Fridays with Mac: Epiphany at the Tap

The idea I’m gonna float is ludicrous. Crazy. I had been playing “verbal gymnastics” in the noggin debating whether to write about it.

First, let me set the scene. Your correspondent and usual partner-in-crime were at our favorite watering hole. The Congress Park Taproom. Great spot with friendly bartenders, reasonably priced brewski’s and good music. We meet there often.

Anyway, the Pueblo native has been a friend for a long time and has traveled each inch of this journey. “You have what?” Yep. The grilling wizard knows the rundown well: Amyloidosis, kidney failure, dialysis, chemo, remission from those nasty rogue proteins and, now?

Time to find someone willing to donate a kidney. Not just for this ol’ knucklehead but 100,000 brothers and sisters in the same boat. The sharp guy knows humans can live quite well with one kidney. He really believes in the “Share Your Spare” campaign and the effort to recruit MANY donors. Give up something that’s expendable and save someone else’s life? There’s not many things in that category of compassion. Give somebody a million bucks? Is it gonna save their life? Who knows. New car? New home? You get the point.

As often happens during our thirst-quenching meetings, the subject turned to politics and the divisiveness, at all levels, far too rampant in our nation and world today. Don’t worry, no politics will be discussed. But what my buddy said next just knocked my socks off.

I’m paraphrasing. We were sitting at the bar. “Ya know what? In this crazy world in which we live, maybe this is exactly what we need,” bellowed the BMW-loving grease monkey. “Our country needs something to bring us together. Educating folks about how they could “share their spare” might be just the solution.”

This devoted hubby and father is pretty smart. I respect his opinion but this might have been the most brilliant moment ever. Your attentive scribe wanted to make sure what was stated was understood. It’s the journalist within raising its scruffy head. “You’re saying getting people to consider donating something they don’t really need to someone whose life could be saved might build some bridges of community? Is that what you’re saying”

The bespectacled chap didn’t hesitate. “Yep.” The cranium starting whirring into overdrive. Can you imagine? Could giving away something possessed in abundance - kidneys - to someone in dire need spark a revolution of goodwill toward one another? Perhaps sharing our spare will bring communities together in ways absent for too long? Who knows. Might be worth considering. This much I do know, we’re not talking just living donors of kidneys.

Let’s not forget livers. There’s a whole bunch of folks who need liver transplants. And donating a slice of liver (sounds gory) is not as invasive as having an entire kidney removed from your body. Bone marrow transplants? Again, same premise. It’s giving something away that you can do without and it will mean the world to someone else. Recovery time from all procedures is minimal.

The health risks are slim while the return on investment in helping another? Huge! To me, it’s a wonderful example of believing if we never grow weary of doing good for others? We’re sure gonna reap a big ol’ harvest.

In these tumultuous times portraying America and the globe? An off-the-cuff remark while two buddies swap stories about everything under the sun, finally, produced something of true significance?

I’m getting ready to shift to dialysis at home in the next few months. I’m gonna miss the women and men who became friends while we have been connected to life-saving dialysis machines. I’ve had a front-row seat next to the door and observe fellow kidney disease sufferers come and go. This dialysis stuff is no picnic.

Near the door is a sign mentioning there’s been seven transplants. That sign hasn’t changed in a while. I wonder why? Thanks for considering becoming a live organ donor: Kidney, liver and bone marrow. We need them all.

Never has “bellying up to the bar” reaped such reward. Here's how to share your spare!