My name is Steve Leichman and I donated a kidney on December 23, 2012 at Beilinson Hospital in Israel. I was 53 years old at the time of the donation. I didn’t know my recipient before we started the process; we were connected via a Yahoo Group email. Now, of course, we are like family, sharing birthdays, emails and talking at least once a week.
The operation was a snap—my only job was to get knocked out and let the surgeon do the work. You return to normal really quickly. I was out of the hospital in 48 hours and I was back at work within a few days. I am a volunteer EMT and I was back on the ambulance after 10 weeks. That means I was lifting and carrying heavy patients with no problem. I am also a grandfather to 3 very cute and busy little ones. I was back on the floor playing with them, and being jumped around 8 weeks.
And once in a while, I stop and think that, yes, I really did help save someone’s life. That’s a wonderfully fulfilling feeling.
How incredible that you are a kidney donor as well as a volunteer EMT – truly a giving person! Rock on, Steve!
It sounds like you have probably saved more than one life over the years, Steve, but this one is especially memorable. Congratulations, and enjoy those grandchildren!