我拿肾脏“换”挚友

Inskeep： Earlier this summer， we heard from commentator Jeff Moyer， who was about to donate a kidney to the daughter of a friend. Today， he tells us how the surgery went.

Jeff Moyer： Two weeks after our surgery， when my right kidney became Julies， I carefully peeled off all my remaining bandages. There they were： amazing，bright new scars， real battle ribbons. Julies surgeon noted—and I repeat humbly—that my kidney was a splendid specimen. It began functioning while Julie was still in surgery. A few hours later， as I was being moved from post-op to my room， I learned Julie was nearby. Our stretchers were pushed together， and Julie clasped my hand. A nurse wept when she saw us and when I asked， captured the moment with her cell phone camera. I am blind， so I cant see the picture myself. But Im told that before surgery， Julie was pale. But in the post-op photo， her cheeks are pink.

The next day， Julie was hooked up to considerably more medical machines than I， and required an emergency transfusion. Unaware of Julies crisis， I lay hot and sticky， and itched mightily from a newly discovered morphine allergy. The nurse said I would soon forget the pain. True. I now only remember feeling like I really needed a shower and a few tubes removed.

I was genuinely surprised by my leaden fatigue， even though the surgeon predicted six to eight weeks for recovery. It would take that long for my sutured stomach muscles to heal. Every day I have less pain， more energy， and more restlessness to get back to normal.

Julies surgical pain diminished， even before she went home. Her back pain ceased after three weeks， and she resumed driving. She has lost water weight， and put good pounds back onto her thin frame. After years of decline， Julie has regained normal kidney function. She has been back to work for over a month.

Kidney donation surgery is harder on donors than recipients， and harder on male than female donors. But my discomfort will soon end， while Julie will take anti-rejection meds and diligently protect her donated organ for years to come. Kidney donors usually go on to lead normal lives. We learn that we have courage and patience if the healing is slow. And we get to experience this unsurpassed gratification.

Julie and I have become friends for life. We share the thrill of this medical victory， and abundant gratitude for the many people who made it possible. Inskeep： Commentator Jeff Moyer is a writer， musician， and an advocate for disability rights.

英斯基普：今年初夏的時候，我们从评论员杰夫·莫耶那里听说他正要给自己一个朋友的女儿捐出一颗肾脏。今天，他会告诉我们手术的情况。

杰夫·莫耶：我们手术两周后，那时我的右肾已经成为了朱莉的，我小心翼翼地剥去了身上还未拆除的绷带。它们就在那儿：太牛了，崭新的伤疤，毫不掺假的绶带。朱莉的医生称赞着——而我则谦逊地复述医生的话——我的肾是一个“卓越的样本”。朱莉的手术还未结束，它就开始发挥效能了。几个小时之后，我从术后复苏室被送回病房的时候，我被告知朱莉就在我旁边。我们的担架床被推到了一起，朱莉拉住了我的手。一个护士看到我们的时候哭了，我请求她把那一刻用她的手机摄像头拍下来。我眼睛失明，所以不能亲眼看到那张照片。但是他们告诉我，在术前朱莉的脸色苍白。而在术后的照片上，朱莉脸颊红润。

第二天，朱莉需要比我多得多的医疗器械支持，也需要紧急输血。由于刚刚被发现对吗啡过敏，我浑身发热并黏糊糊地躺在病床上，身上皮肤痒得厉害，我并未觉察到朱莉所处的危机。护士说我将很快忘记疼痛。的确是的。我现在只能记得当时的感觉是我特别需要拔掉身上的几根管子，冲个淋浴。

虽然医生预计我要六到八周才能康复，但我还是由衷地为自己沉重的疲乏所震惊了。光是缝合的腹部肌肉创口就需要六到八周的时间才能愈合。每天我的疼痛都会减轻一些，拥有更多的精力，同时迫不及待地想要回到正常的生活。

朱莉在回家前，术后疼痛就已逐渐减轻。回家三周后，朱莉的背部疼痛消失，已能重新开始驾车。她减去了体内的多余水分，纤细的骨架间也重新结实起来。朱莉的肾功能在经历了数年的衰退之后，又恢复了正常。一个多月前，她已重返工作岗位。

在肾脏捐赠手术中，捐赠者要比受者、男性要比女性承受更多。但是我的不适将很快结束，然而在接下来的数年时间里，朱莉却要服用抗异体排斥药物，努力保护体内的受赠器官。肾脏捐献者大都会过上正常的生活。如果治愈的过程缓慢，我们得有勇气和耐心。最终我们将体验这种无与伦比的满足。

朱莉和我成了一辈子的好朋友。我们分享着这场医学胜利所带来的兴奋以及对于使这场胜利成为可能之人的感激之情。

英斯基普：评论员杰夫·莫耶是一位作家、音乐家以及残疾人权利维护者。