Atlanta Girl Gets Kidney From Stranger

Eight-year-old Sarah Dickman is readied for kidney transplant surgery at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston in Atlanta, Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2008. Laura Bolan, saw the flier and decided to donated one of her kidneys to Sarah who was born with the genetic disease juvenile nephronophthisis, which slowly destroys a the kidneys. Without treatment, it can kill a child before the age of 15. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

By DORIE TURNER

Associated Press Writer

ATLANTA (AP) -- The picture of the smiling little girl on the flier was more than Laura Bolan could take. The 8-year-old on the pamphlet needed a kidney transplant, and Bolan knew she could help.

She did a quick Web search on the surgery and talked it over with her husband. Then she made a phone call to offer one of her kidneys to Sarah Dickman.
The suburban Atlanta girl was born with the genetic disease juvenile nephronophthisis, which slowly destroys the kidneys. Without treatment, it can kill a child before the age of 15.

Bolan, 34, had never met Sarah when she agreed to donate the organ.
"It breaks your heart to know there's a little girl sick out there who you could help," Bolan said earlier this week.

The pair underwent successful surgeries Thursday at hospitals across the street from each other in Atlanta. Surgeon Dr. Thomas Pearson said both patients were doing well on Friday, and initial tests of Sarah's new kidney showed it was working normally.

Sarah was expected to be in intensive care for at least a day and then spend up to a week at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston. She said she was looking forward to being free from a dialysis machine so she can spend the night at her best friend's house.

And when doctors remove her catheter, she can take bubble baths again because there will no longer be the risk of infecting the skin around the tube.
Best of all, she can go to Kangaroo Bob's, a children's recreation center with inflatable slides, mazes and obstacle courses.

"I'll get to go there on my birthday because I won't have this anymore," she said, pointing to the catheter.

Bolan was expected to return home after a few days at Emory University Hospital. She first saw a flier about Sarah in September at the elementary school where two of her children are students. Sarah attends the same school.

Bolan knew she had the same blood type as the little girl, so she called the number on the flier that evening.

Sarah's parents, Lori and Joe Dickman, had added Sarah's name to a national waiting list for transplant recipients after learning that neither parent was a match to donate a kidney. The flier was just a shot in the dark.

The Dickmans received two calls from people interested in donating a kidney. Both were tested, and Bolan was the better match. The Dickmans were relieved because Sarah's condition was quickly deteriorating.

She was put on dialysis in September, the same month the flier went up. She often left school early because her failing kidneys made her exhausted and irritable.

"We definitely need more people like Laura in the world," Lori Dickman said.

Joe Dickman wants to add his name to living donor lists so that he can help someone else. It's the least he can do to repay Bolan for saving his daughter, he said.

"A thank-you doesn't fit for what she's doing," Joe Dickman said of Bolan. "She can call me at four in the morning for a gallon of milk. I don't care. I'm indebted to her for life."

Sometimes, stories like this kept the small gleam of hope deep in our hearts for miracles alive; and that is all we need in this cold, cruel world of today.

Politics - Election

The 12th general election Malaysian general election will be held on March 8, 2008. Although the Parliament was dissolved on 13th February 2008, I could still barely feel the heat for the coming election. Well, blame it on the election logo in newspaper as not being attractive enough or even the Subang area not filled with flags yet (the total opposite of Penang, where every corner is filled with flags of a certain party contesting). I've only taken notice of the coming election when I viewed a Bulletin in Friendster (see how much of an impact Internet has to us! And of course, besides the fact that I'm blogging here). Anyway, the contents of the bulletin are written below:


While walking down the street one day aMalaysian Boleh Minister is tragically hit by a truck and dies.

His soul arrives in heaven and is met by St. Peter at the entrance.

"Welcome to heaven," says St. Peter."Before you settle in, it seems there is a problem. We seldom see a high official around these parts, you see, so we're not sure what to do with you.""No problem, just let me in," says the man."Well, I'd like to, but I have orders from higher up. What we'll do is have you spend one day in hell and one inheaven. Then you can choose where to spend eternity.""Really, I have made up my mind. I want to be in heaven," says the Yang Berhormat"I'm sorry, but we have our rules,"says St. Peter.

And with that, St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down,down,down to hell. The doors open and he finds himself in the middle of a green golf course. In the distance is a clubhouse and standing in front of it are all hisfriends and other politicians who had worked with him.Everyone is very happy and dressed in the finest batik there is. They run to greet him, shake his hand, and reminisce about the good times they had while getting rich at the expense of thepeople. They play a friendly game of golf and then indulge themselves on lobsters, caviar and the most expensive food there is.Also present is the devil, who really is a very friendly guy who has a good time dancing and telling jokes. They are having such a good time that before he realizes it, it is time to go.Everyone gives him a hearty farewell and waves while the elevator rises.

The elevator goes up, up, up and the door reopens on heaven where St. Peter is waiting for him."Now it' s time to visit heaven."

So, 24 hours pass with the YangBerhormat joining a group of contented souls moving from cloud to cloud,playing the harp and singing. They have a good time and, before he realizes it,the 24 hours have gone by and St. Peter returns."Well, then, you've spent a day in hell and another in heaven. Now choose your eternity."The Yang Berhormat reflects for a minute, then he answers: "Well, I would never have said it before, I mean heaven has been delightful, but I think I am better off in hell."So St. Peter escorts him to the elevatorand he goes down, down, down to hell.

Now the doors of the elevator open and he's in the middle of a barren land covered with waste and garbage.He sees all his friends, dressed in rags, picking up the trash and putting it in black bags as more trash falls from above.The devil comes over to him and puts his arm around his shoulder."I don't understand," stammers the YangBerhormat. "Yesterday I was here and there was a golf course and clubhouse,and we ate lobster and caviar, drank champagne, and danced and had a great time. Now there's just a wasteland full of garbage and my friends look miserable. What happened?"The devil looks at him, smiles and says,"Yesterday we were campaigning just like you during an election......

Today you voted.

"VOTE WISELY IN THE COMING ELECTION"

A Different Valentine's Altogether

I am a girl You are a boy . We do things together We play things together. After eating, we brushed our teeth. Then, we sleep in our bed . Then, we go to school at 3 o’clock and we studied hard .
I love you

Well, this is a piece written by my 6-year-old cousin recently. The boy in the piece is another cousin of mine,an 8-year-old who happened to be playing with her earlier that day. It's Valentine's, and definitely to most of you, it is a day to be with the significant other. I thought so too! Yet, after reading this piece, I realized that love is not only restricted to that significant other, but your loved ones as well (it could be parents, family, friends or even your pet). Love is universal, and unconditional. On this Valentine's, celebrate it with your loved ones. Spread the love~~~


PS: Please don't shoot me about the grammatical error of the piece or that it doesn't make any sense at all. It was written by a 6-year-old, and I wish not to edit it for sense of originality. Thank you.

Happy Valentine's

Valentine's just a few days away...
And so, I'd like to dedicate this song, 'Everything' by Michael Buble to all of you
=)

Michael Buble - Everything

You're a falling star, You're the get away car.

You're the line in the sand when I go too far.

You're the swimming pool, on an August day.

And you're the perfect thing to say.

And you play it coy, but it's kinda cute.

Ah, When you smile at me you know exactly what you do.

Baby don't pretend, that you don't know it's true.

Cause you can see it when I look at you.

[Chorus]

And in this crazy life, and through these crazy times

It's you, it's you, You make me sing.

You're every line, you're every word, you're everything.

You're a carousel, you're a wishing well,

And you light me up, when you ring my bell.

You're a mystery, you're from outer space,

You're every minute of my everyday.

And I can't believe, uh that I'm your man,

And I get to kiss you baby just because I can.

Whatever comes our way, ah we'll see it through,

And you know that's what our love can do.

[Chorus]

And in this crazy life, and through these crazy times

It's you, it's you, You make me sing

You're every line, you're every word, you're everything.

So, La, La, La, La, La, La, La

So, La, La, La, La, La, La, La

[Chorus]

And in this crazy life, and through these crazy times

It's you, it's you, You make me sing.

You're every line, you're every word, you're everything.

You're every song, and I sing along.

'Cause you're my everything.

Yeah, yeah

So, La, La, La, La, La, La, La

So, La, La, La, La, La, La, La, La, La, La, La