Everyone is willing to make sacrifices for their family and friends, but few really have the opportunity to prove it!  In the past few days, I have had the great privilege to witness an enormous sacrifice, literally in the flesh.

My younger sister had surgery on September 30, 2016 and donated her kidney to a friend.  Her friend is now my friend, and they have become family to one another.  He is a young man that she just met last Spring.  He is kind, intelligent, giving . . . a coach and teacher, with a lovely fiance and a great family.  He has been suffering from kidney issues for many years and has endured dialysis 3 times a week ever since his kidneys completely failed.  The process wiped him out and made him feel ill.  But now, he has the opportunity to live a normal life again!  He and his fiance are looking forward to their wedding and honeymoon without having to schedule dialysis treatments while out of town.

The love for our fellow man and the faith in God that I have seen in the last few days is inspiring, to say the least!  Immediately after the kidney was transplanted into his body, it started functioning!  The amazing transplant surgeons at The Ohio State University are very optimistic that this procedure will be a complete success!  I was there to watch Jenny and Q hold hands in the recovery room after they woke up from surgery . . . Q thanked her over and over, Jenny cried, and they told each other that they are connected forever.  I saw God in that moment.  It was beautiful.

I am humbled by this experience.  Their recoveries have just begun, but it will all be worth it.  I look forward to watching both of these extraordinary people live their lives and touch those around them, having been blessed by love for each other.  I will never forget this lesson if I am ever challenged to give of myself for others as I go through my life.