Heather Robinson

Last week, my nephew received the gift of life from his sister. This 29-year-old young man was diagnosed with end-stage renal failure and spent several months here in Jamaica doing haemodyalysis three times per week. A kidney transplant was recommended as the option that would end the dialysis and give him the prognosis of a longer life.

Arranging to have a living donor provide a kidney was not an easy activity, and fortunately for our family, his sister turned out to be a perfect match. Her surgery was done first during which the surgeons removed one kidney, which was later transplanted to her brother. These very expensive surgical procedures were done by surgeons with decades of experience and competence. Modern medical technologies also assisted in the success of both procedures. Both have been discharged from hospital and are now recuperating, and my nephew will have to take several medications, six of which will be for the rest of his life.

During the next four to six weeks, he will be observed to ensure that there are no symptoms of rejection and that he abides by ALL the instructions given to him by his doctors. His life will never be as it was before, but what he will always be thankful for is that his sister gave him the gift of life, as she was his perfect match.

There are several lessons that are to be learnt from my nephew's experience. First, it is a blessing from God that he is not an only child. Second, his sister did not hesitate to give him one of her kidneys, and she is, fortunately for herself and her brother, young and very healthy. This was not a situation when the sister and brother were not on good terms, but rather a situation when both would have been willing to assist each other.

Surgical procedure

Kidney transplants are no longer performed in Jamaica, and this meant that my family had to find doctors and a hospital overseas that could perform this type of surgical procedure. References had to be checked and arrangements made for a convenient time for the transplant to be done. There were also a host of preliminary tests that had to be done on both patients before any type of surgery could be contemplated.

The experiences with my niece and nephew have forced me to think about how dependent we are on each other for daily survival. If you are a life underwriter, it does not necessarily mean that you can be the president/CEO of the insurance company and vice versa. If your child keeps on getting reports with comments like "Tom can do better" and "Tom is not realising his potential," these comments necessitate prompt parental action.

If the leadership in a business enterprise or political party refuses to utilise its best employees or members in the pursuit of bigger and better profits or electoral success or good governance, then this is a time for great self-examination. Mediocrity has no place in success and is a guarantee for certain failure.

Families that have a history of being close and tightly knit can explain the benefits that are derived from such unions. 'Perfect matches' are not accidental happenings. These are the result of decades of hard work and effort. These are the result of inclusive actions, promoting unity and a focus on a particular goal.

May all families strive to maintain a tightness and strong bonding as we approach this Christmas season, when we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, a gift (of life) that has never been replicated.

Heather Robinson is a life underwriter and former Member of Parliament.