Kidney Transplant...Footprints in the Sand

Once I realized that Heaven's answer to my prayer

was a transplant, it became a lot easier to go along for the

ride. Even though there were many tests and pain through

2013, I consider myself very fortunate not to be on dialysis.

I know so many more people who were far worse off than

I am.

The waiting was the hardest (being extremely tired

much of the time). As time went on, I saw that I had

enough energy to get up, get dressed, go to my many

doctors appointments and sit in a recliner most of the

day. I know that does not sound like much, but being

at 10% kidney function and not on dialysis was highly

unusual for someone in my position. I was so fortunate

to also have a daughter that took time off work each week

to take me to and from appointments.

I also missed my friends at church and doing the

many things I once did, but I realized I needed to put

my health first or I would not be here very long. I needed

to slow my life down. Listening to my body more I found

out a lot about what it needed from me. As I listened I felt

a strength that was not my own. I also never had a specific

feeling that I was in jeopardy of losing my life.

I felt like someone else was taking care of me, like

in the “Footprints in the Sand” poem. The narrator in the

poem wonder's why the Lord had not helped them in their

time of need. The Lord replied “During your times of

trial and suffering, when you see only one set of footprints,
it was then that I Carried You.” I feel that I have been living
that poem since I was first diagnosed w/renal (kidney) failure

in Jan. 2013. I feel the Lord carrying me daily. I don't

believe I could feel as good as I do with now only 7%

kidney function without His help. It is the best kind of

strength I have ever felt.

After much prayer, I decided to go to Utah to get

the transplant. They were on top of everything, rated

highly in the medical community, and I felt confirmation

that the University of Utah was the right place for me to

go. I left California in Oct. 2013 for Salt Lake City to

beat the snow. I found being in Utah a wonderful experience

and noticed an improvement in how I felt. All the while

acknowledging that the “Footprints in the Sand” poem

was playing out in my life on a daily basis.

I have grown and learned so many things of

significance through this experience. Do I wish this

experience had not happened? Surprisingly the

answer would be “No”. I feel like I have received

a college degree worth of knowledge and growth

through this journey. There are so many benefits

from what has happened for myself, my family,

friends (both new and old) and even strangers with

whom I have shared my story.

I feel a more intense desire to help people. I feel
more empathy for them than ever before. If I

can get through something like this, then maybe I

can give someone encouragement or help them get

through a struggle, or share the universal message
of hope.