Words cannot describe how grateful Ahlam Askar is to have a second chance at life.She was diagnosed with end-stage renal failure in July 2022."The process from there was just like a rollercoaster of emotion. Got really dark, got really scary and I didn’t know what to do," Askar said. She was desperately searching for the perfect kidney donor, while spending countless hours at her dialysis appointments."Because of my blood type, the waiting list for a kidney for me is roughly seven to 10 years," she said.Askar works in foster care and described how all of her work family were getting tested to see if they were her match. But it was unsuccessful.Until Jonathan Oakley came into her life."John Facebook messaged me right before the hurricane and was like I don’t know if you know this but I’m your kidney match," she said.Oakley is the father of one of Askar's work friends."My daughter and her have been friends for about three years now. So, we’ve come to know who she is," Oakley said. "In September, I heard that the dialysis was going rough for her and she hadn’t found a match yet. And we were the same blood type, so I got two kidneys, I figured she needs it. I’ll give it to her." Oakley is the senior director of Mission United at United Way, so life every day for him is a mission to serve others."For this young woman to have a life moving forward it only makes sense for me to help any way I can," Oakley said. "I’m a believer that if you have the ability to help, that you should.""Not only will my body 24/7 just go back to work, meaning it’s constantly clearing my body of toxins, clearing my blood, helping me excrete any bacteria. I am just overall going to have a better quality of life. I won’t be tied to a machine," Askar said. "I will just have the opportunity and the chance at life again."The transplant is scheduled for sometime later this month."Named the kidney ‘Kyle.’ And it just makes sense so it’s not an awkward conversation in a month or two. I’m not going to message her going, ‘How’s my kidney doing? Are you treating it right?’ It’s, ‘How’s Kyle doing?’" Oakley said."He’s a guardian angel to all of us. And I’m just so thankful for literally giving me a new life," Askar said.If you'd like to help with Askar's medical expenses, click here.
Words cannot describe how grateful Ahlam Askar is to have a second chance at life.
She was diagnosed with end-stage renal failure in July 2022.
"The process from there was just like a rollercoaster of emotion. Got really dark, got really scary and I didn’t know what to do," Askar said.
She was desperately searching for the perfect kidney donor, while spending countless hours at her dialysis appointments.
"Because of my blood type, the waiting list for a kidney for me is roughly seven to 10 years," she said.
Askar works in foster care and described how all of her work family were getting tested to see if they were her match. But it was unsuccessful.
Until Jonathan Oakley came into her life.
"John Facebook messaged me right before the hurricane and was like I don’t know if you know this but I’m your kidney match," she said.
Oakley is the father of one of Askar's work friends.
"My daughter and her have been friends for about three years now. So, we’ve come to know who she is," Oakley said. "In September, I heard that the dialysis was going rough for her and she hadn’t found a match yet. And we were the same blood type, so I got two kidneys, I figured she needs it. I’ll give it to her."
Oakley is the senior director of Mission United at United Way, so life every day for him is a mission to serve others.
"For this young woman to have a life moving forward it only makes sense for me to help any way I can," Oakley said. "I’m a believer that if you have the ability to help, that you should."
"Not only will my body 24/7 just go back to work, meaning it’s constantly clearing my body of toxins, clearing my blood, helping me excrete any bacteria. I am just overall going to have a better quality of life. I won’t be tied to a machine," Askar said. "I will just have the opportunity and the chance at life again."
The transplant is scheduled for sometime later this month.
"Named the kidney ‘Kyle.’ And it just makes sense so it’s not an awkward conversation in a month or two. I’m not going to message her going, ‘How’s my kidney doing? Are you treating it right?’ It’s, ‘How’s Kyle doing?’" Oakley said.
"He’s a guardian angel to all of us. And I’m just so thankful for literally giving me a new life," Askar said.
If you'd like to help with Askar's medical expenses, click here.
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