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Brian Sims, a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for the 182nd district since 2012, has shared an inspiring story about family, sacrifice, and going above and beyond the call of duty to help others.
Sims, 42, a Democratic lawmaker who recently announced that he was entering the 2022 race for Lieutenant Governor, posted a tweet yesterday about sitting down to a meal with his parents and a man to whom he donated his kidney last year.
“FAMILY: Last night my parents came into town for the first time since my surgery last January and we had dinner with the recipient of my kidney and his husband! Families come in all shapes and sizes. Ours is pretty special,” he said.
In a follow-up posting on Facebook, Sims explained about reconnecting with the recipient of his donated kidney: “Last month I was walking through the city to my office and passed a table and did a double-take. My recipient Alan and his husband John were sitting having lunch. A perfectly normal, healthy, happy couple sitting in the sun enjoying each other’s company. It was perfection! I stopped and we all held back tears and just tried to enjoy the ‘normalcy of days that are truly a gift.”
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Revealed: Brian Sims shares screenshot and accuses colleague of “trying to get me killed”
Sims actually revealed he was a living donor last May. He had previously kept the information private but went public in response to a Covid-19 scare in the House of Representatives.
Blasting House Speaker Mike Turzai for allegedly knowing some GOP lawmakers had tested positive and not informing Democrats who sat alongside them, Sims revealed what he’d done.
“Members in this room have small children, elderly family members that they care for, spouses with autoimmune diseases, and lives that constantly put us at risk of interacting with others,” he tweeted. “For me, my story wasn’t supposed to be told, but here goes…
“In late January I secretly donated a kidney to a person who lives about 10 blocks from me in the City. He was dying of renal failure and I turned out to be a near-perfect match. I spent several days in the hospital and several days with fifth a friend before returning home.
“My recipient began to improve almost immediately and his long-term prognosis is strong, and none of this was ever supposed to be public. People are cynical, especially about politics. And so I decided to share the donation with only my friends, staff, and family.”
Since that time, besides being a progressive LGBTQ activist, Sims has also spoken out to encourage people to consider being living donors. In January he posted a video encouraging people to think about donating.
PA DONOR DAY! Today is #PaDonorDay & I’m teaming up with DonateLifePA to challenge all of us to support organ & tissue donation. It was just a year ago that I had the honor of donating a kidney to a neighbor in renal failure & the donation changed both of our lives.
1/3 pic.twitter.com/d7xx0KsVeg— Brian Sims (@BrianSimsPA) January 8, 2021
Donating a kidney to a loved one or stranger is no small task, but it can literally save a life. Some of those reacting to Sims’ recent tweet have praised him for his actions, while others have shared their own donation-related stories.
Wishing you all good things. I was the recipient of a kidney 14 years ago, thanks to the kindness of a grieving family. A life-changing and precious gift. While I never met the donor family, I did become friends with my kidney twin (I got the right kidney; he got the left).
— Rebecca Bingham (@resabi) May 13, 2021
I’m an altruistic living kidney donor, too! I have also met the recipient and we have now forged a unique lifelong brotherhood. Donating a kidney is one of the best things I have ever done! pic.twitter.com/MGn7p3xr5s
— Clark Williams (@clarkwilliams1) May 13, 2021
Others thought it nice the recipient was now walking around with … er, a bit of Brian inside him.
Not the typical gay “So I gave him my organ” story, is it?
— (@RLeeAtwood) May 13, 2021
Nearly 100,000 people are on the waiting list for a kidney in the U.S. To find out more about kidney donation, check the website for the American Kidney Fund.
Related: Brian Sims bemoans gay dating culture and we totally get it, man
Chrisk
That’s the difference between himself and the GOP. They show up with Covid not giving a shit about anyone and the other sacrifices a body part so someone else can live. No clearer example of the difference.
Cam
And then when they get sick or in trouble they scream about not being given enoough.
winemaker
The ultimate sacrifice and gift that can’t be measured financially. At least the recipient knows it came from a healthy American and not from some unfortunate tortured prisoner in one of china’s ‘reeducation’ camps, oh hell call these places what they are ‘gulags’. and was taken without the prisoners consent. Sadly many of the organs being transplanted come from such unacceptable sources.
Cam
@winemaker
The right wing, Republican troll account, rather than commenting on what aa generous guy Simms is, uses his story as an opportunity to whine about China.
RTG
Winemaker- you literally can’t help yourself, can you? And I’ll bet you identify as straight too and you’re just hanging around a gay site…….right? Go climb back under your rock in Moscow.
Kangol2
What a positive story. Brian Sims has shown more than once that he is a stand-up guy, and his constituents in Pennsylvania are lucky to have him as their representative. Best wishes for his Lt. Gov run!
Mister P
Repugnants like to say they care about people but they don’t.
Max
one would hope their constituents would recognize that as well, but sadly they only seemed to be on the train for ensuring their party dominates. they’re happy to believe the lies as they cannot be bothered with independent thoughts.
Fahd
There probably are some (a few) Republicans who are organ donors, but I think as a group they are much more likely to sell their souls to the devil.
triguykeith
This man continues to show the world through his actions what an amazing human being he is. And continues to be daily. A fine example of a man not only for our community, but for the world as a whole!
BoomerMyles
What a role model. Hope he reaches the highest political heights.
KyleMichelSullivan
Brian Sims is the best of us…
James
BRIAN SIMS IS A SAINT.
fur_hunter
I very much would like to see him on the federal level, where he can have a say in what happens for the nation rather than just the state of Pennsylvania. He continues to prove he is interested in others with his political actions. He is what ALL politicians should be. Virtually NONE are. I wish him health, wealth and long success and life.
KellyRobinsonJr
I know he is a great role model and a courageous politician, and I hope he takes it to Washington, and I know should not sexualize him… But I need to see it so bad…
jman
Representative Brian Sims you are inspiration and role model. You gave the gift of life. Thank you Brian for sharing your experience and motivating us to be the best that we can be. Your kindness, empathy and self-sacrifice give me hope for humanity.
MusicBoi74
My husband received a kidney from a deceased donor. It is a most precious gift, and I admire the living donors who can be involved. It is a most precious gift.