Sacrificing for nothing

Kevin and I met when he applied for a position on the analytical team I led at work. He was a bit off-beat but his skill sets put him at the top of the candidate pool. I offered him the role and he accepted.

Cindy worked on another team in our department, reporting to a different leader. She was very friendly, dedicated to her job, and always dependable. She and Kevin met through their jobs and discovered one very important thing they both had in common.

Kevin and Cindy were both Disney nuts. Living just over two hours from DisneyWorld, they were both in the habit of visiting the amusement part as often as possible. Kevin was a season-ticket holder, while Cindy relied on the Florida resident discount to ease the financial impact of frequent visits.

I've no idea how long they dated as it was none of my business. But about a year after they met in one of our staff meetings it became obvious they had a personal relationship as well as business. While they were in the same department, they reported to different leaders, so there was no conflict of interest.

Six or eight more months passed when Kevin put in a vacation request. I approved it and the next time I saw him in person I asked "Going to Disney again?"

"Nope. Cindy and I are getting married," he said with a shit-eating grin.

"Well congratulations! I knew you were dating but didn't realize it was that far along! I wish you kids the best of happiness and love!" I said. Being nearly fifty to their late twenties entitled me to refer to them as 'kids', and Kevin knew me well enough to know there was no negative connotation attached to the word.

"Thanks, Tom! It's going to be a small affair, mostly just family and very closest of friends. You're not on the invitation list, I'm afraid, so please don't feel obligated to get us a gift. That would be weird since you're not coming to the wedding!"

I assured him that I was not in the least offended - weddings are personal events and I couldn't imagine attending just because I was his boss. Besides, other than the bride and groom I likely wouldn't know more than one or two other people there.

I'm sure you're wondering, kind reader, and I won't keep you in suspense. Yes, the honeymoon was at DisneyWorld. But unlike their usual forays there they were going all out this time. They booked one of the most expensive rooms in the Grand Floridian Resort, already one of the most expensive at the park.

The wedding and honeymoon came and went and, other than wearing rings, there was no change in either Cindy or Kevin when they returned. It wasn't long before they purchased a nice starter home near the beach and settled into married life.

Apparently that led to marital relations. A few months after the honeymoon Cindy announced that they were expecting. And months after that, right as expected they were gifted with a beautiful baby girl.

Kevin eventually posted for a position that would bring a promotion along with it and left my unit. Cindy also moved to a new role but continued to report up to the same VP I reported directly to. Overlaps between the support my unit provided and the work Cindy's new area meant we continued to interact, at least occasionally.

Cindy's manager and I were both on the same VP's staff, so we saw each other every week at least. As I walked past the boss's cubicle I overheard Cindy's boss talking to our VP, Susan.

"She'll be in Michigan for four to seven days, then will need at least a week to recuperate at home. As you know, every operation is different and people rebound at different rates," she said. "She could be out as much as six weeks."

"No worries. We'll do whatever we need to to support her. And I'll make a point to visiting her here to let her know how proud we are of her," Susan assured her.

Naturally my interest was piqued but I was also concerned. Was something seriously wrong with Cindy? Why Michigan? We have great hospitals right here, including a Mayo Clinic. Most importantly, how do I learn more tactfully? To be honest, tact wasn't something I was particularly known for back then.

When our staff meeting wrapped up a couple hours later I asked Cindy's boss if I could have a minute with her. We hung back until the conference room cleared out and then I shut the door.

"I overheard you talking to Susan. Is Cindy okay? I've known her almost as long as I've worked here, and Kevin used to report to me," I said.

"Yes, she's fine. Please keep this under your hat for now, but Cindy is donating a kidney to a ten-year old girl who has end stage renal failure."

"Wow! That's fantastic! Is it a relative? Someone she knows?"

"You won't believe it. Cindy saw a post that tons of people shared on Facebook. A couple of those were in Cindy's friends list so she saw the original post.

Apparently the family had been looking for a donor match for a couple of years. With no luck. Cindy reached out to the family and asked what she had to do. She made an appointment with her doctor and was tested for compatibility. Turns out she is an ideal match - they both have AB negative. There's a bunch of other stuff they test for but all of it was perfect. So Cindy is giving the little girl a kidney."

"That's incredible! Not many people would go to such a length for a complete stranger more than a thousand miles away! I can't wait to tell Cindy in person how proud of her I am!"

"You'll have to wait. Cindy doesn't want anyone who doesn't absolutely need to know to learn about this yet. There's always the chance that something could go wrong, so she wants to wait until she has nothing but good news to share."

"You, and she, can count on me. I won't breath a word of this to anyone."

I kept my word, of course. Cindy was out of work for five weeks, and still moving a bit slowly when I first saw her back on campus. I knew her boss had told her I knew, so when I had a chance to speak with her privately I took it.

"Cindy, how are you feeling?"

"I'm good, Tom. Bit sore still but better every day. Thank you for keeping my secret."

"Oh that was nothing. You are the one who deserves all the thanks. I think this is the most selfless act I've ever personally known of. What possessed you to reach out to a total stranger and over an organ?"

"When I read the story my heart went out to her and her entire family. My daughter is only half her age, but I couldn't imagine what it would be like to learn she had a fatal condition. And it would have been fatal if a match hadn't been found.

I actually had a different plan in mind to begin with. I figured if I got tested odds were I wouldn't be a match. But I could then post on social media and implore people to also get matched. It's a pretty simple process for the donor.

I was shocked when her doctor called me directly and told me I was an ideal match! She asked if I was ready to donate and I told her I needed time to think and to talk to my family. Kevin was the doll he always is. He said it was entirely my decision and he'd support me no matter what I decided.

Then I looked at my little girl, who was napping on the sofa next to us. I turned to Kevin and said 'Guess I'm going to Michigan.'"

"Amazing. I always knew you were a caring, generous person. Now I know you're a true heroine. My life is better for knowing you."

I hugged her without a bit of concern for office protocol. Over the next couple of weeks word spread across the company. Cindy didn't change one whit. She was still the same selfless, generous, kind person she'd always been when I retired nearly ten years later.

And just before I left Cindy shared a social media post with me. I opened the posting and saw that the 'little girl' was now twenty. She and the boy she'd met in the transplant hospital were announcing their engagement. I felt like their two hero donors should be considered extended family. I do know Cindy was beyond thrilled.