Kidney Day!

     

     Two years ago on this day, my hero wife Karen donated her kidney to our son Sawyer. So, today we celebrate New Life Day or, as Sawyer affectionately refers to it, "Kidney Day". 

     In some respects the two years have gone by quickly.  However, Sawyer suffered so much between the kidney failure and transplant, that it seems like a very distant memory now.  Distance is good.  We can appreciate looking back only to realize how far God has carried us since those difficult days.  We are grateful for where we are today.

     Sawyer's kidney has been performing like a champ.  What more could you expect considering the awesome (and beautiful) donor?  All of his labs have been very encouraging and we are praying that Sawyer's new (46 year old) kidney will last much longer than expected.  We hope he sets a few new records in the transplant world.

     We've known since birth that Sawyer was a fighter. Really, it's God's grace on him as He equipped Sawyer for the battles he has already fought and the war ahead. 

     Day to day, Sawyer does very well, but he is still challenged with the genetic syndrome that continues to plague his body. In recent months Sawyer has started to become more aware of his limitations or at least he communicates his frustration and disappointment more often.  Recently he stood at the doorway looking out with tears in his eyes as his friends played in our front yard at sundown.  He said to Karen, "I can't see.  I'm different than everybody else. I hate that I can't see.  Can we talk to the doctor about fixing it?"  Sawyer's genetic syndrome causes him night blindness and severe myopia. 

     Also, in the last few months, he has been struggling through pain in his legs and hips.  This is most likely from the bone dysplasia which is also caused by his genetic syndrome. Being the tough guy he is, we really don't know how much pain he wrestles with physically and emotionally, but we know it's daily. 

     Sawyer is so tough.  I vividly remember him waking up from transplant surgery asking for his sword, chocolate milk and Doritos.  He could barely speak.  He only had one arm mobile and he was hardly strong enough to use it.  However, he did use that one arm to wield his sword, gulp down the chocolate milk and Doritos (his first meal post-surgery) and lick the Dorito dust off of his fingers (his favorite part of the Dorito experience).

     Tonight, we celebrate New Life Day with chocolate milk and Doritos (maybe a few wings too).  We are grateful for God's faithfulness and provision to this family.  We cherish everyday with each other. 

     Thank you for your continued prayers for Sawyer.  We are overwhelmed and greatly blessed by the number of people who pray for him often and some still pray daily. So many have walked this journey with us and we cherish you too