This is the story of two people. One wanted to die. The other wanted to live. Through an act of kindness, they both found a second chance. Tina Shyver-Plank has written a memoir about her experience donating a kidney to her first cousin, Brian Shyver. "Second Chance: A Kidney Between Us" was published in January, but the story of the book dates back much further.
Tina and Brian grew up together in Mountville. "He lived two doors away from me, and we were best buds," recalled Tina, who now lives in Elizabethtown. Diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes as a child, Brian once went into insulin shock in front of Tina, and the experience made an impression. "From that day forward, I vowed that if I could be a conduit for his healing, I would be," she stated.
After Brian's family moved away when he was a teenager, the two kept in touch as best as they could, but Tina's life took a turn. A history of abuse and a broken relationship led to depression that eventually propelled Tina to attempt suicide. She spent a month in the hospital and intensive therapy before she began to heal.
A few years later, she learned that Brian was dying. "He was on dialysis, and he needed a kidney," Tina said. "His (immediate) family members weren't matches." However, it turned out that Tina was a 99.9% match. Although Brian's condition was heartbreaking, Tina felt her prayers had been answered and knew that donating her kidney would be yet another step on her mental health journey to wellness. "I was finally able to help him heal, like I had wanted to do years before," she said. "I begged him to let me donate my kidney." The surgery was performed at Ohio State University in April of 2002. The transplant was a success, and Brian was able to achieve two of his goals: seeing his son graduate from high school and spending more time with his family. Nine years after the transplant, Brian passed away from diabetic complications unrelated to the donated kidney.
Soon after the transplant, Tina began writing the book. She only finished about 40 pages before deciding she didn't have enough material. She put it aside for years, but when she was laid off from her job in 2019, she revisited the subject. She went to visit Brian's family and realized the book could focus on her entire relationship with Brian, not just the transplant.
"I came home, and I had a fire in my soul to finish the book," she stated. "I felt like my cousin was guiding me from heaven."
She finished the book and shopped around for a publisher before landing on TouchPoint Press. "They have a faith imprint, and faith plays a big part in this book," she said. "It was a cathartic experience to write this book. I hope people will take away from this book that it's good to be a living donor. It changes lives in so many ways."
Tina will discuss "Second Chance" on the "A Book and a Chat" podcast on Wednesday, March 30, at 7 p.m. A trailer about the book can be viewed on YouTube by searching for "Second Chance: A Kidney Between Us Book Trailer," and the book is available for purchase on Amazon or at http://www.touchpointpress.com.
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