The Gift of Life

I know Tara is going to just love me for posting this picture. (Don't Do Drugs Kids!! This is what happens when you're on morphine for 4 days straight). So why was my sister on morphine for 4 straight days you wonder? Well, because my sister chose to give the gift of life. Tara went in on Tuesday April 15th to donate her kidney to her dear friend Alvin.

Alvin has been on dialysis for several years and has gone through 54 donors. He was hospitalized earlier this year for 6 weeks, and his wife Candice knew that if they didn't find a donor soon, it would be too late.

Tara soon learned that she was a match for Alvin and the surgery was scheduled. After a day of grueling patience, tolerance and prayer we were finally told that everything went well. Tara's kidney was transplanted in Alvin and it immediately began working. Tara spent 3 hours in recovery and was then brought to her room. She really struggled with this hospital stay. She was struggling to breathe and was in some intense pain for the first few days. We struggled with the nursing staff to do their jobs correctly and really struggled with the lack of communication the whole medical staff seemed to suffer from. I have never seen a hospital floor run so inadequately, it was rather horrifying knowing that my sister's life dangled in their incompetent hands. Once we were finally able to get Tara to a stable point we asked for her immediate release. And again, this seemed to be too much for the nursing staff to handle. But once we were able to put the nightmare behind us and Tara came home, her recovery has been making leaps and bounds. As for Alvin, his recovery seemed to be advancing faster than Tara's and it was wonderful to see the immediate difference the kidney made in his life. Everyday he looked better and better. To see such the difference this made in his life is just humbling.
I have always known that Tara was a special gift that the Lord placed in my life. That I needed her loving spirit to help guide me along. I take her for granted. I'm so accustomed to always having her in my life, and it never surprises me when she puts others before herself. But this donating a kidney experience has really opened my eyes to how many people in this world don't know what its like to have such a selfless spirit always around. So many times we heard from people what a truly giving person Tara is for doing this transplant, and how they wouldn't be able to it themselves. I caught myself saying (in my head of course) well Duh! Tara would do anything to serve others. But looking at this from an outsiders eyes, it has really opened mine to see how many people truly couldn't do such a selfless act. I know Tara, this is who she is, this is what her spirit is built upon, its why my life has always been so blessed to have her in it. So I need to say Thank You to Alvin and Tara. Thank you for teaching me that everyone here in this world has a specific plan that has been mapped out for them, designed for them by the Lord, to teach and test them. This truly was a specific task the Lord set up for Tara and Alvin to go through. And it was so amazing to see Tara follow through and do what was asked of her and do it with such a loving heart. How grateful I am to have such an amazing example to follow.