Friday, July 18, 2008

One more request

I have one more prayer request, similar to the previous post.

However, this girl (CF patient) is listed for a lung transplant, but has been waiting for 2 years and has had 7 "false alarms." I haven't known her very long. However, for the amount of time I have spent with her, we have a lot of things in common. She is my age (well, 1 yr. younger to be exact), and is rapidly deteriorating as well. She's been listed on the list for about 2 years, and has been called in 7 times for possible lungs. However, each time, the lungs are either bad, or another candidate is a better match. She is on oxygen 24/7 and is beginning to be confined to her own home. She has no energy and desperately needs this transplant. Her lung functions are almost non-existent and have been decreasing dramatically. She's trying to keep attending college, but is having a hard time doing so, and will probably not be able to continue until she gets transplanted. To be called in 7 times (and 3 of them have been in the last 3 months)...I can't even imagine what it's like. And to think that there hasn't been a match, is even harder to imagine. But I know God has a reason for it.

I've mentioned to her before about living donor transplants. She has kept the subject in the back of her mind, but hasn't really pursued anything. Well today, we talked for about 30 minutes (she's in the hospital now) about it. And I think she is more interested in it now, because she is so desperate for a transplant and is so sick, that she will do anything to get those lungs. Her mom is not a match, and her Dad passed away about 7 years ago. She does have some relatives and friends that might be possible matches.

To be even considered a donor, you must be in perfect health/shape and undergo rigorous testing, almost as much as the recipient. It's taken very seriously, but is one of the most rewarding experiences.

Like I said in the previous post, God is in control. He already knows what's going to happen. But just because he knows that, doesn't mean we can't pray and hope for the best. So again, if you feel led, please pray for a transplant soon for this girl. And if a cadaver transplant is not meant to be, that she can proceed with a living donor transplant. She's really anxious and excited to get this process going.

1 comments:

Unknown said...

I was sorry to read this post- a close friend of mine got his transplant on the seventh call. By that point, they'd go to the hospital almost with the expectation that it wasn't going to happen. I can't imagine hyping yourself up that many times.