A Twist of Fate:

My older brother Paul was put on dialysis in 2012.  He's my older brother and always looked after me and my 2 younger brothers when we were growing up.

  When he was told he needed a kidney transplant.  I offered to be his living donor.    So Early May 2013,  I got myself ready to be in the best health I could be to give him a good kidney.  I needed to lose weight. I joined the YMCA where I swam laps.   I actually got up to 1 mile a day 6 days a week.  I ate healthy meals I joined a weekly Zumba class.  I was making good progress and feeling good.  Just 7 months later, December 2013 I had lost 96 pounds and I could see my goal in sight.  

It was 2 days before Christmas, I woke up with the flu.  Paul had dialysis that day and wanted to stay home to take care of me.  I talked him into going to dialysis that day and promised I would take care of myself.  

I stayed in bed all day just feeling lousy.  Right before Paul came home to check on me I took a shower trying to feel better.  About 5 minutes after he came home I got nauseous and reached for a styrofoam cup, a large 32oz cup   I threw up blood. Enough blood to fill that cup just about to the brim.  I was in shock and so was Paul.  Poor Paul ended up taking me to the ER that night.  That's the night I was told I couldn't be a kidney donor for my brother because I had end stage liver disease and I needed a liver transplant.  I couldn't believe it, I wasn't a drinker or smoker or did any drugs or anything that I knew of that would give me liver disease.  I found out later it was my weight that damaged my liver.  

I eventually was put on the waiting list for a liver transplant in March 2015, and I was blessed enough to receive my second chance February 11th, 2016.  

A generous person in Texas gave me the chance to live.  I thank her and her family for today and everyday