What is the most unique or fufilling thing you've ever done?
I'm talking books, classes you've taken, marathons etc. Spread the knowledge.
I can relate to Marcus D. Jan. 09 I donated the left lobe of my liver to my son.
My son was born with a myriad of issues, namely Bilary Atresia. For a year we struggled with his health issues and balancing his life so that he could survive a transplant. Finally after a year things started to get really bad and he jumped to top of the national transplant list. Barely weighing enough to safely get a transplant we got the call, they had a cadaveric orgran (from Cali).
After 16 or so hours of surgery time, we finally had a chat with the surgeon... it wasn't good news. Ultimately his body rejected the organ and though they had already prepared me as a back-up. There is nothing on Earth that can prepare you for watching your own child die in front of you.
I was rushed into emergency surgery and now he is a healthy little toddler.
Sufficed to say, the most rewarding thing I will ever experience in life is giving my son a second chance at it.
19 Answers
I gave my sister a kidney, just over a year ago (June 2008). She had suffered from an unknown/incurable kidney disease which they diagnosed about 12 years ago. It finally got to the point where she needed a transplant. Mom and dad were rejected as donors, so I stepped up.
A year later and she's doing fantastic, even running marathons! Couldn't be happier with my decision. From now on, whenever someone asks what I've done with my life, I finally have an answer.
For me, studying abroad for a semester was the most fulfilling, life change thing I have ever done. It rocked who I was as a person down to the core and I really wish they would require every American college student to do a semester abroad in order to graduate.
Learned to fly and airplane. Now I can say: "Trust me. I'm a pilot."
I volunteer as a Big for Big Brothers/Big Sisters. I've done so for about 3 years now. I am on my 2nd little brother. When I met his mom the 1st time she was in tears that her son would finally have a positive male role model in his life. Trust me, I'm no saint, but lots of kids have no father figure in there life and can find there way with a little direction from someone they can relate to.
I went to Pamplona, Spain and participated in the encierro, aka the running of the bulls
I got to help some underprivelaged kids pick out Christmas presents for their families at the Walmart in town for this local charity event.
I emigrated from the UK to the USA 6.5 years ago - change of life, change of job, change of me. Now married, got a 5 month old baby, and call the USA home, for all it's failings.