Saturday, December 13, 2014

Yes, it really is more

This day every year -- lucky Dec. 13 -- I ask my friends to say thank you with me.

Thank you God.

No really…..

Thank you.

Long story short. (As my sister says, and then it's still long.)

It was a snowy day in Minneapolis. Rachel got her dad's kidney. It took about 8 hours to fit it inside her teeny tiny abdominal cavity.

Nineteen years later, that kidney is still working like a charm.


I have to give lots of people credit. Doug Fitzwater, her truly invested pediatric nephrologist in Mississippi. Dr. Tom Nevins, our longtime friend and care-giver in Minneapolis. Dr. Jon Najarian, the surgeon who skillfully inserted hundreds, maybe thousands, of kidneys into the abdomens of tots who came to his world-renown hospital at the University of Minnesota.

But God gave them all their gifts. And for that we are more than grateful.

Not long ago Jeff Clark said miracles happen every day -- not usually in a magical, fairytale way, but when people step in and meet a need they see that needs meeting. 

My friends did that in countless ways -- prayer chief among them.

The doctors. Her donor dad. The hand-holders. Oh the hand-holders …..

Lori, who I didn't even know at the time, gave me a picture of angels. Tracy Traylor, herself a miracle, fashioned an angel crib ornament. 

There were countless blood-givers and note-writers. There were tree decorators and pound cake-makers. There was Mark McIntosh, who brought me a single serving supper in the hospital room. And Forrest, who called and came by and marveled that anybody could stay in a hospital room with a baby that long. 

There was Elmo. And Cookie Monster.

All helped with the miracle.

Thank you.