I would do it again!

It was the morning before the day of the surgery.  Sara and Joe picked me up and we drove up early to Birmingham.  We were admitted the day before the surgery.  They tested one more time just to make sure that the nothing has changed and the tissues were still a match. 

We were admitted into different rooms.  Of course, the blood test went fine.  Our families arrived later in the day and settled into nearby hotel rooms.  We were in a small town at the time where everyone knows everyone.  The morning of the surgery, there were about 30 friends and family gathered.  They actually had to be moved to another area, because they were taking up too much space in the waiting room.

The surgeon spoke with me one last time.  They were able to do my surgery laparoscopically.  He explained how the surgeries would take place.  I would be prepped for surgery first. Sara was prepped and kept in waiting.  Just before the doctor removed my kidney, he would send word to begin Sara's anesthesia.

My family and friends came in to see me one last time before the surgery.  The anesthesia was administered and time stood still.  The next thing I remember was my spouse leaning over and gently shaking me.  "Amy, wake up.  The surgery was a success.  Your kidney is in Sara and it started functioning immediately."

The majority of the crowd had moved into my room.  Sara's family stayed behind to wait for her to come out of surgery.  I don't remember much.  I have clouded memories of different family members and friends coming to my bedside.  There were gentle pats and kisses on my forehead.  But, one memory was as vivid and clear as any that I have in my life.  Sara had made it to recovery and her family had seen her.  My room must have had 20 people in it when Sara's daughter, Amy, walked to the door.  A literal hush fell over the crowd.  Every one immediately parted and made room for her to come to my bed.  She leaned over my bed and with tears streaming down her face, she simply said, "There are no words."  I looked back at her and said, "We did it, Amy." 

That moment happened five years ago.  It was the moment that made it all worthwhile.  I would do it again a hundred times if I could.

I do pray that someone out there reading will consider donating to Brandy.  If you are interested, all the information you need is just to the right of this blog.  Please pray with me that someone out there will consider donating to this young mother.

This blog isn't just for Brandy.  There are thousands of people out there waiting for a kidney.  Please, sign your donor card.  Do we need our organs when we are gone?  And what greater legacy can we leave than life to another individual?

If you are interested in donating and would like to talk with me personally, feel free to contact me through the e-mail on the blog.  Thank you for taking the time to read and please pray with me for Brandy and the thousands others just like her!

Another Bend in the Road

The accountant was tested and did indeed turn out to be a match.  We were all so excited.  Could this be the miracle that everyone had been hoping and praying for?

Determining that he was a match was the first step.  The next step was to spend two days having a complete "head to toe" examination to make sure that he was healthy enough to donate.  Seemingly the picture of health, we all assumed this would be an open and shut case and the surgery would be soon underway.

A few weeks later, I was once again in Walmart.  By now, it was just after Christmas. Once again, I ran into Amy.  I excitedly asked her how things were going in the preparation for the surgery.  With misty eyes, she said, "Did you not hear?"  When he went for the testing, the doctors found that he was borderline diabetic.  He is no longer a candidate.  While everyone was saddened by the news, there was one bright spot.  The gentleman had no idea this condition existed.  Maybe through his willingness to give of himself, his life was saved!

When we were driving home that evening, I felt that same stirring within me that makes your heart pound and your palms sweaty. I told my spouse that I now knew that I had to offer to be a donor for Sara.  He assured me that if I felt so strongly about the situation, then I must follow through with it.

Before talking to Sara about the possibility of donating, I felt that I owed it to my daughters' to get their opinion. They were both middle school age and capable of understanding the situation. They knew Sara and were friends with her grandchildren.  After explaining everything to them, one of them looked at me and said, "Mom, if our grandmother needed a kidney, we sure would hope that someone would be willing to do this for her." That sealed the deal for me. It was the final confirmation that I needed to go through with the offer.

We finally met with Sara and Joe.  I shared with them that I wanted to be tested to see if I was a donor.  Their immediate response was, "You cannot do this."  There were so many concerns.  I was too young.  What if my children needed a kidney one day.  We assured them that much prayer had gone into the decision and we knew that it was the right one.  Finally, Sara reluctantly agreed to the testing.  And that was when our story really began.

The first step in testing was to send a blood sample to the hospital to see if our tissues matched.  After receiving the sample, it was determined that we were indeed a match.  Our antigens did not completely match.  30 years ago, this would have been a problem. However, today there are medications that they can give to combat that.  We were given the green light to move forward with my physical in Birmingham.

Upon arriving in Birmingham, I was poked, prodded and scanned seemingly over my entire body.  I was psychoanalyzed along the way.  They had to ensure that I was mentally stable as well as physically fit for the donation. Thankfully, I passed that test!  At the end of the day, the coordinator came to my room and said that I was a perfect candidate. I called Sara as soon as I found out. Tears of joy were shed on all sides and surgery was scheduled for April 24, 2007.

A Detour on the Journey

"I think I am supposed to donate one of my kidneys to Sara."  I am sure that this was the last thing my spouse expected to hear at that or any given moment.  He asked if I felt certain about pursuing this and I assured him that I did.  We both agreed to continue to pray about it for a season and see where it led.

A couple of weeks later, he walked in from work and said, "You don't have to offer Sara one of your kidneys.  Someone has volunteered to be tested."  The story of this offer was truly one of self sacrifice. With Sara's condition continuing to worsen, they decided that it was a good idea to meet with their accountant and go over their will.  Her condition was not totally bleak.  Actually, she had not even begun dialysis.  However, like most of us, this life circumstance prompted them to make sure that everything was in order, should something happen to either one of them.

They met with their accountant.  The relationship was accountant/client and did not extend beyond that.  During the course of their meeting, they told him the story of Sara's diagnosis.  Like me, he asked what her blood type was.  He had the blood type needed to be considered a donor.  That evening, he went home and told his wife that he wanted to be tested to see if he could donate a kidney to Sara. While Sara's continued to worsen, she was still holding dialysis at bay.  It was the middle of tax season, but the accountant assured Sara that he would begin the testing process just as soon as the season was over.

This man was much stronger and willing than I.  He didn't need the signs and affirmation that I did.  Someone that he did not even know beyond client relationship was in critical need.  This man knew he could help and he wanted to do what he could. The world truly would be a better place if there were more individuals like this selfless man!

The Defining Moment

"I have O negative blood type.  Maybe I could help Sara."  The thought slipped ever so easily into my mind, and rest assured, it was there to stay.   I did not mention it to anyone.  It seemed best to keep it to myself and begin to pray about it.  Over the next few days, I began to pray and ask God to show me if I was supposed to go further with this one simple thought.  This was a big step into unknown territory.  If this was where He was leading me, I was willing to go.  But, I needed solid confirmation that He wanted me to take that first step.

The next Sunday, I was sitting in choir in my usual spot beside Sara.  When the pastor began his sermon, he referenced Romans 12:1-2. All I heard him say was, "We are to present our bodies as a living sacrifice."  From that moment on, I don't know that I heard anything else that he said except for his continual reference to the scripture passage. At least four different times, I heard him refer back to the scripture, challenging all those present to present our bodies as living sacrifices." 

I will pause here and say that I am sure there was a deeper meaning to that morning's message.  He probably meant something to the effect of us living our lives in way that is pleasing and acceptable to God.  But, in all honesty, I have no clue what the sermon was about.  All I heard that day was to present our bodies as a living sacrifice.

Coincidence?  I am sure some would say, "Yes."  Many would argue that I was off on some religious tangent reading far too much into those two words.  I would not even waste my breathe to argue with such individuals, because I knew what I felt that day.  At the end of the service, my heart was about to pound out of my chest.  I waiting anxiously for a private moment with my spouse.  When the time finally came, I looked to him and without an inkling of doubt in my mind, said, "I think I am supposed to donate one of my kidneys to Sara." 

The Journey Begins...

It was Easter Sunday, many years ago.  We had experienced a Sunrise service by the lake, shared breakfast with our neighboring churches and were now gearing up for three packed out services.

John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist church, talks about prevenient grace:  God going ahead of us and working in our lives before we even accept His grace.  I believe that God works ahead of us in many of life's situations, preparing us and setting up the events for something great that he has in store in the future.  I hold passionately to this belief because I have experienced it on many occasions.  One such occasion was that Easter Sunday morning.

When it was time for the third service, after having attended the previous services, I decided to stop by the nursery and see if they needed help.  The volunteers in the nursery had everything under control and all the babies were happy for the time being. As I walked out, I noticed a mother and her baby girl, probably around a year old, sitting quietly in an adjacent room.  I entered the room and introduced myself.  Her name was Amy.  We laughed to each other and agreed that we certainly should be able to remember each other's name.  Brianna was the bouncy little girl.  She was so full of life, giving me the biggest smiles and giggles.  I could never forget that adorable face.  Amy went on to tell me that she was the daughter of Sarah and Joe Geddie.  She lived in a nearby town and she and her family had driven over to spend Easter Sunday with her parents.

We visited a little longer and  I left to slip back into the service.   Was my encounter with Amy by chance that day?  Absolutely not.  I will go to my grave believing that it was a beautiful plan set in motion by God.  I was meant to meet and converse with her on that day.

A couple of years later, I was making a Walmart run while my girls were in school.  It was early afternoon and I had not had anything to eat.  I decided to grab a hamburger from the McDonalds inside the store. When I walked in, I saw Amy sitting there with that little blonde haired blue eyed girl.  I would have recognized her anywhere.  I sat beside them, planning to eat quickly and be on my way.  Brianna had no intention of letting me make a quick exit.  Now a toddler, she had a vivid imagination and a vocabulary to match.  She began telling me happy stories, sad stories and even scary stories.  Her mom laughed.  "I am afraid her babysitter lets her watch a little too much television."

Before I left, I took a minute to ask Amy about her mother.  I sat by her mom, Sarah, every Wednesday night at choir practice.  I knew that Sarah was suffering with kidney disease.  Sarah never complained and or mentioned her illness.  She would never let us know how bad things really were.  That is just Sarah, not wanting to burden anyone.  When I ask Amy about her mom, her eyes welled up a bit.  "It's not good.  The doctors say that if she doesn't get a kidney transplant in the next few months, she will have to go on dialysis."  It was quiet for a moment.  I could tell that even little Brianna sensed the seriousness of the situation.  I will never forget Amy's next words.  "I don't have the right blood type to give her one of my kidneys.  I would have given her one ten years ago if I could.  It just breaks my heart that I cannot do that for her."  I assured her that we would be praying for her mom, especially now that I knew the seriousness of the situation.

As we got ready to go our separate ways, I asked Amy what Sarah's blood type was. She was O positive.  She can only receive a kidney from someone with O blood type.  I made a hurried trip through Walmart as I had to pick up my girls soon.  After loading the car, I settled in behind the driver's wheel.  I thought to myself, "My blood type is O negative."

That, my friends, was the beginning of  this beautiful journey.