Millions of people world-wide have been encouraged this
holiday season to #LightTheWorld. I have
friends in my neighborhood who are collecting coats, scarves, hats and gloves
for the homeless. At the high school and
junior high they are collecting food for hungry kids. Some are buying Sub-for-Santa gifts. I see others shoveling walkways for their
neighbors and other countless acts of service.
These people are all heroes to those they help. My biggest hero this season is my sister,
Maggie-- mother of four small kids, full-time employee of the The Good and the
Beautiful, gun-toting, goat-milking, animal-loving, dirt-digging, quick-witted
introvert who wants zero recognition or attention. She will probably grimace at the small
spotlight this will cast on her, but the story must be told.
Maggie was just approved, after months of extensive testing,
to donate a kidney to a man in her ward.
His name is Scott. Maggie really
didn’t know Scott, only that he lives in her ward, that he is the father of 4 kids
and that he has been sick for a very, very long time—15 years, actually. The past 4 years Scott has been on dialysis, and
most recently has to go into the hospital every other day for several hours of
treatment. Doctors say Scott is running
out of time and needs a kidney transplant to live beyond a year or so.
Maggie’s husband, Abram, was inspired to get tested to see
if he was a match for Scott. That was
over a year ago. He was not a match. Forty
five other people have done the same thing, all willing and hoping to donate a
life-saving kidney to Scott (everyone of these people are heroes, in my book!). After praying about it, Maggie felt like she
should go and get tested. Bingo. She is the lucky winner!
Maggie said everyone at church knows Scott. He was raised in the area, and his family is
well-known. Plus, he’s the guy who needs
a kidney. Everyone knows. Maggie likes to quietly serve and not be
noticed. That made this past Sunday a
little uncomfortable for Maggie, when the whole ward found out that Scott was
finally getting a kidney! From
Maggie! She was overwhelmed with hugs
and kind words from people she didn’t know very well. Although uncomfortable, she was touched by
the outpouring of love and excitement by so many that love Scott. She was especially warmed by Scott’s 14-year-old
daughter, Kylee. Maggie had been swarmed
by people at church, giving her hugs and kind words of gratitude, which made
her late to Young Women’s. As she walked
in, Kylee was just sitting down, her face in her hands, nearly sobbing. Most of the room’s eyes were wet with tears,
and sniffles throughout. The Young Women’s
President then got up to make some announcements, but she was unable to speak,
her voice breaking in sobs. Maggie
leaned into another leader, Becky, and asked what had just happened.
“Kylee just got up and said, ‘My Dad’s getting a
kidney. And Maggie’s the donor.’ And we
all cried.” Becky said, wiping her own wet face.
As the girls stood to separate into age-groups for lessons,
Maggie walked over to Kylee and put her arms around her. Kylee took hold of Maggie and held on for a long
time, crying. Neither said a word for
what seemed like a long time. Finally,
Maggie whispered, “We’re family now.” Maggie said that sweet Kylee quietly wept
the duration of the class.
“It’s funny,” Maggie said.
“People are so excited, saying, ‘Scott is getting a kidney! He is getting Maggie’s kidney!’ But I feel
like it has always been his kidney! I
wanna say, ‘Yay! My kidney is finally
getting Scott! It’s his kidney. I’ve just been holding onto it for a while.’’”
More to come…
Tears! ❤
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