Have you ever thought about what to expect when you make one? act of solidarity? Usually, a simple “thank you” is expected in return. However, there are cases that show that help may not receive the recognition that is expected.
These stories show us that even good people can be deceived. Let’s learn two situations where people have donated a kidney and received neither the gratitude nor the expected return.
Generous employee injured after donating a kidney to boss
A case known on the Internet caused outrage among many. An employee decided to donate her own kidney to her employer. The story took place in the United States and was about Debbie Stevens, 47 years old, and her boss Jackie Brucia, 67 years old.
This story could be a moment for reflection, but unfortunately it had a tragic ending. Donating a kidney is a grandiose act and can lead to complications for the donor. Debbie had to undergo surgery to remove her kidney, which was no easy procedure. After the donation, however, the boss did not say thank you and even injured the employee at work.
After the surgery, doctors found that the donated kidney didn’t fit Jackie’s body. Despite the disappointment, the kidney was sent to a man in Missouri (USA), while the boss received an organ from an unknown donor.
This would have been the perfect time to compliment Debbie on her love and kindness, but the employee received a call telling her to return to work. She was still recovering from the surgery, as was her employer, and Jackie’s lack of consideration was not well received.
What an awkward situation, isn’t it? The performance itself was a big help! Now let’s look at another case where the retaliation wasn’t exactly a “thank you.”
Kidney donation reveals a secret: the mistress
Maria José Lara, a Mexican, got a surprise when she donated a kidney to her boyfriend. A few hours after the operation, she found out that her partner was married. This young woman’s account was published by Marie Claire magazine.
Maria José met Mathias (codename created for the report) via Facebook in 2016. Despite living in different cities in Mexico, they managed to develop a relationship and saw each other frequently. The courtship lasted about a year and Maria José even had plans to get married. She had already met her partner’s family and believed that there were no secrets between them.
But at some point Mathias became ill and kidney failure was diagnosed. He was in dire need of a transplant. Maria José did not hesitate to offer herself as a kidney donor if her kidney donor was compatible. Despite opposition from her family, she remained resolute.
After tests that confirmed compatibility, Maria José went to her boyfriend’s town and had surgery. But shortly after the procedure, she was surprised by a woman claiming to be Mathias’ wife. The woman, very happy, entered Maria José’s room and thanked her for saving her husband’s life.
Completely surprised and confused by the revelation, Maria José could hardly believe what was happening. Mathias’ family quickly intervened, claiming the woman was wrong and evicting her from the room.
Maria José returned to her town but found that her relationship with Mathias was beginning to fall apart. He wasn’t as affectionate as before and seemed to avoid all contact with her. It was at this point that she decided to return to the hospital where Mathias was admitted.
end of the story
When Maria José got there, she met the woman who claimed to be her friend’s wife. Then she introduced herself as her friend and questioned the situation.
Mathias, pale and shocked, didn’t know what to say. Faced with this revelation, Maria José did not cause a scandal but politely decided to get out of the awkward situation.
After this episode, Maria José claims that she never had contact with her exboyfriend again. Still, she has no regrets about making a donation and thereby saving the life of the person she believed to be her faithful partner.
She keeps her conscience because the donation was a personal decision and nobody forced her to do it. Despite the difficulties, Maria José appreciates the fact that she saved a life and embarks on her journey with health and peace of mind.
What conclusions can be drawn from these cases?
These two stories show us that solidarity is not always reciprocated in the way we expect it to be. However, they also emphasize the importance of not neglecting to help others for fear of possible disappointment.
The act of solidarity itself, whatever the circumstances, already has intrinsic value. And at the end of the day, the most important thing is to know that we’ve done good and helped make the world a better place.