As an Educational Coordinator at Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center, Daniel Black is used to teaching lessons.
Throughout April during National Donate Life Month, he’s sharing a personal story in hopes of raising awareness on the importance of organ donation.
Daniel is a living donor. Nearly 16 years ago, he donated a kidney to his older brother, Dwight.
“My brother got really sick and was diagnosed with kidney failure. He had been a bricklayer, working with the sand and everything, it got into his lungs and his body, and destroyed the function of the kidneys,” explains Black.
The road to donation wasn’t a smooth one. Daniel and his sister had repeatedly offered to be tested to see if they were a match, but Dwight had resisted the idea of donation, not wanting to inconvenience his siblings.
“He had started dialysis and was doing that for a couple of years,” said Daniel, “Unfortunately, as with dialysis, ports fail and he wasn’t doing well. And, that’s when I knew it had to happen.”
Both Daniel and his sister went through a battery of tests including physicals, psychological testing and blood draw. After nearly six-month of meeting with different doctors, the family got the news.
“I didn’t even think about it. I just went for it,” remembers Daniel. “The results came in, the doctors were shocked at how close a match we were.”
In July 2003, Daniel and Dwight were wheeled into surgery. The change in Dwight was almost immediate.
“My brother was up and running laps around me the next day! But, I surprised, surgery really threw me through a loop. It took me three months to recoup. I just had to take it easy,” he said.
Before Daniel knew it, he was back on his feet and feeling a little better every day. He doesn’t regret his organ donation decision and is thankful he was able to give his brother the gift of life.
“I was happy to help. It gave my brother time. It allowed him to see his grandchildren being born and see them grow, which right there, is everything.”
Even before his own family had a need, Daniel had been an organ donor. It’s because of this experience, Daniel recommends everyone consider becoming an organ donor. To learn more visit donatelife.net.
