Here is a copy of the email I sent out today updating my current health...
For all of my dear friends and family members who continue to pray for me, I wanted to give you an update and share some great news with you.
On Sept 12, I celebrated the 6 year anniversary of my kidney and pancreas transplant. It was a year ago this month that the doctors told me that my kidney and pancreas had failed and I would need to go back on insulin, need dialysis within days and would need a new kidney transplant. Here it is 12 months later and my kidney has actually rejuvenated itself back to the function I had before it went into failure last year. God is good!
Most of you also know that my sight has been impaired for years and for the last 4 years I have not been able to drive. Last month, I was able to have an eye surgery that dramatically improved the vision in my left eye. My vision was 20/200 and I was told the best I could hope for would be 20/100. The day after surgery, my vision was 20/40 and one week later, my vision was 20/25!!!! This past Monday, I was able to get my driver's license with no restrictions attached! (Did I mention God is Good)
I wanted to share my good news with all of you to be a testimony to the Lord's work and so that you can witness for yourself the power of your prayers. I feel your prayers every hour of my life as they carry me through each and every trial into triumph.
The LORD is my strength and my shield; My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart exults, And with my song I shall praise Him. Psalm 28:7
Friday, September 19, 2008
Friday, September 12, 2008
Today is my 6 year “Re”-Birthday
It was 6 years ago today on September 12, 2002 that I received a successful kidney and pancreas transplant that dramatically improved my quality of life. After living with Diabetes for over 2o years, the new pancreas set me free of the need for daily insulin shots, finger sticks and special diets while the new kidney gave me normal kidney function so that I could avoid dialysis needed to get rid of the toxins and edema that had accumulated in my blood and body.
The whole experience before, during and after the transplant has indeed been a roller coaster ride with a tremendous amount of ups and downs along with all of the “loop de loops” in between. That’s what amazes me the most, for every trial or “low” I experience, God always counters it with an even greater “high” or miracle. I have been challenged physically, emotionally and spiritually and He has poured His mercy and grace in me. I know some how it was part of His plan that these trials would reveal my true spiritual character, drawing me closer and making me more dependent on him.
As much as today is an anniversary of celebration for me and my family, I could never forget that for another family out there, it is also an anniversary of loss. So today I honor not only my donor but also his family who in a time of loss and sadness, made the selfless decision to donate their loved one’s organs in order to give myself and others a chance to live. I can never explain the love and the appreciation I have for them. I am in absolute awe of the miracle of life where an organ can be taken out of one person and made to live and thrive in another person giving them new life. This can only be the work of God!
I know organ donation is a subject that most people don’t like to talk about but for the sake of those out there who are in such desperate need I feel a need to bring it up. When God decides it is time for us to go and be with him, I can assure you that we won’t be able to take anything but our souls with us, everything else will be left behind. So today, I ask you to go and dig for your driver’s license that is buried deep in your wallet or purse and all stuck to that plastic cover thingy that protects it and take a hard look at it. If you don’t have that little red heart on it indicating that you are an organ donor, I urge to run, not walk to the OMV office and have that changed and tell your next of kin of your wishes. You can save someone’s life, I am living proof of that!!
http://www.lopa.org
The whole experience before, during and after the transplant has indeed been a roller coaster ride with a tremendous amount of ups and downs along with all of the “loop de loops” in between. That’s what amazes me the most, for every trial or “low” I experience, God always counters it with an even greater “high” or miracle. I have been challenged physically, emotionally and spiritually and He has poured His mercy and grace in me. I know some how it was part of His plan that these trials would reveal my true spiritual character, drawing me closer and making me more dependent on him.
As much as today is an anniversary of celebration for me and my family, I could never forget that for another family out there, it is also an anniversary of loss. So today I honor not only my donor but also his family who in a time of loss and sadness, made the selfless decision to donate their loved one’s organs in order to give myself and others a chance to live. I can never explain the love and the appreciation I have for them. I am in absolute awe of the miracle of life where an organ can be taken out of one person and made to live and thrive in another person giving them new life. This can only be the work of God!
I know organ donation is a subject that most people don’t like to talk about but for the sake of those out there who are in such desperate need I feel a need to bring it up. When God decides it is time for us to go and be with him, I can assure you that we won’t be able to take anything but our souls with us, everything else will be left behind. So today, I ask you to go and dig for your driver’s license that is buried deep in your wallet or purse and all stuck to that plastic cover thingy that protects it and take a hard look at it. If you don’t have that little red heart on it indicating that you are an organ donor, I urge to run, not walk to the OMV office and have that changed and tell your next of kin of your wishes. You can save someone’s life, I am living proof of that!!
http://www.lopa.org
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