2 STORY'S --My Real-Life Story–Facing Major Surgery { under VV Blog}
My Real-Life Story––Facing Major Surgery Continues
Author: Eileen Kerlin Walsh, J.D., Principal Attorney, Kerlin Walsh Law
Eileen Kerlin Walsh
My Real-Life Story–Facing Major Surgery This last month, planning took on a more personal meaning for me. I was scheduled for major surgery mid-April, and like many facing a medical procedure, it brought a renewed focus on the importance of having a clear plan in place.
This is a little bit about the story. . .I was donating one of my kidneys to a stranger in great need. In September 2025, I had a big birthday. As I ‘stepped into my 60s’, I reflected on the decades of my life to date, the roads I had travelled, the experiences I’d had, both difficult and magnificent, and emerged with an overwhelming feeling of deep gratitude for my life and my gifts, my Irish heritage, my new home in America, the wonderful parents I had, my family, my darling husband and children, my successful practice and my good health. I reflected that, if I was lucky enough to be given three more decades, I wanted to give, give, give, in return for all I had been given. I asked myself often, what does that mean Eileen, are those just words, give, give, give, how do you put that into practice, make it real? Then, in October 2025, just one month later, I read an article in a Chicago paper, about a woman who was desperately seeking a kidney to give her back her life. She had spent 6 years looking. She had a rare blood type, which I also had, and I felt called to save her. She said, I know my miracle is out there, and I thought, I will be your miracle I placed a call to the number in the article, and here we were, just 6 short months later, preparing for surgery. I was of course a little frightened, but I was at peace. I felt called to do this and knew that this would not have been put before me if it was not for greater good. I had all my legal documents in place, and I was ready for action. So, I ask that you too make sure that your legal documents, including your Health Care Powers of Attorney are in place prior to any planned major surgery. |
My Real-Life Story––Facing Major Surgery Continues As my story unfolds, I wanted to share a brief update—now a short time since surgery.
Two weeks after surgery marked a wonderful milestone. I returned to the hospital for my scheduled check-up, and everything had progressed just as it should. Healing was on track, and the surgeon was very pleased with my progress. But that’s not all My recipient went home in that same short timeframe after receiving her new kidney! She was truly on the other side of this. Her antibody levels were stable and moving in the right direction. She went home with a beautifully functioning kidney—and after seven years, no more dialysis. That, in and of itself, felt extraordinary. As for me. . I began to ease back into my normal world. While stepping out of the quiet, reflective space of recovery, I felt a deep need to express a personal thank you—so I have been doing my best to and here I share a bit of my endless gratitude. The love I’ve been shown—and continue to receive—is beyond anything I could have imagined. Cards, gifts, books, flowers, care packages, prayers, meals, baked goods—the list goes on, still arriving day after day. And the words… so many kind, thoughtful words. I’m saving them for succor for the rest of my life. Truly, the love alone has made this experience worthwhile. Stay tuned—I’ll be sharing more of this incredible journey in hopes it resonates in a meaningful way. Eileen Kerlin Walsh, J.D., Kerlin Walsh Law, (708) 448-5169 [email protected] |