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| Ken and Roxanne Dancing At Greg's Wedding in 2011 |
Greetings to all who have followed along on this
journey! Some of you are heavily
invested emotionally and others considerably less so. Irrespective of your motivation or involvement, I believe
this is ultimately a story of God’s love and faithfulness towards us, whom He
has created.
As Ken’s sister, I watched this whole process develop
somewhat remotely. I was first
told of his diagnosis years ago by our mom. Most of his early trials and treatments were relayed to me
by her as well. I never thought
much that there would be a time in the future when his disease could progress
to the point of requiring a kidney transplant. Two years ago, at my son Jonathan’s
wedding this became more real to me.
Even then, it still seemed to be a distant and future possibility. But, life raced forward and by the end
of 2010, it became a reality.
Upon finding out that he would
indeed require a kidney transplant, my immediate reaction was that he could
surely have one of mine. Alan (my
husband and a MD) explained to me that a match with a sibling was more probable
than that with his offspring, as siblings are more likely to share similar
genetic material. I felt that I
would be the one to match; and, I was totally at peace with that
possibility. I mentally prepared
for a summer “kidney sharing” event since my schedule and obligations are eased
somewhat then. When I as well as my
other siblings and his children were disqualified because of blood type
incompatibilities, I was stunned; however, the God of heaven and earth most
definitely was not.
The last 18 months or so have been an emotional and physical
roller coaster ride for Ken, Pat, and their loved ones. When the initial testing of Alex and
others proved to be unfruitful, it seemed as if this might be a long and
arduous journey indeed. I enlisted
friends and acquaintances to place Ken on their prayer lists. Those prayers were answered when it was
determined after repeat testing Alex was a great match
and he unselfishly agreed to become a donor. That got me to thinking…what are the chances that someone
from Greenville, SC who is some 30 years younger would be a perfect kidney
donor match for someone in New Orleans, LA? And then, that very person would have been woven into the
life of the one needing his precious kidney? Amazing that Kelly would just so happen want to attend
college at Clemson (don’t most kids from Louisiana want to party at LSU or at
least somewhere closer than South Carolina??), and she would meet, date, move
away from, reconnect with, and ultimately marry Mr. Perfect Tissue Match for
her dad. Or is it? Some may think this is just a great
coincidence. To me, I see the
fingerprints of God ALL over this.
Only He can orchestrate such a grand symphony.
I have been doing a Beth Moore bible study of Daniel this
summer. When Shadrach, Meshach,
and Abednego are thrown into the fiery furnace, Beth points out that there are
3 possible outcomes for each and every one of us when we are subjected to the
fiery furnaces of this life. God
can deliver us from the fire completely which builds our faith. He can deliver us through the fire
which refines our faith. Or, He
can deliver us by the fire into His arms.
Ken seems to have been delivered through the fiery furnace and I pray
that he, as was the case with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, will have “no
smell of fire on him” (Daniel 3:28) and his faith and that of all who read this
will be strengthened and refined.
To God be the glory!
Roxanne
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