I don’t do many videos on my blog, partially because I had to do a lot for my past grad school MSW program and partially because I’m self-conscious about how I sound in them. But I have to admit I do enjoy watching them.
If I don’t have something specific to watch, I’ll watch YouTube videos and livestreams because I like learning new things. It’s also a way to keep up with news headlines and current events because watching an entire news program is emotionally exhausting for me.
A very important channel I watch just hit a milestone. The Transplant Helper channel by Jim Murrell has reached 10,000 subscribers. That may not sound very impressive as a stat alone, but Jim gathered these people organically and cultivated this wonderful community person-by-person over time.
Jim is a heart transplant recipient and a minister; however, he spends plenty of time reaching out to and educating transplant recipients of all stripes and ages. He is also honest about his life as a heart recipient. He talks about the good, bad, and sometimes difficult subjects that many recipients face but sometimes struggle giving voice to.
He also is the first to admit when he doesn’t know something or doesn’t have a good answer to a particularly vexing situation. He celebrates people’s triumphs and honors their memories after they pass on.
I’ve been glad for Jim and his work because there have been subjects I have had difficulty facing or putting words to that sometimes Jim has brought to the table in his videos. This comforted me because I felt I wasn’t alone in my feelings. His candor is something I admire about him. He is also not “preachy” about people and their choices and does his best to provide accurate and timely information. Jim, like many of us, also takes time to bust myths about both transplantation and donation.
He handles complex and sometimes controversial subjects with grace and humility and respects people who may disagree with him.
It’s nice to know there is a channel out there that speaks to people and meets them where they are because even after 7 years with my new lungs, there are things I am learning. Sometimes, I struggle to simplify it myself or explain it to others because it is overly technical or complex.
I also know of a few channels that turn me off because they talk above people (Or down to them) or overwhelm and bombard people with what they should or shouldn’t do, or judge the choices they make. From time to time, I’ve made this mistake myself without realizing it, but new recipients are looking for to be HEARD AND have their questions answered and backed up with facts from credible sources.
Now that I’ve also experienced kidney failure, there are new things I’m constantly learning about that as well.
Because of Jim’s videos, some things have been easier to understand as I’ve been researching kidney transplants because he keeps track of changes in the system and listing criteria and new advances in all types of organs. It is a lot to keep up with.
So, I’m proud of him for keeping this channel going for as long as he has. I admire it. After all, when I hit my three-year mark, I took a long hiatus because I was burnt out from blogging about transplantation and needed a change. I don’t know how he came up with all these videos on all these different subjects, but yet somehow he has just the topic I need to hear sometimes.
The fact that he has kept things fresh, engaging, and relatable during this whole period is really something. It takes a good chunk of time and creativity to do this.
Congrats, and thank you, Jim, for all you do for the community!
If you want to help a friend or family member understand more about transplantation, visit Jim’s channel. You will not be sorry. (The Transplant Helper also has a Facebook page.)
As I live And Breathe 