The Best Way To Tell

So you’ve decided to donate one of your kidneys and you’re about to share the exciting news with your family and friends.

STOP.

Before blurting out your enthusiastic announcement (as many want-to-be donors do), take an APPROPRIATE PAUSE to think about how your decision might impact others.  

Keep in mind that it’s one thing to admire stories about others from a distance and quite another to have a daughter tell her mother, a husband tell his wife, or individuals tell their friends that they plan to give away one of their kidneys.

Now, imagine the magnitude of impact when the listener learns that the want-to-be donor is willing to donate a kidney to a complete stranger! They’ll conclude that you’ve completely lost your mind.

Realize that even though you’re addressing well-intentioned people, what you’re about to say may be far beyond their wildest imaginations. So expect opposition as an instinctive initial reaction. This is just their way of expressing their concern for your well being. 

Above all, take the same amount of time to think about how you’ll present your decision as you did to make your decision. Run scenarios in your mind and imagine what it would be like to hear this type of news for the first time from someone you care about.

Taking the time to prepare will help you build a stronger support network of family and friends—a critical emotional link for any potential donor.

So remember to take an APPROPRIATE PAUSE and come from a place of love and empathy for the listener. By doing so, your decision could make all the difference in the world—for you, your loved ones, and many others.