We hope your morning is as full of sunshine as ours! 
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Today is the big day for Dave’s two brothers. Dave’s younger brother, Steve, is donating a kidney to Dave’s older brother, Wes. They are in surgery now. Please pray that all goes well with both surgeries, recoveries, and that Wes’s body accepts the new kidney.
Once upon a time, there were three brothers. They all had kidneys that worked just fine.
One day, the eldest brother’s kidneys began to fail. Doctors told him that he’d need a transplant very soon. The other two brothers were tested and both were considered matches. And so there was great discussion among the three brothers about donating a kidney to the eldest brother and which of the brothers would donate.
But as these discussions took place, the kidneys of the eldest brother stabilized. They weren’t particularly effective. Yet they weren’t bad enough to warrant an immediate transplant. One day passed. Then a week. A month. A year. God had stood time still, or so it seemed. Talk of a transplant dissipated.
Almost ten years later, the kidneys of the eldest brother once again began their downward spiral and discussions about a transplant ensued. The youngest brother stepped forward and said he would be the one to donate one of his kidneys. They scheduled the transplant for April 20, 2010. They underwent additional tests to prepare for the surgery.
Now…they wait.
Lord willing, my two brothers will go under the knife one week from today and my younger brother, Steve, will donate one of his kidneys to my older brother, Wes.
I humbly request that you join me in prayer for this surgery, that all will go well and that both of my brothers will recover quickly and fully. My prayer is that come this time next week, I’ll have two brothers, each of whom has one perfectly healthy kidney.
Thanks,
Dave
Elise, a six year old with Tay Sachs, is not doing well right now. Her dad posted this on her caringbridge site today:
I hate to write this, but we need to. Elise is doing really bad now. Her O2 sats are not coming up, and she is severely anemic. We can’t do much else for her now except keep her comfortable and prepare for the end. I wish we didn’t have to let her go, but it has to happen, I guess. We’ll let you know what happens as time progresses. She’s on oxygen and just had some morphine to help calm her. —John
Elise’s 7th birthday is a week from Friday. Please pray for Elise and her family. I am praying that Elise will pull through this and her family will be able to joyfully celebrate her 7th birthday. And I’m praying that Elise will be comfortable and that her family will feel God’s love, comfort and peace.
Update Tuesday night from Elise’s parents:
With an aching heart…Elise officially earned her angel wings at 7:07 p.m. She was being held by John and I as she took her last breath, surrounded by her loving family and friends. Rest in peace Sweet Angel.
Lately both Dave and I have been feeling overwhelmed. We are in survival mode, not thriving mode. Are we going to make it is a question we often ask. If yes, how?
Recently, Carlos over at ragamuffinsoul.com posted perhaps his best blog ever. I’ll send you over there but in quick summary, Carlos had an amazing encounter with a homeless guy named Danny. Most of us wouldn’t think that a homeless guy is exactly making it in life but Danny would disagree. He actually told Carlos that he is not just trying to make it, he is making it. And that God says, yea though you walk through the valley of the shadow of death… and He places some of us in that valley.
I’m still not sure how we are going to make it through this valley but if Danny is making it, I pray Dave and I will too.
We sure could use your prayers for strength for each day.
Click here to read Carlos’ blog and watch the AMAZING video of Carlos and Danny.
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Dave would certainly appreciate your prayers too. He went to the doctor this morning and has bronchitis. He started an antibiotic today and hopefully it will work fast!
Thanks to Tammy and Jason for the delicious chili, cornbread and salad. I am just about to go eat more for lunch!
