For Beverly Shaver of Independence Township and her family, Sept. 11 has a meaning other than the attack on New York six years ago.
It’s also the fifth anniversary of her successful kidney transplant, donated by her daughter Tracy (Shaver) Stevens.
‘It’s kind of nice to have that happy anniversary to remember on that day, when it’s a tough day for our nation, but it’s a happy day for our family,? said Stevens.
Shaver has had bad kidneys her entire life. Her sister had planned to be the donor.
‘For years all we ever talked about was my sister donating, as it turns out we are not even the same blood type,? Shaver said.
When Shaver’s kidneys finally failed, she went on dialysis for nine months. That was when Stevens and her brother Chuck stepped forward. After running tests on them, doctors determined both were good matches.
‘I think I was judged healthier than Chuck,? said Stevens. ‘You have to be in perfect health to do it.?
She received counseling by a nurse beforehand, who told her if she was feeling pressured and didn’t want to go through with it, the nurse would tell her she wasn’t a match even if she was. That wasn’t necessary, though.
‘I definitely wanted to do it,? she said. ‘I wasn’t worried about it, it wasn’t a question. I wanted my mom around a lot longer than that, not on the ball and chain that dialysis could be.?
After surgery, Stevens, though in pain, could still joke, saying ‘I change my mind, I want my kidney back.?
Stevens said donating her kidney hasn’t affected her much; she is still living her daily life normally. Following surgery, she was back to work the next week.
‘It’s our understanding, when you have the one kidney, it grows just a little and takes over the duty of both the kidneys,? said Shaver.
Both Stevens and Shaver agree this event brought their relationship closer.
‘It was a family affair; Tracy’s brother was there for moral support and babysitting, while she was in the hospital. The whole family was there for moral support for the both of us throughout this whole thing,? said Shaver. ‘We’ve got a close family and I think it even brings you closer.?
Stevens and Shaver said people should sign the back of their driver’s license for donating organs.
‘It is the gift of life,? she said. ‘It’s the ultimate gift. It’s so selfless that she would be willing to give it to me and as a mother, I think the greatest part was that both of my kids wanted to do it.?
Shaver has lived in Clarkston for 35 years, and is the Independence Township assessor. Both her children graduated from Clarkston High School, Tracy in 1988 and Chuck in 1989.
Both are married and live in Denver, about 20 minutes apart. Tracy has two sons, Ronan, 6, and Jude, 2. Chuck has an 8 month boy. Shaver said all of them are into skiing, hiking, kayaking, and golf.
‘Tracy and Chuck are into mountain climbing. I am not into that,? she said. ‘If I ever retire, I would like to move out there.?