A Liver For A Heart

This is my friend Suzanne's mom, Gay Scott. The woman in the black sweater is Suzanne's friend, Sonya.

If you've not read the Caring Bridge link that I put a few posts ago, Gay was a nurse in CA where she contracted Hepatitis C. Over the years, the Hep C has basically degraded her liver to where she's been going through liver failure. For the past year, she's been in and out of the hospital, basically in with a not very good prognosis. She was told that she either needed a liver transplant or she was not going to make it.

At that point, the family's basic option was to find a liver donor, so they put the word out. There were a few people came forward but they had to be tested and they had to qualify to be able to donate. The testing process is pretty loaded and hard and included physical as well as emotional and other qualifications. No one was able to qualify.

Finally, Suzanne's good friend, Sonya, came forward and started the process of testing. She came through with flying colors and in they then began the process of preparing for donation.

Sonya and her husband came in on Friday of last week and were in church on Sunday.

I had to put this story on because, to me, its absolutely amazing!

The most amazing part is the story that Sonya would give if anyone asked her why she would do something like this. Why would she put herself through a surgical procedure, give someone else part of her liver and then have to take two weeks of bed rest in order to ensure the growth back of what they had taken. There are plently of risks involved, like any procedure, so if the whole thing sounds "simple" its not as cinched up at it might sound.

Sonya's testimony, as given on Sunday, was that the one thing she wants everyone to know because of this procedure is that her life is not hers. The thought that motivates her is that God has given His Son for her heart, to make it new and to give her life, so part of what she can do to show others this fact is give her sister in Christ, Gay, part of her liver. This liver will, in essence, make Gay's liver new and give her continued life here on earth. The factor with Sonya's life is that she knows its in God's hands and its an eternal life and she wanted to share the earthly life that God has given her here in order to show His love to others. I think thats the most amazing thing.

I told Suzanne the other day that I have a hard time sharing my Starbucks gift card with my friends, let alone my liver. I can't imagine doing what Sonya is doing. I respect her so much!

Thank you all for praying for Sonya and Gay. The surgery went well for both of them and they've been cleared so far. Gay will stay at Northwestern for while and then Sonya will be leaving Northwestern in a few days, but she'll be going to a nearby hotel for two weeks for further recovery.

I'll keep you updated!