Consider the community-building power of a kidney

What’s the most powerful organ in your body? From a community-building standpoint, I’d have to say the kidney.

To back up a step:

Other than religion and the Tea Party, there may be nothing that ties people together as passionately as experiencing a medical challenge or tragedy. Breast Cancer Walks and Relays for Life are two very visible examples, but across the world, people form communities that start in sadness. So it’s a wonderful thing when they end in celebration.

And so it was with Chain 124, an incredible story of kidney donors and recipients.

You can read the New York Times story, but in a nutshell: 30 people gave kidneys to 30 people they didn’t or barely knew, but who were in danger of dying without a new kidney. Through the blindly selfless acts of the donors, kidneys were flying all over the country across four months, 17 different hospitals, and 11 states.

The donors and recipients may not be inviting each other over for drinks any time soon, but come Thanksgiving, I’m betting there will be a few extra places set at the table. I can’t think of any more powerful way to bring people together. Consider how good it would feel to participate and check out what you can do.

And the next time you say, “I’d give up a kidney to (fill in the blank),” be prepared to give up a kidney.