Transplant Day – Please Join Me In Prayer

There are so many miracles taking place around us each and every day. Today a miracle will be taking place for my friend, Jerry Clayworth, who I introduced to you back in June (see post here).

When I told you about my dear teddy bear friend and his need of a kidney transplant so many of you sent wonderful comments to him and donated financially towards his goal of getting a kidney transplant. I can’t thank you enough for that. Well all of your prayers and financial aid are going to be a part of this miracle today! My sweet friend is receiving a kidney transplant TODAY!

So this morning all I’m asking is if you can take a quick moment to bow your head and lift up his name in prayer as well as his friend, David Ray, who is donating one of his own kidneys in order to give Jerry the gift of life!

To David – I’ve never met you before but this stranger wants to tell you that I think you are a true angel. Thank you for your unbelievable selflessness for my friend.

Lastly, I thought I’d share with you what Jerry wrote today before heading to the hospital because it truly gives you a glimpse at the big heart that he has!

Please feel free to leave comments as well to cheer Jerry and David on and they can read them during recovery! THANK YOU EVERYONE!

This will be my last pre-transplant post, as in just a few short hours, my dear friend, David Ray, and I will be walking into the hospital for our kidney transplant! After leaving the dialysis center today, for (hopefully) the very last time, I went by the hotel where David and Lori are staying, and we spent some time reflecting, joking around, and orchestrating our own 3-person pep rally. I can’t tell you how much these wonderful folks have come to mean to me, and not just because David is giving me the gift of life, but because they are both such kind, soulful, sweet people…. We are most-assuredly friends for life…. brothers and sister!

And to everyone who has stood behind me, and shown me such unbelievable love, friendship, generosity, and such…. Well, appreciate you with all of my heart! I don’t know what this process would be like if I had to go through it without you all. In the days, weeks and months to come, life is going to change in so many wonderful ways for me, and I’m absolutely going to do my best to help those kind of positive forces shine on others. And you should all know that I’m always here for you, too!! What amazing seeds we’re all planting together!!

Am I scared? That’s a question that I’ve been asked over a dozen times over the last couple of weeks…. I’m much more excited than anything else, because of the outlook I have on my renewed life. I’ve got complete confidence in the entire medical team whose hands we’ll be in. The whole experience so far has been a positive one, and University’s success rate with kidney transplants is stellar! And on top of all that, I have YOU, my winning team, and the best coordinator and guide I could ever ask for, Cheryl Kastner!!

I don’t know if I’ll be able to post an update tomorrow, as it will probably be a pretty foggy day & evening, but I’ll surely be back on the box here, and letting y’all know on Friday how David and I blazed through with flying colors!!

I thank you all so much, each and every one of you!! We’ll be right back after these messages (and a successful kidney transplant)!!

This is my sTORI being written as you read. – Love, Mommy Tori