Episode 03: Giving the Ultimate Gift as a Living Donor with Monica Weakley

During this episode of This Thing Called Life podcast, host Andi Johnson speaks with Monica Weakley, a living kidney donor, who shares her inspiring story. Learn how Monica made the important decision to donate, how she feels about her decision thirteen years later, and how you can share her important message. 

Episode Highlights: 

• Monica shares her donation story. She was born and raised in Cincinnati. She sells real estate.
• Learn how Monica made the decision to be a living donor.
• Monica had a friend that needed a kidney and didn't have a match in her family.
• Something inside of Monica told her she was going to help her friend. This is a common feeling among donors.
• Monica describes getting the call learning she was a good match for her friend.
• Thirteen years later, Monica feels amazing.
• Monica describes her recovery time. She had to have an open nephrectomy. 
• Monica knew the level of gift that was for her friend but feels it was just as much a gift to be a donor.
• Monica tells us about her mother who is in renal failure. She is officially on the donor list.
• Monica made a plea on Facebook to find a donor for her mother.
• Andi and Monica discuss the impact of COVID-19 on the transplantation. 
• The living donor program is everything to families like Monica's.
• Andi describes the success of the paired kidney exchange program.
• Some people have loved ones who need a lifesaving gift but do not volunteer for donation.
• Monica isn't sure she would try to persuade anybody. She would simply tell her story.
• Over the years, there has been an increase in altruistic donors.
• The donation list is not a mountain that we can't climb.
• Monica lives her life with gratitude and peace.
• Learn how to contact Monica if you're interested in getting tested to help her mother, Nancy.
• The one myth Monica wants to dispel is that being a donor changes your health. The one thing that has changed for her is that she can't take Advil.
• Monica shares what she takes with her on every trip.
• Monica and Andi discuss books they’ve read recently.
• Monica's goal for this year is to get her mom a kidney.
• Monica loves Top 40 radio and the movie Bridesmaids. 
• Andi and Monica discuss traveling and where they like to eat in Cincinnati.
• Monica thinks the world needs more authenticity right now. She speaks to the value of turning inwards every single day.
• Ask how you would show up today if you weren't being watched.
• Monica shares what she has learned during the pandemic. 
• This podcast is here to help eliminate the list of people waiting for a lifesaving transplant.
• Living donation is absolutely a possibility to help bring people off of that list.

3 Key Points:

1. Living donation can be a huge gift to the donor as well as the recipient. 
2. Sharing stories saves lives and helps dispel myths. 
3. The living donor list is not a mountain we can’t climb. That list provides hope to families like Monica’s.

Resources Mentioned:

• LifeCenter (website) (Facebook) (Instagram) (YouTube) (Twitter)
• Andi Johnson (website) (LinkedIn) 
• Monica Weakley (Facebook)
• The Four Agreements (book)
• White Fragility (book)