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Throughout the week, our ACC Team searches through emails and news articles looking for someone who deserves to be the Kidde Hero of the Week…
Firefighter Randy Stein from Barrington, Massachusetts, sent us a message on our Facebook page. He writes:
I am nominating my co-worker and fellow firefighter Michael Sawicki, who donated one of his kidney’s to me on June 14th, 2006. I was hospitalized with kidney disease and was just put on dialysis when my mother wrote a letter appealing to my fellow firefighters and friends to be tested for a possible match to donate a kidney and save my life.
Well, the very first day I was hooked up to the dialysis machine for my first treatment, Michael walked into the room and told me to get off that damned machine!!! He said that I wouldn’t need it anymore because he would be donating one of his kidneys. Before I could even thank him, he turned and left the room. My wife passed him in the hallway and when she came in to the treatment room, she asked if that was Michael and why was he here. When I told her what he had said, she just started crying.
Four months later, we went through surgery and we now both have one working kidney. Michael has always encouraged me to tell our story to help promote organ donation. I am hoping that you will consider him for your Hero of the Week because he is definitely mine for his amazing gift of life that he made to me over 11 years ago. I am alive today only because of Michael.
Thank you, Kix!!!
Signed,
Randy
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Kix’s Response:
Well, thank you. What a great story! And that one always get to me… I mean, I guess we only need one, and I know several people who have donated kidneys and who have gotten kidneys donated from friends. I mean, that’s a bond that you’ll have for the rest of your life and it’s something that’s really special.
Nominate a Hero of the Week
Now, we want to know who has made a difference in your life. Nominate a local firefighter, police officer, EMT or someone who is serving our country in the military. It could even be a neighbor, family member or friend who lent a crucial helping hand. Let us know all about the person who you feel is a real life hero by emailing us here and please feel free to send us a picture!