God Does Amazing Work (and sometimes He uses us)

Well, I have been trying to figure out how to blog this kidney journey which has transformed from a journey with my husband donating his kidney to our journey with me donating mine.

It's hard for me to put this post out there.  My fears are of the people who say "that is so selfless, amazing, wonderful, you are a saint."  My fear is also of the people who say "Have you thought about your kids & husband, what if (insert any number of possible ways I could damage my one remaining kidney), Are you sure you aren't trying to play God, why doesn't your husband step up and stop you from doing this?"

These are all comments I have received from family and friends and my fear is that I rarely know how to respond.  I think my response to all comments I receive should be:


God is doing amazing things all the time, and I'm blessed that He sees fit at this moment in time to use me in His plan for Kathy's health.

So, as God has opened all of the doors necessary for this kidney donation and transplant to occur, I ask for your prayers.  The surgeries will take place in a week on January 10th.  So, please pray for Kathy and myself as we both undergo surgery.  Pray also for Kathy as she prepares to receive my kidney. Currently she continues on dialysis and is going through a process called plasmapheresis before she can receive my kidney.  Both of us will need to recover from surgery and my body will need to adjust to the one kidney while Kathy's body will need to adjust to my kidney.  I also believe she will need more plasmapheresis treatments for a week post transplant, and will need to remain in the hospital much longer than myself as she adjusts to the kidney, anti rejection drugs etc.  In all of this I also ask for prayer that we would both grow closer to God through this, and that we would not forget that it is His amazing work at hand here.

With all of the physical needs with donation and transplantation, I can't help but recognize that the physical needs are just temporary needs, but our spiritual needs are eternal. 

Romans 8:18 - "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us."

Thankfully God's word is true, and while God is doing something amazing in my life and in Kathy's, I know I will fall and have fallen short in many ways.  I make poor decisions, I forget to call on the One who is faithful, compassionate, gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in love.  I could go on and on about how I will fail God, but thankfully God will never fail me.

"...be content with what you have, for He has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5b

Pray for hearts to be forever changed and please remember what is amazing in all of this kidney stuff is all of the work God is doing in the midst of what physically is a lousy situation.  But God can use this situation for His good purpose.  "For those who love [Him] all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." - Romans 8:28.

As Kathy and I head into life changing surgeries on January 10th, I know that "It is the LORD who goes before [us]. He will be with [us]; He will not leave [us] or forsake [us]. [Therefor we will] not fear or be dismayed.” - Deuteronomy 31:8

Insert funny kidney joke here, but they're really hard to find.  The best I could do was this picture:

I guess for me it's technically Goodbye 😭

Thanks for praying!

1 John 1 - "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

Romans 8:1-2 - "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.  For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death."