“Gratitude Lunches”
Three times a month, Germaine Washington and Michelle Stevens get together for what they call a “gratitude lunch.” With good reason! Washington donated a kidney to Stevens, whom he described as “just a friend.” They met at work, where they used to have lunch together. One day Michelle wept as she spoke about waiting on a kidney donor list for 11 months. She was being sustained by kidney dialysis but suffered chronic fatigue and blackouts and was plagued by joint pain. Because Washington couldn’t stand watching his friend die, he gave her one of his kidneys and now they have a “gratitude lunch” to celebrate. (Today in the Word, November 14, 1993).