Karina, Frank and I took a vacation from kidney concerns over the summer and it was a wonderful time. We didn't talk about transplants, donors, future hopes and plans.
We hooked her up each night and unhooked from dialysis each morning, but that was the only time we thought about kidney failure.
Now, the summer is over and we need to address Karina's future once again.
A quick recap: after 2 months of testing and one week away from proposed transplant surgery - we were told that there were a few concerns in regards to my donation; ie. 2 arteries vs 1 and my age. This news absolutely devestated Frank and me. Only through the Spirit of God would any feelings of peace even be possible. But, God is good and loves all of us and grants peace when we choose to seek for it rather than being angry.
My 51st birthday came on the 26th of June and Frank asked me what I wanted for my birthday. I told him I wanted only one thing: a kidney for Karina. Well, that very afternoon, in our mailbox we received a packet from my niece in Utah with all of the needed forms filled out to be a donor. Then, that same day, on our email was a message from a dear friend requesting the needed forms to be a donor. Once again, our heart's desire was given hope in these two angelic young women. Another dear friend from our church came forward and she and one of the other ladies was tested. Their matches were not great and so we began waiting once again.
Soon thereafter, another friend from our church asked me continually for the needed forms for her to become a donor. I didn't give her the forms immediately. She is a young mommy and I didn't want her to take any risks for her young family. She persisted and I finally consented. I gave her the forms. She filled them out; was tested; and is as good a match as Frank.
She then began the process of testing out all of her functions to be declared well enough to live on just one kidney. After a few months, I sat beside our donating friend as she underwent the very last series of tests; psychological, physical, etc. We watched a slide show on the transplant surgery. After a long day at University Hospital we went home and waited for the news. A week later, she was told she needed to get some of her pain medications for her back under control and then maybe in 6 months she could be looked at again as a possible donor.
Back to watching and waiting. It is indeed hard to not get emotionally invested with each "hope". But our gratitude is so immense for those who have willingly stepped forward to offer such a gift of life to our baby, Karina. The scripture verse from John 15:13 - Greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friend. That is how Frank and I feel. There are indeed, angels among us!
