A police officer's kidney donation saved the recipient's life and changed his.
Tim Meyer is not a man who makes snap decisions. The married, 50-year-old police officer, marathon runner and father of two readily admits to being a “spreadsheet guy” who does extensive research ahead of any commitment, like say, buying a pair of shoes. But in February, after hearing a transplant expert discuss advances in the field on a podcast, Meyer made an uncharacteristically snap decision — he would donate one of his kidneys to a patient in need.
“I live in this extremely rational world of numbers and measures,” Meyer told an audience at April’s Donate Life transplant month celebration at Swedish First Hill. “And then I make this irrational decision.”
Tim Meyer is a 50-year-old police officer, husband, father of two and accomplished marathon runner. He recently donated a kidney at Swedish for a recipient he did not know.
Watch this video to hear Tim's story.
True to form, Meyer analyzed all the details of a directed donation: the possibility of rejection and whether or not he could donate his kidney to another recipient should he not match with the first candidate. So, he decided to become a benevolent donor, meaning his donation was not to a specific person, but to an anonymous recipient from the local transplant list. Direct donation is the term used for those who donate to a specific person.
“This provides an opportunity to multiply the gift; my gift supported multiple donations in that it allowed another donor to donate to someone else and it provided an insurance policy that if my donation could not be used here [at Swedish] it would go somewhere else,” says Meyer. “My chain stopped at three: there’s my donation to person A, their donor gives to person B and another donor goes to person C.”
“There are folks who say that [donating an organ] is an incredible gift and I take exception to that because the gift truly is in the giving and that is not a slogan. For me, donating my kidney represents an irrevocable gift and an irrevocable expression of my values.”
He still marvels at being in an operating room next door to the person who got his kidney and talking to the surgeon just before his procedure. The worst part, he says, was being hungry and notes that his wife Vanessa can attest to his difficulty with the pre-surgical diet of chicken broth. While he has not yet met his kidney’s recipient, he’s thinking about the possibility of connecting. The program asks patients to wait six months before making contact.
Meyer’s decision to donate is rooted in gratitude for his family’s health and their comfortable life.
“Do I not have an obligation to pass that on?” he asks rhetorically. “I’ve been blessed with a career I love and two healthy children. I really enjoy a fantastic life. The opportunity to donate a kidney cost me very little.”
“There are folks who say that [donating an organ] is an incredible gift and I take exception to that because the gift truly is in the giving and that is not a slogan. For me, donating my kidney represents an irrevocable gift and an irrevocable expression of my values.”
On May 18, Meyer will run his 74th marathon, the Whitefish Marathon in Montana. He praises the exceptional care at Swedish that helped him recover enough to toe the line for a 26.2-mile race just some three-and-a-half months after surgery.
“The people at Swedish have been outstanding. They never understated the risk and there was no pressure. You can opt out right up to the moment of anesthesia,” he says. “They are very objective and fact-based and adhere to the highest ethical standards.”
“Of all the decisions I’ve made in life, this was among the best,” says Meyer. “It was the most perfect irrational decision I’ve ever made.”
Learn more and find a practitioner
Visit our website to learn more about the Organ Transplant Center at Swedish First Hill.
Whether you require an in-person visit or want to consult a doctor virtually, you have options. Contact Swedish Primary Care to schedule an appointment with a primary care practitioner. You can also connect virtually with your doctor to review your symptoms, provide instruction and follow up as needed. And with Swedish ExpressCare Virtual you can receive treatment in minutes for common conditions such as colds, flu, urinary tract infections, and more. You can also use our provider directory to find a specialist or primary care physician near you.
Information for patients and visitors
Related resources
A record year for hope. Swedish marks an unparalleled year for organ transplant in 2023.
Swedish celebrates the gift of life during Donate Life Month
Transplant nurses help give the gift of life
Organ Procurement & Transplantation Network
This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your healthcare professional's instructions.
