Never underestimate government’s ability to mess up the best of intentions and something that makes sense to everybody but the body politic. This is part of a story as posted on The National Marrow Donor Program’s website:
Sergeant Randy Yamanaka of the Seattle Police Department turned up as a bone marrow match for a 1-year-old boy with leukemia. Given his serving nature as a cop, he wanted to do it. When he asked for paid time off, the city’s ethics commission said no. Say what?
Skipping a few steps, Randy wrote to then-governor Gary Locke. Governor Locke supported Sgt. Yamanaka. The story leaked to the media and government found itself the target of anger and ridicule, as it should have been. Common sense prevailed with the Seattle City Council passing an ordinance allowing city employees paid time off for organ and marrow donation. Randy donated, was paid for his time off, saved little Luke’s life, and everyone is happy. Is that not the most darling picture to the left you’ve ever seen?
A few years ago when I was getting ready to go to transplant for a 16-year-old recipient, I faced a similar dilemma. I told my boss I needed a few days off for surgery and recovery. “Can you ask them if you can do it another time?” he asked. “This is like the worst time for us for something like this. We’re in ratings.”
Short of being very, very sick, it’s sort of understood that you don’t call in sick during ratings periods.
“No I don’t think so,” I told him flabbergasted. “He’s going to die if we don’t move fast. He’s really sick and time is of the essense.”
With that the boss relented, realizing how ridiculous it was to briefly protest my request. I didn’t get the same happy result of my donation as Sgt. Yamanaka, but we gave my recipient one last chance to live. It all goes to show that common sense is not always so common. When someone is on a mission to further humanity and save a life, make the path easier on everyone. That’s what the voice of reason talking.
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