This is the season for gift giving. Reaching out. Sharing.
This is a story about giving the gift of life. It’s a story about Rob and Shelly. Rob, a 45-year-old husband and father of six with a very sick kidney. And Shelly, a 43-year-old wife and mother of four. One thing they had in common was their kids went to the same school.
Rob was diagnosed with kidney disease in 2002 and started on dialysis in 2008. He had one diseased kidney removed and was placed on two waiting lists for a transplant. He was told that it would take five to ten years before he could possibly receive a cadaver donor.
Shelly heard from Rob’s wife during a time of sharing with other parents at the school that Rob would be on dialysis until a donor kidney could be available. She starting wondering how she could help. Having gone through a couple of years of life trials, Shelly was familiar with making sacrifices. She felt that God was preparing her for something bigger, that it was by the leading of God’s hand that she and Rob ended up in the same home schooling group.
After much prayer she talked with her husband about possibly being a live kidney donor for Rob. They researched the topic for a couple of months and concluded that Shelly’s desire to give a life-saving kidney to Rob was the right thing to do. Shelly e-mailed Rob offering him a kidney.
It took several months of running tests, meetings, medical appointments and more tests before things started to progress. It would turn out that, due to several setbacks, it would take two years to complete the surgeries and make the transfer.
Rob received his new kidney in August. He told me that this was “a gift, first and foremost, from the Lord.” He said, “I want to take care of this kidney, partially out of a sense of obligation to the donor.” He never wants to take this gift for granted.
Shelly said that the journey was the hardest part. And at one point, when it was possible that the transplant would not take place, she said it was clear to her that the kidney was no longer hers. If Rob was not the recipient, she knew that someone else would be.
Rob’s and Shelly’s families went from acquaintances to combined families. Shelly said it has been an “amazing experience.” Another commonality that Rob and Shelly share is their faith in Jesus Christ. He also provided the gift of life. Shelly’s gift to Rob was an extension of his physical life. Christ’s birth, death and resurrection provides the gift of eternal life. Let’s all celebrate the gift of life this Christmas season.
Rhonda Tommer is a resident of Santa Clara and a member of The Spectrum and Daily News writers group. She can be reached at r.tommer.writersgroup@gmail.com
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