor. It is a very difficult question to ask a family member to be tested and give up a kidney. We do not meet with the transplant team until November 1st, so I would imagine my husband will be going on before that. I pray that your message make viewers step up and be tested to become a live donor and maybe that kidney will be there for my husband. Thank you again for an encouraging story. My prayers are with you both for a safe and fast recovery.

Shari B. - I just watched the story about your decision to donate a kidney and wanted to wish you and Susan the best of luck. My husband donated to his friend 5 years ago and both are doing just fine. Best wishes for a speedy recovery to the both of you.

Ian P. - ... Wanted to say good luck and that’s awesome you’re helping her out. My wife’s uncle gave his kidney to a guy he barely knew at work a few years ago. Good luck with everything and we’ll see you soon.

Mary P. - I just wanted to thank you for your beautiful story about your kidney donation. It brought tears to my eyes in the same way my own kidney donation did this past December 20th. I also had Dr. Tevar and I donated my kidney to my cousin. His dad and my dad were identical twins. I am 60 and he is 54. I, like you, just knew that it was the right thing to do and I did not hesitate at all to get tested when I found out he needed a kidney. Besides having my two children, it was the most important and life changing thing I have ever done in my life. I never dreamt at the beginning of 2011 that I would be the one to save a person’s life and I have absolutely no regrets. When people tell me that it was such a wonderful thing to do I just tell them that I recommend being a donor to everyone. I was back to work in less than 3 weeks. My cousin is doing great so far. He is on the list for a pancreas and the transplant group at UC is also going to do his next operation. My office at UC is right around the corner from Dr. Tevar’s office. I have always read the posters in the hallway but never thought I would be one of the people on those posters. Again, I just want to tell you that I’m glad you put your story on TV because it is such an important story to tell.

Michele - The question that Tanya was getting, "Why in the world would you give someone your kidney?" Almost a year ago, I was asking that same question, to my dad. Our family has a really close friend that was in need of a kidney. My dad stood up to the plate and said Why Not? I’m an organ donor, this way I will get to see the person enjoying my kidney. Besides, what are the chances that we are a match. Well, chances have it, they were a match. My dad went through all the tests, the questions, and the doctor visits to make sure he was in good health to have the surgery because my dad was going to be turning 60 years old. At the last test, they saw that he had a large mass on his left kidney. So he was not able to donate his kidney. If he had not stood up to the plate, we would have never known that he had kidney cancer, until it was too late. In the meantime, he has fully recovered and our friend was able to find another donor. Now we are raising money her surgery.

Do you have an organ donation story? Share it in the comments section below.