Today is a DeBause
holiday- Kidney Day! This is the 8th
anniversary of the day Sawyer received a transplanted kidney from his Hero Mom
(and my beautiful wife) Karen.
Typically, we make much of this day with some type of big adventure ,
but this year the adventure is at home.
Sawyer takes anti-rejection drugs, which suppresses his immune
system. His body can't fight off a virus
like COVID-19. So, we are having an all day party at home. We are having a great time, but it would be
better if we could spend it with some of the awesome people who helped us get
through the hardest parts of Sawyer's kidney failure back in 2011. We still praise God often for them.
One of my favorite
memories of the day the transplant took place was when Sawyer first woke up
from the surgery. It was about two
o'clock in the morning. He was weak and
could hardly speak, but as soon as he opened his eyes, he asked for his Power
Ranger's Sword, Doritos and chocolate milk.
The nurse whispered to me that the doctor would not allow him to eat for
several more hours. However, she was
wrong. Dr. Raafat checked on Sawyer soon
after he awoke and she said, "go for it" in typical, and most awesome, Dr. Raafat style. Within seconds,
Sawyer's fingers were orange and he quickly grew a chocolate milk
mustache.
Typically, Nurse
Ruth provides the chocolate milk and Doritos on this day, but since we can't
pay a visit to CHKD, I picked up some as I hunted for toilet paper (with no
success- dang virus!) this morning.
I hate what's
happening to our world right now.
However, one of the best reminders of Kidney Day for my family is that
no matter how hard and upended our world gets, God doesn't abandon us in the
mess. I hate what Sawyer and Karen went
through and I hate what Sawyer still wrestles with daily, but God gives us much
comfort, joy and strength in the middle of it and one day He will make everything
right again. Until then, we are going to
munch on some Doritos and wash it down with chocolate milk! Happy Kidney Day!
