I was matched with Logan, a 12-year-old boy who needed a liver transplant.
I remember the emotions that came with that news. Happy tears, excitement, and of course, a little fear of the unknown.
I went through a lot of testing and there was a lot to learn and a lot to process. Eventually, I was cleared to become a living liver donor!
And then came the day I met Logan and his family.
Logan was a little shy at first, but when we started talking hockey, his face lit up. We talked about coming to cheer him on when he returned to the ice. I promised to have my cowbell ready, and I meant it! I wasn't just donating a piece of my liver. I was gaining a whole new group of people to cheer for.
As surgery approached, I began sharing more of my journey. I wanted people to see the physical, mental, and emotional sides of living donation. I hope that by sharing my experience, it inspires even one person to consider donating blood or an organ, it would be worth it.
Then October 15 arrived.
I went into surgery to donate 70% of the right lobe of my liver to Logan. I had spent months preparing for this moment, but there is nothing quite like actually living it. I was putting my body through major surgery for someone I had only recently met, because I had the opportunity to help give him a healthier future.
And I would make that decision again.
But there was something else happening, too. My heart was fuller than I could ever explain. Knowing that the two of us were recovering after going through this together was an incredible feeling. We had become a team in a way that is hard to put into words and that no one will ever understand.
I had the opportunity to do something that could make a difference in someone else's life, and I chose to take it.
I've learned that being brave doesn't mean you aren't afraid. It means you don't let the unknown stop you from doing something that matters.
I went into this journey hoping to help a young boy live a healthier life. I came out of it with a new family to love, a bond I will always carry, and a heart that feels bigger than ever.
