Kathleen Hostert
Kidney Donor to Her Husband Craig
by Craig Hostert.
I married my best friend Kathleen and about three years after our wedding, at age 28, I was diagnosed with a kidney disease. I was told by my doctor at that time that more than likely I would experience renal failure and go on dialysis within ten years. Well, I didn’t quite make it to ten years and I remember the day I started dialysis vividly—it is etched in my memory forever. It was a Friday night, eight years after I was diagnosed. That was the day my life changed forever and at the time I had no idea exactly how overwhelming and drastic that change would become. The nights turned into weeks which turned into months which ultimately turned into years. Dialysis not only became a part of my life but became a way of life.
During those two-and-a-half years I was on dialysis, a countless number of positive things happened in our life. The most extraordinary event was the birth of my daughter Nicole on May 16th, which happened to be a Thursday—thank you, God—a non-dialysis day. The next day I arrived at the dialysis center only to find pink balloons all over my machine to celebrate the birth of my daughter. Now I am not saying that dialysis was a fun experience. In fact, it was completely the opposite. But I will say the experience has made our family closer, and as I will soon tell you, literally connected me with my wife.
On June 25, 1998, I received a kidney transplant that saved my life. Before leaving for the hospital, I hugged my son and said “I love you, and I will see you this afternoon.” Kathleen then went into Justin’s room and the two shared a very strong and powerful hug. Both were sobbing. I can’t even imagine or tell you what was going though the little boy’s head because not only was his dad getting a transplant that day, his mother was the donor. Being only nine years old and seeing his dad on dialysis for so long, I almost felt it was too much to put him through. But at the same time, I knew a transplant would be the only way to give him back the dad he so desperately wanted.
It has been over six years now and (knock on wood) Kathleen’s kidney is performing like a champ! The transplant has changed our lives and we hope the lives of many other people. We have always thought that this chapter in our lives was meant for some reason. We believe that is our calling to help other people understand how important and how unique and unbelievably special it is to dedicate oneself as an organ donor.
