DONOR CONTACT! and ....

Well, it happened! The donor sent an email response!  Wow...still so surreal.  She said it took her awhile to translate..she speaks only German..Her daughter had to translate.  She was so happy Abbey and I wanted to be in touch. Her return words were touching..a bit fragmented due to the German to English barriers...in brief,  she said "she would do it again, to her a matter of course to help another human being..it was a gift from God." As I have mentioned, when she sent the first generic letter shortly after Becky's transplant, you could see her faith, she even quoted from Joshua.  It was an indelible, momentous day when Becky received this first letter in the hospital..especially since she was experiencing a down day, a down week.  These words were medicine to Becky.  AND! the irony, incredible timing is today OCT 9th,  is the 4 year anniversary of the actual stem cell transplant!  Amazing...
As I see the email from this earth angel, I feel as if I am injected with a smile serum, for that is all I could do when I saw her return email and when I showed it to Abbey..I/we just smiled and expressed a gratefulness for her wanting to be in touch and it really happening.  I also thought of how my sweetie would want Abbey and I to began a bridge, a bond with her donor.  I know Becky would of course want to do this herself.  We are excited.  We will do our best to communicate via the English/German..German/English translations.  No matter, we will make it work.  And perhaps one day, yes one day, we will meet.  I want to do this..I truly do.  Always wanted to do an extensive European visit, perhaps the first stop will be Germany!  And I amusingly add...Lautenschlager (also Lautenschleger)  was the 'root' of Lauten..and there are still Lautenschlager's  in Germany.  It means to 'play the lute'. 
So, as I conclude this writing, I rolodex the days when the stem cell donation was getting precarious, a seriousness was beginning to evolve when matches were just not matched enough.  Then, here comes the day when we find a match!  And I vividly see the day when that reddish/pinkish bag entered the room and then placed on the med tower, almost like a trophy set pridefully on the top shelf or mantel, then the line protruding from the 'life-bag' was connected to Becky's line...and there they were as Becky called them..'little soldiers marching in' and that's what it appeared to be..for you could see small, small white circles, red circles..liquid taking the ride downward into this other vein structure or territory, making their way to the organs, to the muscles, to the extremities.. They were magnificent..And we just stopped, paused and gave great thanks for this mountaintop moment.  And now, as the 4th anniversary is here, of Becky receiving these life sustaining cells, I pause again, with emotion, with thanks, with head shaking, incredible humility at the entire process.  Oh God, thank you for this sweet, sweet selfless person, for those researchers, physicians, hospitals, clinicians, nurses, donors of time and finances, volunteers who actually pick-up, deliver these stem cells, the pilots, the drivers who make this all happen.  And even though sweet, Godly, wonderful Becky is not here today, I know she would want to me to say the above and more,,thank you for the prayers of many, and I add this stem cell donation was a 99.9% success.  Indelible is the day when Dr. Snyder came in the room and smiled as he stated this percentage.  These life-giving cells, they went in and made a home, but we were warned numerous times that graft vs. host disease can truly rear it's head and it did.  It can be a post transplant havoc-producing 'monster'..But we know without the infusion of the stem cells, life would have indeed been dramatically altered..In my amateurish opinion, I medically go out on a limb and say Becky's life would have been radically altered, perhaps shortened within the framework count of months or weeks accuracy.  Again, I cannot say this for sure..but we know, the only, the only curative option was the stem cell transplant.  And to the donor, I exclaim, I scream!  I thank the Lord Jesus for your selfless giving.  This uncertain, mysterious world is better off, my wife's, Abbey's Mom's life was enriched with your humble giving, your deep, deep and thoughtful heart. 

Onward, forward..Celebrate this life and a great hope..

Bill

Abbey speak school...

Abbey spoke at her school recently..she actually gave her testimony, her 'story'.  She was asked to do so by a teacher and also prompted by a sweet, dear friend.  First time a student has actually done this at her school chapel time.  We, of course, discussed it the night before..  Went over some main points, childhood, adolescence and the intricate journey of Mom's illness and subsequent passing.  Just what Abbey felt during this 3 to 4 year journey...how she wanted to stay a little girl but knew she had to be young lady.  How she prayed, and though extremely difficult, she still saw God's guiding hand in the days and nights of hospital visits, even in the uncertainties of just what tomorrow would hold, and yes, there were some soul piercing, heart crushing moments, days, weeks in ICU,  but she still kept a 'faith'..a prayer life..
 She said the 20 mins she had to speak went well..she was humbled before and after.  Humbled to do this and humbled to receive the heartfelt comments afterward.  It was the first time for this testimony..and yes, she was very nervous, but she barely looked at her notes and indeed felt the Holy Spirit speaking through her, leading, comforting, guiding her.
It was a monumental moment for her.  It was deep, heavy but also cleansing. 
I did not go and its OK...she harbored some trepidation in my possibly coming..seeing my face could possibly alter her personal course, the words, the emotion..and I was indeed down with that, I get it, thus I just prayed all would go well and took a big walk. She needed this moment all to herself.  All hers..all good.  We are big boys and girls.  This was what the moment required.
She was exhausted.  She went to a two hour cheer practice in the afternoon and got the physical workout coupled with earlier mental..yeah she's sleeping good as I write this.
Indeed, I am proud of her.  I thank the Lord for her wanting to do this, though with some reluctance.  She trusted it would be OK and it was.    This life dictates trust.  God we trust in you.

DONOR:  No word yet, no email return.  Hopefully soon. I may even send another email with a few words translated in German.  Stay tuned.  Danke..(thank you)

Onward forward...Hope and pray all is well with you and yours..
Have some fun..

Bill