so chapter 2, let us begin, it is February, the shortest month of the year...& quite frankly everyone's favorite month because it is Valentine's Day (ok now that we have laughed & i have gagged myself) let us move on...
the topic for the 2nd month of my 30th year, can you guess it --> LOVE (i know uber cliche, but what other month is appropriate to discuss this matter, yeah thats what i thought)...so L-O-V-E it is & anything related to that topic (in like, passion, adoring), & p.s...it will not be the seven stories of how i fell in love, got my heart broken & now am this bitter
so on this first day of the LOVE tour...a story about passion for life...i use the term passion b/c i think it is better fitting when talking about actual life...
...a few years back a very good friend of mine was presented with an amazing opportunity, i say that b/c for her to be involved with this was no less than a miracle that the stars aligned, and she was blessed with this opportunity...remember, "God doesn't bring people in your life that you want but rather those that you need..." & He did that for her...a colleague/friend of hers was diagnosed with a kidney disease and she would now need a transplant or to go on dialysis & wait for a transplant...her family were bad transplant candidates for her due to the fact that this disease is hereditary...so unfortunately her two sons, could develop it as they grow older & most of her siblings have experienced symptoms of this disease and needed the same treatment she was about to go through...
so in passing my friend was speaking to this woman & something inside her was so inclined to say, "well i will get tested..." her friend was shocked & looked at her, like she was a little nuts to act so casually about it...well at that moment she had only agreed to the test...after several tests it was determined that they were a match and the transplant could take place...& she decided she was all in...
my friend told her family, and her parents were apprehensive, they knew (she knew) this was a big decision & that their worries were real, what if she got sick, but she knew God would take care of her, & she was fortunate to be surrounded by family & friends that if she got sick or needed a kidney, someone would step up to the plate...she knew deep in her heart that God made this happen, this wasn't her...& especially since her cousin got sick and she could do nothing, this was her way of helping him...
so, feb. 1st 2008, my friend donated her kidney to another friend...& she is happy to report that the woman (thank God) is doing well, which makes her friend's heart sore; many of her friends were in awe, told her how brave she was for doing this deed...i remember having a conversation with her, and she told me that she was not responsible for this, that God made it all happen, He brought this person in her life, so she could help someone when she felt so completely helpless, He allowed for her to be completely at peace through the whole process, even as she was moments before the surgery, He made sure that everything matched up, He allowed for to say yes, He guided the surgeon's hand, and He watched them recover, & move on with their lives, so that her friend could see her boys grow, & be with her family, and husband, & do what she loves to do, live life...(she also added, "how else do you think i am going to get to heaven:)!"
so where do i fit in or what do i love, it is the passion for life, donating life... "more than 110,000 men, women, & children are waiting for organ transplants to save their lives, this does not include the thousands that are waiting for cornea & tissue transplantation to restore their sight and mobility..."
not saying run & donate an eye ball, all you have to do is register to be an organ donor, you can do it at your local BMV, or go on-line (yes i am including the website) to http://donatelife.net/ and register...& if you are already a donor, thank you for having the same passion as my friend, so many others and myself have...this website also explains the process of organ/tissue donation, & can provide many truths when there are a lot of myths out there...all you are saying is yes, & then have that discussion with your family, & tell them what your decision is (b/c God forbid) if there is a moment where a life is lost you have an AHH-MAZING opportunity, just as my friend was blessed with, to have a passion for life & give life...
(realizing i sound like a PBS special, or that commercial with Sarah McLachlan where she is trying to save dogs, here are a few more statistics, & no all my loves for this month aren't this deep, but what a way to start off February)...
Statistics--> (as of Jan. 2012)
112,657 patients waiting
62,648 multicultural patients
1,800 pediatric patients
21,354 organ transplants performed in 2011
10,558 organ donors in 2011
my passion for life, is loving life <3!
<3 CC
Your friend sounds like a wonderful person!!!!!! xoxo
ReplyDeleteYour friend is amazing and someone that marvels me daily. If I had half the strength of her I would be so lucky. What your friend did was continue life and love, something we often take for granted. Thank you for donating your life to save another. An Angel and blessing to so many.
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