Our patience and faith have triumphed in the “hurry-up-and-wait” game.
Two weeks ago I wrote about the frustration of being patient and having to wait for something important and exciting to occur.
Whether it was the patience of answering a toddler’s endless questions of “why?” or waiting for the arrival of the birth of a child, patience could sometimes become unbearable.
In our particular hurry-up-and-wait game we waited with my brother-in-law, Alan “Alpo” Montgomery, for a life saving liver transplant.
First we had to wait for all the paper work to be completed and all the issues involved being resolved in order for him to be accepted as a recipient before being put on the organ transplant list.
At long last they were told he had passed all the tests and the qualifications to become a transplant recipient. He was placed at the top of the list.
My sister excitedly called and announced he was on the list and now we wait.
She compared it to after many months finally being in labor with the birth of a child. The labor had begun and now we waited for the announcement the “birth” was upon us when she would call and announce a donor had been found.
Although the irony of praying for an organ to become available was such a difficult prayer to pray it was one that had to be said.
Asking for the life of one person meant the death of another.
Asking for the happiness of one person’s family meant sorrow for another.
That was one position of the Creator I did not envy.
But as my sister so profoundly told me, “Everyone has a purpose in life; maybe that was the purpose God created this particular person for.”
Maybe it was, but it was still a difficult prayer to pray.
We simply prayed Thy will be done.
After only four days of “labor” the miracle we had faith in happened and we received the call.
Family members headed to Louisville to be with each other and to offer the support needed while the life-saving surgery was performed.
After 12 hours away from us and 10 hours of surgery, we finally received word that all went well and now the healing was beginning.
It has been over a week since the actual surgery, and miracles are still taking place. A healing of body and soul is occurring. Each day his body is stronger, his color is better, his strength is returning, and a new thankfulness at life is being praised.
The journey is far from over. Although the next year will be approached with caution with special diets, lots of medication, limiting visitors to prevent the spread of germs to a weak immune system, the road is still looking a little smoother than the last few months have been.
We thank God for our miracle, we continue to pray for the family who lost a loved one for the sake of another, and we sustain our faith for a complete healing.
While visitation is going to be limited for awhile please follow Alpo’s progress through the Caring Bridge web site at www.caringbridge.org/visit/alanalpomontgomery.
Becky Greenwell is a weekly columnist for the Union County Advocate and welcomes your comments at bgreenwell@ucadvocate.com
