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The ball is rolling, I will be getting the name and number of a transplant coordinator in Illinois within the next day or so.  The patients name is Debbie, she is a 40 year old married mother of 4 that donated her time and energy to help in her community before she fell ill.  Her goal once she gets her health back is to assist Habitat for Humanity on a house build, something I have always wanted to do.  I can tell by her response that she is cautiously optimistic about our pairing, I can't say I blame her.  I did tell her that I would contact her coordinator early next week even though I plan on calling tomorrow.  Hopefully  that will give her a weekend free of wondering if calls have been made and what is going on.

The process through her center is fairly simple, to start.  I will talk to her coordinator and do a quick over the phone history to see if there is anything that will bar me from donation.  If I look like a plausible candidate then everything will be forwarded to her insurance company to get permission to start testing.  The initial testing consists of nothing more than an in depth questionaire and one vial of blood.  I don't even have to have a physical, that will only happen if it appears we may be a match, which I very much hope we are.

I know that this match is more than a long shot, her illness is going to make a match very difficult to find which makes me want to be the one even more.