“God arranged it for me – I was called to do it,” says Amanda White of why she donated a kidney. “It will happen – one day.”
The decision to donate a kidney was not difficult for White. It’s always a matter of when.
“Know that you can change someone’s life for the better,” says White. “It’s been a blessing to me physically and mentally.”
White is the nuclear medicine supervisor at IU Health Arnett Hospital. Some of the patients she sees regularly are in need of life-saving transplants.
White starts with online registration, followed by checks to make sure she’s healthy enough to donate. Halfway through, she decided to continue helping one of her patients in need of a kidney.
“I have a patient who is getting older, which means his time on the transplant list is getting shorter and shorter,” says White. “Life has value, no matter your age. I decided I wanted to move forward because of him.
She is not your opponent. But her willingness to donate to him specifically put him on the list and a donor was found. Her donation started a three-person donation chain. Three lives changed dramatically based on her decisions.
The entire donation process took about a year. During that time, White was most concerned with the necessary time off work.
“Knowing that I would be out of action for six weeks, I just didn’t want to burden my team,” White said. “My supervisor and director fully support my decision and always assure me that I can take my time.”
Kristin Post, executive vice president, allied health services, said: “Kidney donation is just one example of how Amanda has always put others first. “She develops deep relationships with the patients she cares for and meets. She has a positive outlook, bright smile and laughter that we love to hear on the first floor.”
Her supervisor, Danielle Owens, even returned to direct patient care during White’s leave.
“That’s one thing I love about my job—the love and support from the team,” says White. “Between my work family, my church family, and my family, I am truly blessed.”
