I am of the mindset that, “if we can, we should”. What I mean by this is, there is a lot of bad in the world that we can do nothing about. So, on the off chance that we are able to help make the world better, we should do what we are able to.
This belief weighed heavily on me when my good friend Pam and her husband Mike were hit with the diagnosis of his kidney failure. For two years, Pam and Mike remained positive about figuring out life on kidney dialysis, finding a kidney donor, and improving Mike’s health. However, every door they came to seemed to remain closed and every challenge, monumental.
This broke my heart for them, and I began to imagine myself in their shoes. What would I do without my husband? What would my children’s lives be like if they lost their dad? I asked Pam and Mike if I could look into becoming a living donor for Mike and, while they were hesitant to ask me to put myself through surgery, they eventually agreed.
The process was smooth and relatively easy and sure enough, I was a “perfect match” for Mike. We were headed towards kidney transplant surgery, and I could see the relief and hope on Mike and Pam’s faces as the transplant date grew closer and closer.
However, as that date drew near, I began to experience some stress and anxiety. I was excited to help Mike, but I was also worried about my ability to take care of my family while not receiving a paycheck. I am a self-employed Health and Fitness coach and do not receive paid leave or paid sick time off of any kind. While I knew that I was moving forward with the transplant surgery at all costs, I did not know how I would be able to pay all of my bills without earning a paycheck. Thankfully, my Social Worker assigned to me through the hospital was right there to help.
She immediately recommended me to the Meredith Haga Foundation to obtain financial support. When I woke up from transplant surgery on August 8th, 2025, my Social Worker was there to give me the amazing news that the Meredith Haga Foundation approved my request and would be covering some of my household bills.
Since that time, I have been able to recover without stress. My recipient, Mike, has been doing really well and thriving with his new kidney and I am able to rest and enjoy some much needed time with my family while I make a healthy, stress-free recovery.