A Letter of Gratitude to our Community
Dear Friends,
So now it’s been 10 months! I was going to wait until the year anniversary but I just can’t. We need all of you to know now that we are deeply thankful!
After 35 years of kidney disease; 20 years with a cadaver transplant, then 4 years waiting (2 spent on dialysis) for another transplant, I’ve received a living donor kidney, February 1st 2022! The effects were immediate. I felt more energy the moment I woke from surgery. That energy has only grown along with my physical strength and cognitive power. It’s nothing short of amazing.
The actual donor of the kidney that is in my body was given to me by an anonymous person, as we were a part of a swap that involved 3 donor/recipient pairs. The wonderful person who donated on my behalf, Megan Rooney, is someone we’ve known for a long time but had lost touch with many years ago. It wasn’t until just before surgery that she reached out and let us know that she was the one. How many ways can you express eternal gratitude?
Megan, we are in awe of your bravery and generosity. We give thanks for your presence every day.
Kidney disease has shaped my life in too many ways to mention, and yet I’m proud to say I’ve never allowed it to stop me from living my best life. Herman and I, along with our team, continued even through the worst of it, to create and share works and space with our community. I’m so excited to see what is next. Truth is, RIGHT NOW is next, as we make many transitions over the next couple of years, and take on new artistic endeavors. We’re slowly coming out of our protective bubble-state to travel and be in space with people again.
I’m still in disbelief of the outpouring of love, kindness and support. The number of you who quietly signed up for the scary and tedious process of live donorship, or called to talk to me about donation, touched me to the core. I never imagined so much generosity and from so many humans. All of you who sent thoughts and prayers, cards and gifts, reached out to Herman and I, sent flowers, took a moment of silence, dropped food by the house, drove me to dialysis or doctors appointments when Herman couldn’t, kept our business affairs in order when we could barely, gave Herman an ear and time to share his experience…
To each of you.
Thank you!
I plan to keep getting healthier and stronger. To keep creating with my dear husband and our amazingly talented group of movement artists and collaborators. We promise to always provide safe creative space for artists and audiences and to share what we learn and build with communities near and far.
Herman Pearl. Thank you. Words can not express how amazing this life is with you.
If you don’t know the story of my kidney disease journey, and you’re interested, please read the original letter below. I’ve included the “Ways to help” section from the original here, in case one might consider helping another find new, prolonged, and better quality of life.
Without a living donor, I would not have been able to receive a kidney transplant.
Ways to Help:
Learn more about becoming a living donor. If you choose to sign up to begin the process of seeing if you can become a donor, you can register here. If you do sign up, please select “Donation to specific individual” and fill out the information including my name, “Staycee Pearl”. I don’t even have words for someone who would decide to do this, but if you do, please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions.
Spread the word! Share this page so we reach as many people as possible.
Talk to people in your life who are donors, transplant recipients or who have kidney disease.
With Gratitude, Love and Joy,
Staycee Pearl
