Prayers Always Welcome!

Today Sarah and Zeke underwent a very successful kidney transplant at Rochester Methodist Mayo.  Zeke's daughter Amy kept me updated all day with texts and e-mails.  I am so appreciative to her for that!  As of 6 p.m. tonight Sarah was moved into her room.  Zeke was going to be ready for visitors around 8 p.m.  What a miraculous day this was for them!  I am so thrilled that all went well and they are on the road to recovery. 

I also received an e-mail today from Chris, the coordinator at UW in Madison.  She informed me that our case would be going before committee on Monday.  They will look at all of our records and decide whether they are willing to further evaluate us for transplant.  This is the moment we have been waiting for over the past several weeks!

So now I ask once again for prayers...prayers for Sarah and Zeke to have smooth recoveries -- and that Chloe decides she likes her new home(Chloe is the name Sarah gave her kidney).  And I humbly ask for prayers for Lonnie and I.  Prayers that the right decision will be made by the UW team...and that we will accept that decision, whatever it may be.  Of course I would love to tell you to pray that they will accept us for transplant evaluation!  But maybe that isn't God's plan -- so I just ask you to pray whatever is in your heart.

To Whom Much Is Given...

Today I was listening to CNN Headline News on my satellite radio when the news anchor started talking about Tony Hayward, the CEO of BP.  Hayward is stepping down from his post as the head of the company who was responsible for the Gulf oil spill.  He will take with him a severance package worth $1.6 million and a pension of $17 million.  Immediately I thought of Luke 12:48, which basically says "to whom much is given, much will be expected"(and on a side note, I did not know where in the Bible that was located -- I had to look it up!).  There are many different versions of this verse -- but that is the basic premise.  I must admit that I have always thought of this verse as applying to finances, and I certainly did in the Tony Hayward situation.  Mike and I have been very financially blessed in our lives and we try to share that with others less fortunate whenever we can.  However, I know there is so much more we could do -- and imagine what we could do with Tony Hayward's sort of money!  Last September Mike lost his job. The economy has been tough and jobs are not plentiful in our area. But God has shown over and over again this past year that He will indeed continue to bless our lives. For example, Mike's unemployment was set to run out this week. Then late last week Congress voted to extend unemployment. So yes, I think God even speaks to us through Congress!
But right after I thought of that verse in regards to money, Tony Hayward, and unemployment, I realized that it certainly should apply to all areas of our lives.  For instance, as I have said before, I have been blessed with great health so I feel like I should share that.  But then I realized that God actually EXPECTS me to share it!  Not just that he thinks I should...or would be happy if I would...but actually EXPECTS it!  Then I started thinking about all the other areas of my life.  And yes, I think God does indeed expect that we will share what he has given us.  Time, money, friendship, skills, talents, love...and even kidneys. 
 
"To whom much is given, much will be EXPECTED."

15 Minutes of Fame

This week I got to enjoy my lifetime-allotted 15 minutes of fame.  Sarah and Zeke and Lonnie and I had our stories featured in the Marshfield News-Herald and the Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune.  Both papers had different pictures, but unfortunately the Daily Tribune picture did not show up online -- and that was the better picture of us because the Marshfield paper does not really show Sarah's face.  We did, however, make the front page of both papers.  Not sure if they were hard up for news or if we are really that important :-)  Also this next week our Clinic plans to feature our stories in our weekly internal newspaper, the Pulse.

I joke about the fame, but in reality I am so happy that the stories are getting out there so that we can spread the word about organ donation.  As of the minute that I am writing this, 85,562 people are waiting for a kidney in the United States.  The average waiting time for a kidney is anywhere from 3 to 5 years.  Donors are needed -- both living and deceased.  Now I completely understand that living donation doesn't fit into everyone's idea of a perfect way to spend a month off of work!  But if you haven't done so, please even consider signing your driver's license to be a donor after you are gone.  I have heard people tell me they don't think they are healthy enough to be a donor.  You might be surprised as to what they can do with organ and tissue donation!  And if you want more information on living donation, please feel free to let me know.  I don't have all the answers, but I can help you find them.  I can't stress to you enough that I am an ordinary person who happens to be blessed with great health. 

Still in the waiting period with UW.  We are hoping this next week will bring some answers...

Here are the links to the newspaper stories..and also a link to a website you might find interesting or helpful:

http://www.wisconsinrapidstribune.com/article/20100724/WRT0101/7240621/Kidney-donation-makes-Marshfield-Clinic-employees-friends

http://www.marshfieldnewsherald.com/article/20100723/MNH0101/7230411/-1/archive

http://www.unos.org/

Meeting Sarah

At noon today Sarah and I met at Anchor Bay in Biron for lunch.  As I was pulling up to the restaurant I saw her walking in.  I knew right away it was her because I had seen her picture on her Caring Bridge page.  On the way over there I wondered what we would do when we saw each other -- handshake, hug, polite nod??  I felt like I already knew her because of our e-mails and the very similar feelings that we shared with each other.  When I walked in Sarah was talking with the photographer who had been sent by the Marshfield News-Herald to photograph our meeting.  She turned around and we instantly hugged.  The photographer was quick enough to snap a photo of this.  After that he took a few posed pictures of us and some of us sitting at the lunch table talking.  As soon as he left we started chatting -- and didn't stop until it was past time for me to get back to work.  Now as any of you who know me well could attest, I never really have any problems talking!  But this was different.  Sarah and I talked about the feelings we have had throughout our experiences so far.  We also talked about the reactions of people we have encountered -- from our recipients, families, friends, co-workers, acquaintances, etc.  It was simply amazing to me how alike we really are!  We have had so many of the same feelings and reactions.  I found myself wondering if other donors feel the same way -- or if we just shared a very common bond.  Sarah is having surgery next week and she talked about how emotional she is getting now that the surgery is just one week away.  She also talked about her excitement.  We laughed at how other people just don't seem to understand how we can be so excited about having surgery!!  The lunch hour was over way too quickly and we know for sure we will get together again.

Tomorrow should be the day that the Marshfield News-Herald will run the story of Sarah and Zeke and Lonnie and I.  They are hoping that the Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune will pick up the story as well.  Either way, I will post a link to the story here when it is run.  I also received another e-mail from Steve Thayer in our corporate communications department today.  They are going to run a story about both Sarah and I in our internal Clinic newspaper.  We are so excited about the publicity we are getting -- not for our sake, but for the sake of getting the word out about organ donation.  If we can let people know that this is not scary and ordinary people like us can do it, then maybe somebody will decide to donate.  Even one person would make it all worth it.

As far as our case goes, UW does have all of Lonnie's records except for his CT scan from Riverview Hospital.  Riverview was going to send that out today.  The plan at UW is for them to take the CT to their committee and see how they feel about the blood vessels.  This is the area that Froedtert was concerned about.  After UW reviews the CT they will let us know what they think and we will take it from there.

So...prayers please for the review of records at UW and for the surgeries of Sarah and Zeke next Thursday!

Interview

Today I gave an interview to Molly Newman from the Marshfield News-Herald.  Amazingly, Molly found out about our story through a Google alert that led her to my blog.  Steve Thayer from Corporate Communications at Marshfield Clinic then set up the interview between us.  Molly is also planning to interview Lonnie and Sarah for the story.  And I am excited to say that this Thursday I am going to have the distinct pleasure of meeting Sarah!  I can't wait to talk to another donor and hear her entire story.  We have exchanged many e-mails and so many of the thoughts and experiences we have had so far are very similar.    Molly is also going to send a photographer to snap some photos of Sarah and I having lunch to include with the News-Herald story.  Sarah and I are hopeful that our stories will help people understand that this process is not scary.  We also hope it will encourage even one person out there to consider whether they might be an organ donor.  We have really become donor advocates as we have each walked our journey.

At this point we have no updates from UW.  Hopefully we will know more this week.  PATIENCE has certainly become my new motto....but HOPE still reigns!

It's Not About Me...

I wanted to update you all on the case of Sarah and Zeke.  Sarah is my fellow Marshfield Clinic employee who is donating her kidney to her friend Amy's dad Zeke.  As you may have read in a previous post, Amy's husband Tim and I also went to optometry school together in Chicago.  We thought that was an incredible connection, but I think we had a connection much deeper than we even realized.  As I said before, July 13th seemed like such an important date to Lonnie and I.  It was the date our surgery was scheduled...and it was the date that my calendar page talked about kidney transplants.  At the time I thought that was my reassurance that our kidney transplant was definitely going to take place.  When we got cancelled I just could not figure out why July 13th would have seemed so significant.  Then when we connected with UW I thought perhaps July 13th would be the day UW would want to evaluate one of us.  As the date got closer and I knew things were moving slowly with UW I knew that could not be it either.  As it turned out my thinking was entirely too self-centered.  I never imagined that the date could be in reference to someone else's case.  Then along came Sarah and Zeke.  Since Zeke had some recent medical problems, he needed to again be cleared for their transplant.  His date to see the transplant surgeon was indeed July 13th.  And yesterday, July 13th, Zeke was cleared for his transplant. 

How often do we look at the things God is doing around us and assume that they must be related to our lives in some way?  How often do we ask God to do something for us without regard for what someone else may be experiencing?  How often do we look at our own struggles and fail to look at the world around us?  If we choose to look around us, how often would God use the events in our lives to enrich others?  I am sure finding that out.  And I think it is pretty darn cool.

Bittersweet

Today was supposed to be the day.  Transplant day.  July 13th was the day I thought it was all going to happen.  And then it didn't.  I have wondered so many times in the last couple of weeks why all of the signs pointed to today being the day...and then it wasn't.  I cannot begin to answer that at this point, but I bet someday I will understand the true reason.  The day was bittersweet.  I found myself looking at the clock all day thinking things like, "right now we would've been driving to Milwaukee"..."right now I would be checking in to the hospital"..."right now would have been surgery time"..."right now I would be in recovery".  But I cannot choose to dwell on those thoughts.  Tomorrow is a new day.  This morning I faxed in consents for both mine and Lonnie's records to be faxed to Chris at UW.  Things are happening.  Over and over hope springs eternal.

Today was the day that Zeke, the kidney recipient I told you about in my last post, was to find out if his surgery will still go on as scheduled.  I have not heard from his daughter Amy or his donor Sarah yet, but I pray that all went well.

Today I had lunch with two great friends, Lisa and Sheryl, to celebrate Lisa's birthday.  They don't even know how much I needed a good lunch with the girls.

Today was a good day.  Life is good...God is good...all the time.

Amazing!

Friday morning at work one of my technicians Terri came to me and told me she had to tell me something.  She said that she never watches television in the mornings while she is getting ready for work.  But Friday morning for reasons she isn't even sure of she turned on her t.v.  Channel 9 news was on and they were in the middle of a story about a Marshfield Clinic employee who was donating her kidney to a friend's father!  I immediately went on Channel 9's website(http://www.waow.com/) and looked up the story.  Sure enough, Sarah Gregory, who is a Physician's Assistant, is donating her kidney to her friend Amy's dad.  I e-mailed Sarah right away through our Clinic e-mail system.  She e-mailed me right back telling me that she already knew of my story through Steve Thayer, our media relations specialist at the Clinic.  She was planning to e-mail me after she read my blog.  Then Sarah told me that her friend Amy's husband is actually an optometrist in Minnesota!  Last night when I got home I had an even more amazing revelation waiting for me.  In my Facebook message box I had a message from Amy Bergmann Hurley.  She asked if I remembered her husband Tim from ICO where I went to optometry school.  Of course I remembered Tim as he is a good friend of Troy Moats, who was a good friend of my roommate Trish!  And yes, his wife Amy's dad will be receiving a kidney from Sarah.  Wow!!  What an unbelievable day!  I couldn't even fathom the relationships which we already had within this circle -- Tim and I went to school together, Sarah and I both work for Marshfield Clinic, Amy and Tim had lived in Marshfield at one time, Tim and Troy are friends and Troy was friends with my roommate Trish -- in fact, Troy and I are also Facebook friends.  Since I do not believe in coincidences, I knew this was from God!  Sarah and I are hoping to get together and meet in the near future.  I cannot wait to hear her story from beginning up until now!

Sarah and Amy's dad Zeke have their surgery scheduled for July 29th at Rochester Methodist Hospital(Mayo Clinic).  Unfortunately Zeke had to have a hernia operation and developed an infection.  On Tuesday he will have fluid drained from the site of the infection.  If there is still infection there they may have to delay their surgery.  I would ask that you keep them in your prayers.  Not coincidentally, Tuesday was the day that Lonnie and I were originally scheduled to have our surgery -- and the day you may remember from my calendar page. 

As far as we are concerned, UW called Lonnie on Friday and they are updating all of his information.  I need to get my records transferred over to them and then we will start the entire process over again it sounds like.  I am just happy they are willing to give our case a chance. 

If you would like to read either Sarah or Zeke's CaringBridge pages, they are as follows:
www.caringbridge.org/visit/sarahgregory
www.caringbridge.org/visit/zekebergmann

You will likely not be surprised to see that the word boldly emblazoned across the top of Zeke's page is....HOPE!!

The Joy of Giving

A couple of people have asked me lately if I have thought about the fact that even if UW approves the surgery it is certainly going to be a more risky surgery than originally thought.  This theoretically would lower the odds that the surgery would be successful.  I have even been asked if I would reconsider donating knowing this new information.  I know for sure that I would not reconsider, but wasn't really sure how to explain that to people.  Tonight I thought of it this way:

Let's say I have two beautiful vases full of flowers in my house.  They are both providing me a great amount of joy, but there is really no reason why I need two of them.  A friend of mine does not have any flowers in their house and their life would surely be enriched by them.  So I tell them I will gladly bring over one set of the flowers for them to enjoy in their home.  Now let's say I find out that I will need to transport the flowers over a bumpy road to get to my friend's house and the vase may break on the way.  And even if I do succeed in getting the vase over there in one piece there is a chance my friend may not have enough sunlight in their house.  And there is the possibility that the flowers might not get watered as much as they would at my house.  There is even a chance the flowers may fail to bloom at all over there.  So...what should I do?  If I keep the flowers I will continue to enjoy them, but my friend will still be without the joy that flowers can bring.  If I give the flowers there is a chance that my friend will be able to enjoy them as much as I do and I will still have my own flowers to enjoy.  And if I give the flowers, but they do not flourish -- at least my friend will always remember that I cared enough to try to enrich their life.  And if I give, isn't it truly me who will benefit the most?  There really is no such thing as a selfless act.  The joy of receiving will never hold a candle to the joy of giving.

Having said that... I am not crazy, I do realize that giving a kidney and giving flowers are certainly not the same.  But that is the best way I can explain it.  To me it is worth the possible bumps in the road to try to allow my friend to live the best possible life he can.  I cannot give with restrictions.  A gift is a gift.  I will joyfully share what I have if it is possible that his life can be enriched.  I will never regret that I did everything I could possibly do. 

Hopefully we will hear from UW in the next couple of days.  Until then, thank you again for your prayers and thoughts.  Your words truly mean the world to both my family and Lonnie's family.

There's That Word Again...

Today my co-worker Jean was handing out Dove Chocolate Promises to each of us.  She opened hers up and inside it read, "Here's to something more powerful than chocolate.  Hope."  Of course I asked if I could take the wrapper home since that is my word of the week!  Then today I got in my car and turned on my XM Radio to the comedy channel.  I pressed the button that tells me the name of the current comedian who is performing.  Her first name was....you guessed it....Hope.  Next week we will hear from UW as to whether our hope of a transplant can come true.  But I realized today that even if the transplant never happens, we can always have hope.  Hope for a longer life, hope for a new cure for kidney disease, hope for an everlasting friendship, hope for no pain, and hope for the future...whatever it may hold. 

Wednesday afternoon and again this afternoon I stopped over at Lonnie and Ginger's after work.  We spent time sitting outside in lawn chairs talking.  Lonnie was telling me all sorts of stories about his younger days and their early years of marriage...including a story about the teenagers who broke into the reception hall before their wedding and got into the beer!  How precious it is to spend time getting to know Lonnie and Ginger better.  How blessed I am.

Connecting With UW

Today I was on UW's website again and saw there was a place where you could send an inquiry about their kidney transplant program.  So I wrote a short comment telling them what our situation was and how to contact me.  Within an hour I received an e-mail from Chris, the coordinator that Lonnie had originally been set up with at UW before he was switched to Froedtert.  Ginger had tried to call Chris yesterday, but she was on vacation until Tuesday.  Well, it turns out Chris was e-mailing me from her vacation!  She asked me if I could give her details as to why Froedtert had decided the surgery was too risky.  She probably didn't want the long answer to her short question, but I gave it to her!  Within another hour she e-mailed me back to say how sorry she was that this had happened to us.  Then she promised to look into it as soon as she gets back next week.  She will then let Lonnie know what she thinks we can do from here.  I couldn't believe that she was contacting me during her vacation!  I told her I liked her already! :-)  It is just so nice to know that someone is going to at least try to do something for us.  Hope.  That's what we have.  And it feels good.

Tonight I took my kidneys to the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters game and the Rafters won!  What a great night at the ballpark!  Hopefully the kidneys won't be going there as a pair for too much longer!