A Daughter's Gift

Hardly noted this week in the news was the death of Dr. Jean Dausett, the French Nobel laureate who discovered the human antigen, or HLA, system on human tissue typing for transplant possible. He died in Mallorca, Spain, he was 92 years old.
Without his discovery of the antigen and how they relate in the process of transplantation, the world would be different indeed. To Dr. Jean Dausett and family I say thank you for all his hardwork and appauld his efforts in making the transplant world a better place.

I would like to end this week's blog on a positive note.
Thursday night is my Bible study and I meet with about 130 women. It is a good day for me as I am focused on my prayer life and giving back in some way.
I was to make the announcements that night, and ran into a friend I had not seen for a few weeks. I inquired about how she was and if she had been sick. Very quietly she said no "I just had surgery.". I asked what kind of surgery and she replied. "I just gave my father a kidney." Well she saw the look on my face I enveloped her and gave her a much needed hug. We both started to cry and I quickly explained my story to her. I was going to the front to do the announcements and she walked off and went to the back of the room. I was suddenly struck that the announcements could wait and I asked her to come forward, she did so, but was very shy and seemed humbled by the whole experience. I introduced Darnell to all and explained what she had done for her father and what my son had done for me. She got a much deserved standing ovation and went to her seat feeling filled up. If we don't ask people questions, or welcome into our hearts we can miss some great stories. Be a friend, lend an ear and your heart. You will be surprised about what you hear. Stay open for those blessed moments.

Darnell is not just a beautiful young woman on the outside, but it's her beautiful heart, and generous spirit that will forever stay with me. A daughter's gift, what courage it took to give this gift of life to the one who gave you life.

Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen (Romans 15:33)

The Gift that Heals - Reg Green

The Gift that Heals is a wonderfully compiled book of stories of those who have received a transplant. Written by Reg Green, a father who's commitment to his son's tragic death will inspire the reader and help people understand the need that is out there for organ donation.

None of us like to think about the possibility of death let alone giving ourselves away so to speak. But one person can change so many lives.

101,000 people wait everyday for the gift of life...A gift that will change their lives forever.

In todays world with all our new technology, we are better prepared and informed about organ and tissue donation. Please take a moment and think about your own life and the lives of others. We are here to make a difference in the world. Consider being any organ donor.

My own story is about receiving a kidney from a live donor, my son. In "Waiting to Die, Wanting to Live" the story of a dying mother and a drug addicted son comes together and concludes with the fact that we saved each other. He saved me with his kidney, I saved him because he had to clean himself up to give me the gift of life.
He remains sober, I am still here writing my story and feeling blessed everyday that I have been given more time.

Read the heartwarming and sometimes gut wrenching stories that will change the way you may look at organ donation. Click on my Valuable Resource... The Gift that Heals and take a look at the story of Nicholas and the unselfish sacrifice made by a loving and giving father and his family.

"Waiting To Die, Wanting To Live"

The journey of writing my first manuscript has been an on going forever changing, evolution of experiences. The world of organ donation and transplant is very close to my heart. It has been a passion for me since I first sat in a chair to receive kidney dialysis, looking around the room and watching everyone including myself hooked up to a machine, caused me to pause and wonder silently was this what I wanted my life to look like?

Since writing "Waiting To Die, Wanting To Live" my passion for living and following what God and the universe present has taken me on the most amazing journey of love and faith. A journey of living in the NOW and giving thanks daily for the time I have been given.

So here I am sitting at a computer sharing on a blog what I feel and telling the world what it is I want to share. A computer I didn't even know how to turn on two years ago.

One of my favorite bible verses:

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your path. (Proverbs. 3:5,6 KJV)

We live in an uncertain world, it's important for me to have a soft place to fall when life just behaves as life should. I choose "to walk in love."