Society

In The Spirit: Chris Doing

Submitted by Mark Esposito, Guest Blogger

2010 could have been the last Christmas for two-year-old Nathan Saavedra of Carpenterville, Illinois.  Suffering from a rare birth defect known as “Prune Belly Syndrome,” the toddler faced months of dialysis to stave off the deleterious effects of a failing urinary tract and an uncertain future.  Reading about the child’s sad prognosis in the Elgin Courier-News, prompted 38-year-old Chris Doing into “doing” something. Inspired by his own grandmother’s posthumous gift of her organs, Doing contacted  the local hospital to volunteer his kidney for the child.

According to Doing, Fate played a role in his decision. “I read an article that morning about someone donating a kidney to save a boy,” Doing said. “That afternoon, I saw (The Courier-News) article. The story motivated me to get involved.” After learning that five other people had gotten the Saavedra family’s  hopes up and failed to follow through, the Palatine, Illinois man vowed not to disappoint and completed the vigorous screening process.

On October 25th, the surgeries were performed and both patients had good results. Little Nathan had good kidney function for the first time in his life, and Chris Doing made good on  a debt of honor to his grandmother, who had made a similar gift of her organs after her death. “I remember how rewarding it was to get letters from recipients and for something good to come of it,” Doing said.

To the child’s parent, Doing is a hero.  “It was heartbreaking to meet him. I wanted to cry,” Nathan’s mother, Tina Saavedra said. “He told me after seeing Nathan’s face he couldn’t say no.” Doing humbly demurred. “I don’t think of it as an act of heroism. Help was needed, and I was able to help,” Doing said. “I can’t fully explain how or why I was motivated. Just knowing Nathan is doing well was all I was looking for.”

Merry Christmas Nathan Saavedra and Chris Doing. It’s nice to share the same world with you.

Source: Elgin Courier-News

~Mark Esposito, Guest Blogger

25 thoughts on “In The Spirit: Chris Doing”

  1. eniobob
    1, December 23, 2010 at 8:10 am
    On this bittersweet day for me,this makes my day.

    ========================================================

    I just came on line and read your post. I thought you were going to Reading Pa for a bit.

    At any rate, I am concerned and echo Lotta’s words in wishing you and yours well. If there is anything … blouise17@gmail.com

  2. eniobob
    1, December 23, 2010 at 8:10 am
    On this bittersweet day for me,this makes my day.

    *******************

    Then it’s the finest Christmas “present” I could hope to give this year.

  3. LK:

    I will make a note that you asked and will definitely share after the holidays.When I do you will understand why.

  4. eniobob, why bittersweet if I may ask? I’m sorry for the ‘bitter’ part in any event and wish you well.

  6. Someone had to die in order for me to get my new heart. This man made a conscious choice to give his kidney. He’s a better human being than most I know and certainly me.

  7. erykah:

    I knew there was a liberal’s heart in that libertarian body. 😀

    Happy Holidays!

  8. My husband had a Kidney transplant six years ago. It was bitter sweet because someone had to die in order for him to receive this gift of life. We sent out letters to family members asking them to consider being a live donor. We never received a single response. This guy gave a kidney to a total stranger. How remarkable. Must be his last name or his unusually big heart. God bless him and that precious child. Okay, I am going to go sit and cry.

  11. rafflaw
    1, December 23, 2010 at 12:02 am

    Mespo,
    I will look for those “good for good’s sake” stories!

    ==============

    So will I. Thanks.

  15. That tender story is enough to increase the humidity under the eyelids of even the most hardened person…now back to getting Bush/Cheney into the hoosegow for torture, the antithesis of anything portrayed in this thread.

  16. mespo,

    Don’t worry, my friend.

    I’ll still carry the torch of cynicism.

    Although you have presented some very nice and very touching stories of mercy.

    And you know what the Bard said about mercy . . .

    “The quality of mercy is not strain’d,
    It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
    Upon the place beneath. It is twice blest:
    It blesseth him that gives and him that takes.”

    The Merchant of Venice, Act IV, sc. 1

  18. rafflaw:

    This week — and despite my obvious cynicism — I’m going to concentrate on all the good I see. I have a few more stories of “good for good’s sake” coming.

  19. Wow! Another beautiful story! Carpentersville is just 30 minutes from where I live and it is right next to Dundee where I worked for 7 years. I hope both parties sustain their current health status! Great job Mespo!

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