Serious Stuff.....Funny Stuff

I never expected to have a child with a disability.  At first, I blamed myself thinking that I had done something to cause the placenta to tear and my daughter to suffer over half her body's blood loss.  The doctors reassured me that it wasn't anything that I had done. 

I then faced anger....asking WHY, MY baby....why someone innocent?  I had to come to the realization that some things just aren't fair but they are what they are and it is part of God's plan, not mine.  Although some days are worse than others, my faith has increased tremendously.  The thing is....my child has an uphill climb until she receives a kidney.  As her parents, Rick and I have mountains to leap and rough roads to tread but we will be carrying our daughter the entire way.  I am thankful that God made us strong enough for what lies ahead and that we love Maci so much that we are willing to do anything for her....including give her a kidney should Rick be a match. 

This experience so far has increased my curiosity and advocacy for blood and organ donation.  It can really open your eyes to what a sacrafice and gift organ donation is when you have a child who's life and long term survival is dependent on someone's generosity or the ultimate sacrafice, loss of life, and their being an organ donor. 
If that doesn't put things in perspective, I am not sure anything ever will.  It also makes me think of what Jesus did for all of us.  THAT was the utmost selfless act of sacrafice!

With all the seriousness revolving around Maci's kidney failure, we've also learned to have a bit of humor.  I have found a few things online that I plan to use to make Maci some cute onesies using iron transfers.  Here are a few. 

(EPO is short for epogen (epoetin) which is the shot Maci gets 3 times a week to boost her red blood cell production and keep up her hematocrit so she doesn't have to have a blood transfusion)

 

 Thank you for the continued prayers.  Rick and I thank you and Maci says thanks too!