Losing Weight for my Little Brother
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530roman
Posts: 1,819 Member
I feel like typing this out will really help sink this in better for me. If you are interested in reading this little story then that makes it that much more worthwhile.
This is not new news to me as I have known all my life but my brother was born with a form of kidney disease causing both of his kidneys to function at a very low percentage of what normal is. By the age of 11, one was completely shut down and the other was functioning at such a low percentage that his doctors were actively looking for a donor to match with my brother for a kidney. I was only 15 at the time and could not be tested to donate because of my age. However, my aunt was a match and she donated one of hers to him.
About a year after the transplant, the kidney rejected and my brother was left with only one kidney that was functioning at about 20-25%. It was at the age of 12 that my brother started dialysis, 3 days a week, at the Children's Hospital an hour and a half away from where we live. All through junior high and high school, my brother would miss school on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday to go to dialysis for a four hour treatment and a total commute time of three hours round trip.
My brother is now 22 and still does dialysis 3 days a week, thankfully at an adult clinic now which is only a few minutes from where he lives.
The reason this is even a story on MFP's message board is because of me. I am now 25 (seven years older than how old I need to be to donate). I was tested to donate a kidney to my little brother 3 years ago and my lab work concluded that I am a perfect match to donate a kidney to my brother. The shameful part of this story though is that three years ago, doctors told me that although I am a perfect match they could not perform the surgery because of how much overweight I was/am. They told me that since I am overweight, I run a higher risk of developing diabetes with only one kidney and would not perform the surgery with those risks being involved. They told me that I needed to drop my weight down to around 210-220 lbs before they would do the surgery.
I hate to admit that for the past 3 years, I have done nothing to drop the weight and am still at the same weight I was three years ago. I have tried on two different occasions in the last three years to lose weight and I quit both times. The worst feeling is telling my brother that I'm trying to lose weight for the transplant and then giving in to selfish desires for food. My brother doesn't hold any grudges towards me. We have a great relationship and I love him very much.
I am now a week and a half in towards losing the weight that needs to be lost and find myself extremely motivated. My goal is not to drop the weight by starving myself and getting burnt out within a month, but rather to make habit changes that will make me healthier and cause me to lose weight. I have other motivating factors to lose this weight but my brother is most important.
If you took the time to read this, Thank You! I'm not looking to be the most popular guy on MFP but if you think you could be an encouragement to me and want encouragement in return, please add me. I hope to be able to post back on this thread 6 months from now and be able to say that I am able to donate!
edited to include a picture of my little brother holding my son on May 30, 2012
This is not new news to me as I have known all my life but my brother was born with a form of kidney disease causing both of his kidneys to function at a very low percentage of what normal is. By the age of 11, one was completely shut down and the other was functioning at such a low percentage that his doctors were actively looking for a donor to match with my brother for a kidney. I was only 15 at the time and could not be tested to donate because of my age. However, my aunt was a match and she donated one of hers to him.
About a year after the transplant, the kidney rejected and my brother was left with only one kidney that was functioning at about 20-25%. It was at the age of 12 that my brother started dialysis, 3 days a week, at the Children's Hospital an hour and a half away from where we live. All through junior high and high school, my brother would miss school on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday to go to dialysis for a four hour treatment and a total commute time of three hours round trip.
My brother is now 22 and still does dialysis 3 days a week, thankfully at an adult clinic now which is only a few minutes from where he lives.
The reason this is even a story on MFP's message board is because of me. I am now 25 (seven years older than how old I need to be to donate). I was tested to donate a kidney to my little brother 3 years ago and my lab work concluded that I am a perfect match to donate a kidney to my brother. The shameful part of this story though is that three years ago, doctors told me that although I am a perfect match they could not perform the surgery because of how much overweight I was/am. They told me that since I am overweight, I run a higher risk of developing diabetes with only one kidney and would not perform the surgery with those risks being involved. They told me that I needed to drop my weight down to around 210-220 lbs before they would do the surgery.
I hate to admit that for the past 3 years, I have done nothing to drop the weight and am still at the same weight I was three years ago. I have tried on two different occasions in the last three years to lose weight and I quit both times. The worst feeling is telling my brother that I'm trying to lose weight for the transplant and then giving in to selfish desires for food. My brother doesn't hold any grudges towards me. We have a great relationship and I love him very much.
I am now a week and a half in towards losing the weight that needs to be lost and find myself extremely motivated. My goal is not to drop the weight by starving myself and getting burnt out within a month, but rather to make habit changes that will make me healthier and cause me to lose weight. I have other motivating factors to lose this weight but my brother is most important.
If you took the time to read this, Thank You! I'm not looking to be the most popular guy on MFP but if you think you could be an encouragement to me and want encouragement in return, please add me. I hope to be able to post back on this thread 6 months from now and be able to say that I am able to donate!
edited to include a picture of my little brother holding my son on May 30, 2012
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Replies
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Hey there - what a beautiful story. You can do this! You found a great forum for finding friends to motivate you, stick by you, and help you through this. Best wishes on your journey! I'm rooting for you!0
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Awesome reason to stick with it. My suggestion would be to ensure you log every day without fail. If you are accountable to your diet you will be accountable to all of us, and you WILL succeed.
Can't wait to read your success story of saving 2 lives
(your own and your brothers) 0 -
Thank you for sharing your story, and you CAN do this! Log everything honestly and as accurately as possible (digital food scale really helps) strive for consistent not perfection.
Read this it's great information:
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1175494-a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants0 -
I cannot wait to hear your success story. You can do it! Knowing it is a lifestyle change and not a diet makes you ahead of the game. Believe you can do it and you're halfway there!0
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What a great story! I can't wait to see the post about you meeting your goals! This is a great place to be and all the motivation from everyone else is what helps to keep you going. Good luck.0
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Thank you all. I never thought something like this would all be a part of a little app I installed on my phone. This is great!0
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Amazing story, bestof luck!0
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What an amazing story....you can do this!! MFP is a great support system! Please keep us informed of your progress!
Awesome picture of your brother, son and you!!0 -
Wow, what a great story. You have my support and I hope to check in and see how you are doing 0
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Kudos to you sir, you have an amazing story and a huge heart. Best wishes to you and your brother!0
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You can do it 0
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What a touching story! feel free to add me, I'm on everyday and I stay very supportive to my friends and i stay active. You can totally do this!!0
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Congratulations you have just won MFP. That is is the most awesome, selfless story I have come across in a very long time. There is nothing for you now but success in front of you.
I think your plan is great. Read the link the previous poster gave you, it is full of great information. Use the boards here as reference, ask your questions! People here can certainly get passionate at times but that just makes life interesting.
I will be taking a piece of your story with me today as I figure out how to give a little something of my own back to the world.
Well done, you.0 -
How awesome! I'm pulling for you. You can do this. I'll be looking for an update. 0
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Wow this is great! You can do it dude, one step at a time!!0
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what a beautiful reason! best wishes and may so much success come to you for your weight loss and life in general. keep in mind you are human and will have bad days, dont let them get the best of you and keep going 0
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Awesome story, and I know you can do this! I added you. The more friends you have, the more you feel accountable for your actions especially when you see others around you doing great, it makes you want to do better! Good luck and you got this!!!!0
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Great story. You can do this. Don't dwell on the past 3 years. Just stay focused on the future. You can add me. I am on every day. :drinker:0
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This is such a wonderful story! Best of luck to you. I'd like to add you as a friend, if you don't mind, so I can watch your progress! I know you can do this!0
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Dang, what a touching story. Wishing you the best :flowerforyou:0
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