Transplant Update: The New Plan

It has been a wild two weeks here for us.  On top of being very busy with work (at TAI), I have been turning down offered kidneys!  Here is what it’s all about:

Two weeks ago: Two weeks ago Tuesday, I met with Jeremy, my donor, and found out that he cannot give.  You can read the details of that story here.  We were not sure where to go from there.  We committed to pray and wait to see what God has in store.  The very next morning, not 24 hours later, I received a call form my transplant coordinator at Jefferson Hospital.  She wanted to give her condolences, but then went on to encourage me to take a cadaver kidney.  At first, I was a bit shocked.  It was my medical professionals who had convinced me NOT to take a cadaver kidney a year and a half ago because living donations are so much better.  I had not even considered a cadaver kidney for a long time because of the statistical evidence for the longevity of a living donor kidney.  She shared that with what I have been through, she thinks a cadaver might be the way to go.  As well, I am at the top of the list because I have been accruing time for about 7 years.   (Thanks to my kidney specialist Dr Hoffman who wisely said 7 years ago, “You never know.  Even with brothers willing to give, you ought to get on the list and accrue time, just in case.”  Thanks Dr Hoffman, it is currently, “just in case”!)  She told me that I can be very choosy and pick decline any kidney that does not seem really great for me.  I told her to activate me on the list (I was on a do not call list, though I was still near the top, they just did not offer any by my choice) and that I would talk to others and pray about this new idea.

I talked with quite a few close friends and family.  Each one seemed very supportive of the idea, including my kidney and medical specialists.  It is kind of strange how not long ago the advise was to not take a cadaver kidney, and now that seems to be what everybody is comfortable with me doing.  Obviously, it is because of what I have been through so far, but I also wonder what God might be up to in the process.  He is always at work growing His likeness in our lives and so I am trying to wait patiently to see what He is up to.

Here is an interesting thought: I have already been given the best kidney I can possibly get on this planet and it lasted only six days.  I may (miraculously) get another perfect match from a stranger, but it will still not be the same as from a living sibling.  Getting a cadaver kidney is less than ideal according to statistics. Cadaver kidneys do not generally last as long as a living donation kidney.  If God is not in control, then I am in big trouble because according to the general rule of thumb, I won’t last more than 6 days with this new kidney.  Perhaps God wants to show that He does things His way and He can make the less likely to be successful become successful.  Or, perhaps His plan is to fail this next kidney too and leave me with a lifetime of dialysis and discomfort.  I don’t know His plan, I just wait for Him to unfold it.

Three turned down kidneys: So I have been active on the list now for 2 weeks and have already turned down 3 kidneys.  We have been praying and asking God to let us know which is the right one.  So far, He has made that very easy.  The three kidneys I have been offered, while they are examined and tested and found to be healthy, had less than desirable backgrounds.  Their owners had drug use or high blood-pressure in their lives.  Both of these factors pose a degree of risk to me as the recipient so I turned them down (as Jefferson assumed I would).  Because I am at the top of the list, I will be offered many kidneys.  I can turn down as many as I want, so, as I mentioned, we are praying and waiting.  If they call, and it is the right one, I am in surgery within hours.  So we are living each day, knowing that I could get a call at any time.  It is exciting, tiring and weird all at the same time.

What’s on my mind: While all of this is a strange turn of events and while I am not sure which kidney to “choose”, there is really something more on mind.  If this is God’s plan, then that means there is someone out there, probably under age 30 that is living their life not knowing that they will be giving me a kidney soon.  They are in their last 10, 20 30 or so days of life.  They are young and healthy and will likely die tragically soon.  I have been praying for this person regularly now for two weeks.  Praying for their loved ones left behind and praying for their spirit.  I pray that they will be at peace with those they love and more importantly with God.  Each time I get a call, I learn about the person and a bit of who they are and how they died.  I have each time felt compelled to pray for their family and friends as they are grieving.

Would you commit to pray with me for these two items?
1.  Pray for this mystery person who will eventually lose their life and give me mine?  Pray for their family and friends and pray for their spiritual health.
2. Pray for the family and friends of each person who dies while I wait.  I will let you know each time so you can pray for those left to grieve.

Thank you,
wes©