What’s the greatest gift you can give to someone else? It’s a debatable subject, but what could possibly be more valuable to someone with kidney disease than to receive a kidney from a living donor? Today’s show introduces you to an amazing person with a truly amazing story.
Jason Nothdurft is a friend of mine and a true superhero. He’s a married, 32-year-old police dispatcher with a 2-year-old puppy and his first child due in April. Jason donated his kidney in 2014, and has dedicated much of his free time to advocating on behalf of kidney patients and living organ donors. The saying is true: “Not all superheroes wear capes.” Jason is a remarkable person with a spirit of compassion and sacrifice, and I’m thrilled to share his journey of being an organ donor to highlight this important cause.
Learning from mistakes
What did you want to be as a kid? Police dispatcher is probably not a profession that many people aspire to, and even though it’s not a glamorous job, the dispatchers are the ultimate first responders. They are the first point of contact when people need help in emergency situations. When Jason started out, he admits that he was intimidated by parts of the job and doubted his ability to respond correctly to emergencies. How did he learn? By making mistakes. His lessons to others are that there are always things to learn and ways to improve.
TWEET: We all learn by making mistakes. It’s one of the best ways to improve! @j_nothdurft #chasingdreams
Saying YES and NO
How do you handle the age-old dilemma of when to say YES and when to say NO? For Jason, he learned that he couldn’t focus on all the things he wanted to do--and do them well. In reducing his stress levels, he chose instead to focus on 1-2 things, and even went to his boss and explained that he needed to scale back. These brave decisions can be selfish AND selfless at the same time. Mental health is not openly discussed among law enforcement, but we need to improve on this, remove the stigma, and provide resources.
TWEET: We need to remove the stigma of mental health issues for those in the law enforcement field. @j_nothdurft #chasingdreams
The best sacrifice
Have you ever considered being a living organ donor? Jason stepped in when the stepfather of one of his best friends needed a kidney. Jason was 27 when he made the decision to be tested, along with a small group of seven friends. Jason was the one who matched, so the donation was made in 2014. Jason attributes his willingness to volunteer to growing up in a family of public servants, always learning to help and serve others in the community. To this day, Jason and the recipient remain great friends who celebrate together each January as the anniversary of the surgery rolls around.
TWEET: ”Don’t give up. You’ll face roadblocks. Your dream today may not be the same dream tomorrow.” @j_nothdurft #chasingdreams
ONE action for a dream chaser to take--”Don’t give up. You’ll face roadblocks. Your dream today may not be the same dream tomorrow.”
For a bonus behind-the-scenes interview with Jason, visit www.aimeej21.com/patreon and become a donor.
OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE:
- [:35] How Jason envisioned his life when he was young
- [1:50] How people are satisfied to arrive at atypical jobs
- [2:55] The intimidation factor of being a dispatcher
- [4:40] Saying YES and saying NO
- [7:05] The mental health of first responders
- [8:17] Having insight to priorities and struggles
- [10:15] Why we’re harder on ourselves
- [11:30] How you can give someone else a chance
- [12:30] The most selfless act of all
- [13:50] Deciding to donate a kidney
- [18:20] How Jason hesitated in his decision
- [19:09] Encouraging others in the cause
- [22:45] How Jason stayed in his “lane”
- [25:17] Fears and concerns
- [28:25] Other organs that can be donated by living donors
- [29:40] Common misconceptions about living donors
- [31:25] What Jason would like to see change in the next 5 years
- [33:15] What Jason would change about his decision
- [34:12] ONE action for a dream chaser
RESOURCES MENTIONED
Jason on Faceook
Jason on Twitter
Jason on Instagram
Jason on LinkedIn
TWEETS YOU CAN USE:
TWEET: I don’t feel like I lost anything in being a kidney donor. @j_nothdurft #chasingdreams
TWEET: Being a police dispatcher was never on my career path growing up. @j_nothdurft #chasingdreams
TWEET: At every level of my job, I didn’t learn anything without making a mistake first. @j_nothdurft #chasingdreams
TWEET: It’s impossible to do everything as well as I want to. @j_nothdurft #chasingdreams
https://youtu.be/IrrHXCOB4ho
