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/