I have only shared this with a few people to date – it feels funny ‘broadcasting’ it….but the time has come to ask for prayer.
“Prayer does not fit us for the greater work. Prayer is the greater work,” – Oswald Chambers.
Short: I am donating a kidney for a friend’s son. At least 4 surgeries/people will be affected.
Long: [Specific prayer requests at the bottom if you want to skip the backstory]
My friend Lindsey’s son is in need of yet another kidney. He is only 14 years old and currently living with his second transplant—one that is failing and needs to be replaced very, very soon. I don’t have the space here to tell the full story of what Aiden and his family have endured over the years, but as you can imagine, it has involved immense pain, patience, and provision.
Anyone who has known me for long knows our own story and how God has provided for my son. This is the simplest glimpse I can manage of how our God stories are now intersecting. To know Lindsey and her boys is to love them. It is an honor to share this journey with them.
God has invited me to be part of Aiden’s journey. My surgery will be at Mayo (date TBD), where a single kidney donation impacted as many as eight people. (My mom is not impressed by these statistics.) How cool is that?! It is quite overwhelming.
Let me be clear: this was not “my idea.” A few months ago, it became crystal clear that God was inviting me into this. Over the past few years, I’ve sensed several invitations from God—on what I would call “minor” things. Each time, I responded by arguing with, and ultimately refusing, the Creator of the universe. My responses ranged from “Nah, I’m probably making this up” to a firm “Nope, I’m not doing that, Lord.” Every refusal left me with a lingering sense of letdown—not condemnation, not disappointment—but the unmistakable feeling that I had missed out on something. A missed invitation to abide more deeply with my Father. This time, I’m choosing obedience.
I’ve told God it would be pretty great if this turned into an Abraham-and-Isaac moment—where I get to be willing and obedient, and then God releases me from actually doing it because something better for Aiden came along. I also prayed that if this wasn’t truly from Him, the door would be unmistakably slammed shut (my Father knows I can be a bit obtuse). I’m leaving out many details for the sake of brevity, but after multiple stages of testing and the most thorough physical exam imaginable at Mayo—with not a single hiccup—the door remains wide open.
So… here we go!
Prayer Requests:
1) Aiden gets a quick match once I have my surgery, which enters us both into the National Kidney Registry.
I am what is called a “voucher donor” because I’m not a direct match for him. This still takes time. If I were a perfect match we’d get surgery the same day.
Living kidney donation drastically cuts wait times from years (often 3-5+) for deceased donors to weeks or months. 6,000-7,000 living donor transplants happen annally in the U.S., significantly helping the over 90,000 people on the kidney transplant waiting list, and offering superior immediate function (97%) as well as better long-term outcomes for recipients compared to deceased donors.
2) That Aiden can sustain the wait with full functioning as an active teenager and without needing additional support, like dialysis.
3) That Aiden’s surgery is successful without a hitch.
4) That my kidney recipient will be successful in accepting my kidney.
5) That the person who is donating directly to Aiden will have a successful surgery without a hitch.
6) That my surgery goes without a hitch.
7) That everyone’s recovery is quick and seamless, with fully restored functioning.
8) That I don’t go crazy not being able to work out for 6-8 weeks.
9) That I don’t gain weight not being able to work out for 6-8 weeks. Seriously.
10) That the many, many doctors and nurses that will be involved in at least 4 surgeries will sleep well the night before and be clear-headed and on-point.
11) That God would provide His peace for the family members impacted by each of these surgeries.
12) That funds would be available to support each family for the missed work and other expenses not covered by insurance.
13) That God would magnify the obedience and patience of His people for His Kindgom.
Learn to hear God’s voice, which is unique to you. If you already know, always be listening!
Do not overlook the smallest details, it doesn’t have to make sense. These details add up, and you’ll see them when you look backwards, in time. Just take that next step, there is tremendous blessing just in the mere act of accepting and obeying.
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