Sibling Love: You’re a Part of Me

By Tyrone Dixon

Tyrone and his sister, Ayesha, are all smiles after successful kidney transplant surgery and closer than ever.

Love. It’s a word that is often overused. It loses its significance by how easily we use it.

My love for my family was called into action when my older sister Ayesha was stricken with Lupus.

It was one thing for me to say, “I love you.” The love is deep between siblings, so deep I was willing to place my life on the line just to see hers prolonged.

A kidney transplant was the only alternative she had to fight the disease.

When I was in the twelfth grade I learned what my blood type was and I signed up to be a donor.

My mother is a nurse and she was very aware of what the process was going to be. I’m pretty sure she was scared but she didn’t allow us to see that. I wasn’t scared at all because I was too concerned for my sister —my fear was more for her than myself.

When the time came, without any hesitation, my love was called to action. On December 11, 2007, we both underwent successful kidney transplant surgery.

My life and her life, already merged together by blood, were even more deeply rooted. The chance to really show my love was a life-changing event for myself. Every day I see her healthy, my love is working.

Her appreciation needs no words for our hearts are intertwined and we have a sense of “just knowing.”

Now my sister is pursuing work in the event planner field and attends community college with plans to transfer to Drexel. None of this was possible before the surgery because of the amount of energy she lost going through dialysis.

As for me, I just have to lower my salt intake—that is a plus for me. I’m back to boxing and enjoying life. Being aware of your blood type and becoming a donor is the most selfless act one can do.

Our society is definitely an individual, me-first culture, but we all have the ability inside us to care. If not for someone else, then for your family: know your blood type. Understand a living donor transplant has a higher success rate.

If one day, God forbid, you were in need, you would hope someone would be willing to conquer their fear of the unknown and unselfishly help remove your life from danger.

I am aware of the misconception people, especially my peers, believe if you sign an organ donor card and then are hurt, the hospital does not try to save you. This is an urban myth. Research shows you are much more valuable alive than dead.

Take time to understand the process because educating yourself alleviates unwarranted concerns of the unknown.

The next time you say “I love you” take the time to ask yourself, “Do I really mean it?”

For more information about organ donation, visit the Gift of Life donor program at www.donors1.org.

Tyrone is back in the ring—working out and boxing with no limitations.

Tyrone Dixon, from Yeadon, is majoring in human communication studies. He qualified for the national boxing championships held in April.