I donated a kidney to my father 10 years ago. It took about 4 weeks of recovery before I could get on a plane to fly home. Even 10 years later, I have not recovered to the same energy level I had before the surgery - something about the original surgery never quite healed right, and my kidney function gets monitored every 6 months or so at the doctor's office - I take a few medications to protect my remaining kidney. My father is still alive today because of it. It is important that if you do this, that you have plans and support. It is not for everyone.
You make an important point about planning and support, which is often overlooked in discussions about donation. Recovery can be unpredictable... What you’ve done for your father is extraordinary, and even though the cost to you has been significant, the fact that he’s alive a decade later speaks volumes about the value of that choice.
