The Power of Prayer??

I just have to tell this story because it just hit me so profoundly that I can't help but think it was a small miracle. This week I was involved in doing a donor that was the victim of a violent attack by a driver in a vehicle. Essentially the guy was in the wrong place at the wrong time and was run down and suffered major injuries. When my company was referred he had beaten the odds to make it over a week but had irreversible abdominal and chest injuries. After discussing the case over a period of three days with my supervisor we decided to continue to pursue it because the guy was young and he had a rare blood type. Never in a million years did we think any center would take his organs. At that point the only organ that seemed suitable for transplant was his heart. Well, he progressed to brain death and again we discussed whether or not to even offer the opportunity to this family, fearing it wouldn't be possible due to the nature of his injuries. I called numerous transplant centers and only one said they "may" be interested so with that we chose to ask the family if they would be interested in donation. This again was another long shot because they were a very traditional, hispanic family that typically always say no. However, that day by the luck of the draw our very best family support person was sent to Bakersfield to speak to the family. After 5 minutes he had a yes and we went ahead and began the workup. After meeting with the patient's family to discuss his history there were so many factors that should have ruled him out but it turned out that it was always missed by the allotted cut off dates and he was good to go. At that time, this family specialist said, "this was meant to happen, for him to come this far and not have this case shut down." We all laughed and said probably so. Well, we worked him up and sent out the offers to the local transplant centers. Right away number 1 on the list accepted and we were ready to go. Hours before OR the transplant team called and said that when they went to change the IV lines on the patient who was going to receive the heart and his values were critical and he could no longer accept the heart and that they would have to take it for number 2. The catch was number 2 had some rare antibodies that could make transplant difficult and we had to run more tests. To make a long story short, everything worked out beautifully and they were able to take the heart for number 2. This gentleman was another young man, a father of three with his youngest just 2 months old. This was his last chance to live as he was told he had days left to be with his family. When I heard this it just amazed me that after all the attempts and factors involved in this case that should have closed it, we made it to OR to save this man's life. Someone, somewhere definitely had him in prayer because it was a miracle that this man had another chance at life. I love my job!!!

I'm in Trouble

The other night I was getting the kids to bed and walked in the girl's room and found Caelyn in this position and thought, the poor girl doesn't stand a chance. Growing up with a bunch of tweens has got my four year old stricken with Bieber fever, Katy Perry soundtracks and an obsession with Jacob Black and kissing. My baby is only a baby in size. This four year old is going on fourteen!!