HCA Florida Blake Hospital honors caregiver Melody Williams on this National Living Donor Day. November 18, 1992, Melody gave the gift of life to her sister Debbie by donating one of her kidneys. Years ago, Melody’s sister Debbie ended up in the hospital with very elevated blood pressure after the passing of their father. After extensive diagnostic work, it was discovered that Debbie’s kidneys were failing. Debbie was placed on peritoneal dialysis and was told that eventually, she would need to have a kidney transplant. She was on peritoneal dialysis for 18 months. Debbie’s siblings, one brother and three sisters tested to see if they were a match. Melody tested to see if she was a match while she was in the hospital after giving birth to her youngest child and was the perfect match. The local transplant program promptly contacted Melody with the test results. “I did not think twice about it,” says Melody. “Was it scary, yes, but it was the most important decision I made in my life, to safe my sister’s life.”

Six months after giving birth to her youngest child, Melody and her sister Debbie both checked into the hospital and the transplant was a success. This year marks the official 30th-anniversary of the transplant. Melody shares that both she and her sister Debbie are doing great, and Blake Hospital is proud to honor Melody for her selfless, life-saving decision and for sharing her story to help raise awareness about living donor donations. “To be able to save a person’s life and improve their quality of life is the best thing about living donation,” says Melody. “To me, it is even more special if the person’s life you save is your family member because you can see how their quality of life has improved firsthand. My sister is still here with us to share all the special family moments that life brings.”

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