Testimony from Teresa, a Church Member
I first heard about Terry’s illness and the fact that he needed a kidney transplant in June of 2016. Charlie Barton, another First United Methodist Church member, wrote an article about Terry's condition in our church newsletter. Having completed initial testing but unable to donate, Charlie shared his story and experience with initial testing and encouraged others to consider. It was unknown to me or my family that Terry had had this condition for many years and that his condition had now worsened to the point that he needed a kidney transplant.
As I read the article, it really spoke to me, I can’t explain exactly how but I thought to myself, “Well, kind of a no-brainer - someone needs something, and I have an extra, so, pretty simple”. My husband David and I had a very short email “conversation” about it and while I didn’t take any action at that time, it stayed in the back of my mind and on my heart. In November of that same year it was mentioned again that Terry still had a need for a kidney and had not found a matching donor. I mentioned it again to David. Our earlier brief conversation from the summer must have stayed in the back of his mind and on his heart as well, as he encouraged me and told me if it was something I felt God calling me to do, to proceed with testing.
Over the next weeks I thought and prayed much about the idea. The thought that came to my mind was what if someone in my family needs a kidney someday? I have a husband to think about. I have two daughters, one of who had been diagnosed in 2009 with autoimmune hepatitis liver disease. When we discovered her disease initially she was in stage 4 of liver failure – what if she needed a liver transplant – if I’d donated a kidney would I still be able to do a liver transplant for her? I also had extended family members to consider. What if something happens to my remaining one kidney?
What I came to in those questions was that if something happens to one of my family members and they need a kidney, or if something happens to my one kidney, I'd have to hope that someone would step up for me and my family. What if I'm a match and could help save someone's life - should I hold one to something I have for a "what if"? I really just couldn’t get to a "yes" on that.
I also thought about Terry and my family. David and I joined First United Methodist Church right after we were married in 1991 and had enjoyed being a part of Sunday worship with Terry’s musical leadership. I knew Terry had played a significant role in the lives of both of our daughters, Elizabeth and Emily. Both girls were in his choir at church from the time they was just tiny - their first little choir was called “Primary Praise”. Terry also taught them in hand bells. It always makes me laugh because Terry started them out on "bells" called Tone Chimes instead of actual bells - they looked like big staplers and we aptly refer to them to this day as "playing the staplers". The girls had continued to go to choir and hand bells all thru elementary school as well as middle and high school (Emily was a senior at this time). During Elizabeth’s junior and senior year of high school she took private voice lessons from Terry. Elizabeth had developed a love for music and a desire to continue at the college level. I believed that Terry played a significant part in the reason she had such a love for music and part of why she selected to attend Belmont University, where she was in her junior year and singing in the Belmont Women’s Choir.
I also thought about what people might say - what if people think I’m being reckless and say things like "God gave you two kidneys for a reason you know”. To that what if, my thought was yes, he did give me two kidneys for a reason. But what if God gave us two kidneys, knowing we only really need one, with the hopes that if someone for some reason needs one, we'd be willing to share. I finally realized that I had absolutely no control over the what ifs, and in prayer I confessed to God that if he’d handle all what ifs, and I’d handle going to the doctor appointments and whatever else lie before me. I completed the preliminary blood tests the first of December 2016, the first match test to pass, and I did. In early January 2017 I completed the first round of health questions/survey and that was a match as well. I continued to pray that if this was His will, that He would let me pass the next test. And the next. And if that’s your prayer, and you continue to pass, well, that too is a no brainer.
The entire process leading up to surgery was simple and not painful or difficult at all. The staff at the University of Tennessee Medical Center was simply amazing. From the admitting staff, to the transplant center nursing staff, the doctors, the clergy who met with me time and again to ensure my heart and mind were in the right place, the special testing units where I underwent various ultrasounds, etc – every single department was professional and kind.
I don’t remember at what point I told Terry I was going for testing – it wasn’t right away, but at some point in the process I did let him know that I was making progress on testing, etc. On Ash Wednesday 2017, I went by the church and after noonday service Terry and I met in his office and I let him know that I’d received the all clear – I was a 100% match and perfectly healthy to undergo the surgery. I think we both cried.
I hadn’t told my children, or my parents, or any other friend or family member for that matter. As word began to circulate, I received such wonderful encouragement and support. On Wednesday, April 5, 2017 Terry and I rolled into side by side operating rooms and became, as his wife deemed us, the Kidney Kids. Surgery went well for each of us and I came home two days later on April 7th one kidney lighter and with three very small incisions which have healed over the last 5 years to the point I can hardly even see them. Physically, I can honestly say I feel no different today with one kidney than I did 5 years ago with two. Since surgery I’ve had people tell me I’m an angel. As I’ve said before, I’m certainly no angel and I have my own bucket of sin and regret, but I’ve been blessed, as we all have, with God’s grace and mercy - I simply followed his voice. I would strongly encourage anyone who feels they too are hearing God’s voice and feeling his guidance to consider living organ donation, to absolutely follow through. It was, and continues to be, truly an honor and a blessing to share in Terry’s story and in his life.