9/23/12 Update – The Value of Human Life

How do we measure how much a human is worth?  Our bank accounts, our achievements, our linage, age, or our potential?  I have to think about this, and I hope that you never will.  You see, if I get another liver transplant, someone else won’t; and they will die.  Is my life worth more than theirs?  I was asked by the chief transplant surgeon not to put my name on the list because I have already lived way longer than most, have had a wonderful life, and my survival rate is only 50/50 (first transplants are about 95%).  Well, what if the person I am giving up my life for is an alcoholic or drug addict and will just waste their life and mine?  I will build our Lord’s Kingdom (I).  What if?  We can come up with a hundred what ifs.

You see, I just lost another friend on the transplant list.  That makes five I have known well, some for a life time, that have died waiting for that precious gift of life.  I would give up mine for any of them.  But, that is because I knew them and their potential; I am not a martyr, I have had my chance and would love to give them theirs.  But what if they were….

There is a 23 year old autistic boy who needs a heart transplant, but the surgeons won’t do it because of his autism.  Yes, he will never run a company, be financially well off, won’t graduate college, or be a sports hero.  He will be, well, just a human being!  The surgeons stated that if there were enough organs to go around it would not be an issue, as they would not have to set a value on his life.  So, please, please, please, if you have not already become an organ donor; become an organ donor!  The life you save may be my own!!!!!!  Sorry to digress.  Also, if you would like to support this young man’s cause and assert his value, click the link provided.

Now, one last thing on value; my second cousin was born mentally challenged (that is hard for me to say because I don’t think of her that way).  Her family would tell you that life without her would not be the same.  My grand nephew was born with the only handicap of being part Gray!  However, as a little baby, one of his caretakers (not in our family or family’s care) beat his head in and then smothered him almost to death.  At this point we don’t know what will be the lasting effects of this trauma.  

However, they both can do something I could never do; light up a room just by entering it!  They each have a special ability to communicate love, acceptance, and peace just by interacting with you as they are unable to speak.  How do we measure that valuable trait?  Everywhere they go, it appears that they bring comfort to those around them and it is amazing to see how many people know them.

With knowing these two, my heart aches for the mother who must watch her baby boy die just because he has autism.  He is worth so much more than we can ever believe, as God so loved the world (not just the healthy, strong, smart, and athletic) that He gave His only Son to die for us and them.  He loves us with so much love we are unable to fathom the height, depth, length and width of His amazing Love.

Click here to hear how much God loves us.

So, what are we to do?  First, pray for these three precious angels that our Father will continue to bless them and their parents with abundance of joy.  Pray for my grand nephew’s complete recovery, and my second cousin’s continued health.  Pray also for this autistic boy that the surgeons will change their attitudes of the “Value of Human Life” and give him the transplant.  Also, become an organ donor and do what it takes in your state to maintain that status.  And, finally, pray that I will not need another transplant so the burden of making this decision will be lifted and some else will get a chance to be as blessed as I have been.

You are so valuable to me and to God,

With Much Love and Respect,
Mike
Click here to ask the surgeons to transplant this autistic boy.

Update 09/01/12 Ramblin' Man

I stated in the last post that this post would be about how blessed I am.  I had all these scriptures ready to share on the BeAttitudes of being blessed.  However, if you permit me to ramble a little bit, I will share with you a different version of how blessed I really am as a result of what has happened last Friday and Saturday.  I have always known how alive God’s Word is, but today (Saturday), I experienced this for myself.

You see, Friday was a very bad day.  I called my Transplant Coordinator to beg her to give me at least seven days of reprieve from my third medicine which is giving me the most trouble.  However, she said no.  I was so bummed.  I really wanted/needed relief.  So, I went to my room, shut out the lights and laid there feeling really sorry for myself.  Then Aaron came home and we talked about the Kingdom for a long time.  Seeing his love, not only for God, but God's Kingdom, gave me such joy and comfort, I was able to go to sleep to forget the pain.

Saturday morning Aaron and I went to the "Christian Surfers Daisy Paddle Out" to raise money for Daisy, Al Merrick’s granddaughter, who has to raise $500,000 for cancer treatment.  Chandler Brownlee picked us up and took us to the beach.  Well, the dredge had added a 100 yards of sand to the beach.  Before, I could just go down the stairs and into the ocean.  Now, 100 yards of sand was “a bridge too far.”  I went there to support Christian Surfers and add a picture of chemo-therapy for people to give more, but now I had to be carried to the beach, pulled out on the board, and pulled at least a half mile down the beach, and carried back.  My anemia took all the power out of my blood.

While in Teen Challenge, my favorite Spanish song was “Hay Poder en la Sangre;” (There is Power in the Blood).  I learned that first hand Saturday morning.  First, the Red blood cells carried me to the beach and brought me nourishment and strength; the White cells surrounded me and protected me from falling and getting hurt.  The Power in the Blood came from Jesus through His Body to build up what was lacking in my own blood.  Blessed?  Did I say how blessed I am?

However, I wrote the above Saturday afternoon, by night fall things took a very bad turn,  I then went for blood work, CAT Scan, mini-colonoscopy, and met with my transplant coordinator.  Results; side effects.  Still wouldn’t cut back my meds.  However, increased pain did not change the fact that I am blessed: my wife and son love God and His Kingdom more than their own lives; they love and support me more than I deserve.  My sisters and cousins all love Jesus; my friends are mentors and Kingdom minded.  Our home group prays for us and are available to help anytime we ask.  Our neighbors contstantly pray for us and bring us treats, especially chocolate. (See picture of recent visit by our great neighbors.)

So, here we are, a week later with one more week to go.  We can do this, but truly I will need your prayers and support to make it another week.  Then, I will have 36 more weeks to go!!!!!  Please pray that I will be able to make it and that the side effects will stop when dropping this one medication.  Either way, I will still be blessed.

With much Love and Respect,

Mike 

P.S.  Praise God the CT scan and biopsy were fine.  They believe the pain is caused by the meds and hopefully gone when medication is over.