Inside Out: How the Courage of Two Siblings Inspires Me to Live a Better Life

“Keeping a Piece of Her: The Joys and Sorrows of My Second Life” Has Lessons for Us All

Organ transplants offer the opportunity to appreciate what it means to be alive — both for the recipient and those with whom the journey is shared. Now, in Bob Gance’s memoir, Keeping A Piece of Her: The Joys and Sorrows of My Second Life, readers can experience the intimate connection of a brother and sister whose support for one another gave each “new life.”

With warmth, appreciation, and a good deal of humor, the author describes the remarkable connection of these two siblings that deepened their appreciation for one another and their joy in life.

In Keeping a Piece of Her, the author describes in concrete detail the power of gratitude. A lifelong athlete, he gradually loses his capacity to participate in the physical activity that defined much of his identity due to a rare disease that slowly destroyed his kidneys. Facing imminent dialysis, he was humbled and grateful to accept a kidney offered by his younger sister.

Post transplant, he describes returning with renewed vigor to his athletic activity, especially running, eventually participating in the Transplant Games, an international, Olympic-style athletic competition for transplant recipients. He is acutely aware that none of this would have been possible without the gift of life from his sister.

But that is only part of the story. Central to the text is the courage of his sibling donor throughout the donation process and subsequent life challenges, both physical and emotional. We watch the story unfold as a brother whose life was saved by a sister’s sacrifice becomes a selfless support of his beloved sister in her battle to live.

Throughout the book we are witness to a deep and abiding faith and hope, manifested in action and commitment, rendering their relationship both sacred and healing. This undeniable need for one another is both figurative and literal.

With this account, we become party to the life saving process of organ donation and can draw inspiration to celebrate, with the author and his family, the awesome chance to live our own lives with gratitude and joy.

Keeping a Piece of Her: The Joys and Sorrows of My Second Life is available now: https://www.amazon.com/Keeping-Piece-Her-Sorrows-Second/dp/B0F79BRNHF