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Regular Session, 2011
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 136
BY SENATOR MILLS
COMMENDATIONS. Commends Xavier Alexander for his courageous act in donating a
kidney to his father.
A RESOLUTION1
To commend Xavier Alexander for his courageous act in donating a kidney to his father.2
WHEREAS, the National Kidney Foundation indicates that potential kidney3
recipients must be thoroughly evaluated to ensure a good candidate and donor match is4
confirmed; and5
WHEREAS, if the potential recipient has been approved for a transplant, any6
potential living donor can then proceed with the possibility of donating; and7
WHEREAS, many people requiring transplants cannot receive them due to a shortage8
of donations, as there are more than two thousand new names added to the national waiting9
list with an average of eighteen people dying each day while waiting; and10
WHEREAS, someone with kidney failure, often called "end stage renal disease", has11
three options for treatment: dialysis, a transplant from a deceased party, or a transplant from12
a living donor; and13
WHEREAS, on April 15, 2007, and at the age of forty-five, Mr. Stephen Isadore14
Etienne, father of Xavier Isadore Alexander, began receiving dialysis treatment; and15
WHEREAS, Mr. Etienne and his family knew that dialysis was only a temporary16
solution for his acute kidney failure; and17
WHEREAS, with a history of hypertension and diabetes, two major contributors that18 SR NO. 136
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cause kidney failure, the Etienne family knew that a kidney transplant was a preferred1
alternative; and2
WHEREAS, to identify a donor, Mr. Etienne was supported by his wife, Joann3
Alexander Etienne, his family, friends, and many of his Omega Psi Phi Fraternity members,4
who willingly chose to get tested to become a donor match; and5
WHEREAS, because of his health and athletic conditioning, Xavier confirmed he6
was a compatible donor for his father; and7
WHEREAS, even though Mr. Etienne wanted to wait for a living donor from the8
national donor program, Xavier insisted and decided to forego his senior year of baseball at9
the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, where he was ranked second in the university's10
history of twenty-three consecutive games hitting streaks; and11
WHEREAS, after a stellar junior season, Xavier would have had the opportunity to12
play professional baseball, but choose instead to become a living donor for his father, and13
planned the surgery a few months after his college graduation; and14
WHEREAS, on July 2, 2008, the surgery was scheduled at the Louisiana State15
University Transplant Clinic at the University Medical Center in Lafayette, Louisiana; and16
WHEREAS, on the day of surgery, and at the age of forty-six, Mr. Etienne was tense17
and nervous, but his nerves and mental state were quickly calmed as he saw twenty-three18
year old Xavier joking and laughing with the nurse who was preparing him for surgery; and19
WHEREAS, the successful surgery was performed by Dr. Daniel Frye, who20
explained to Mr. Etienne and Xavier that recovery time and pain level for the donor would21
be harder than the recipient; and22
WHEREAS, after seven months of post-surgical health complications, Xavier23
accepted a math teaching position with the St. Mary Parish School Board, while working on24
a Master's Degree at Nichols State University; and25
WHEREAS, after two years of teaching, Xavier decided to apply for and entered law26
school at Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana; and27
WHEREAS, certainly, transplant recipients feel more than fortunate to receive a28
donor match, but for Mr. Etienne, it was something extraordinary to receive his donor kidney29
from his youngest son; and30 SR NO. 136
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WHEREAS, since the successful surgery, Xavier's parents often reminisce of when1
Xavier was a toddler, and when asking him what he wanted to become when he grew up,2
Xavier said "a hero"; and3
WHEREAS, today his childhood dream of becoming a hero was realized, when he4
became his father's hero.5
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana6
does hereby commend Xavier Alexander for his courageous act of donating a kidney to his7
father.8
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to9
Xavier Alexander.10
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Michelle Broussard-Johnson.
DIGEST
Mills SR No.
Commends Xavier Alexander for his courageous act in donating a kidney to his father.