Will An Opt Out Organ Donation Save Lives? | Presumed Consent

Check Out Jim's Work

If you've "The Transplant Helper" check it out.
not already seen Jim's YouTube channel "

Doing Great

Jim is still doing great and approaching the 3 year mark since transplant. God is GREAT!

It has been forever since we updated. Jim continues to do great after transplant. He stands at 26 months since transplant and has never experienced any rejection. This is well above average as 80% of transplant recipients have some level of rejection within the first year of transplant. His medications are still numerious and very costly but each month God has provided a way for us to afford them (Genesis 22:8, 14).

The children are doing great and excited to begin a new school year.

We are so blessed!

UAB-Home away from Home

The month of March seemed to hurry by. The boys had birthdays. It was an emotional time to see Jim have another birthday. What a blessing! No complications! No rejection! Our son turned 8. I can't believe that 8 years have come and gone. Tonight as we watched the debate of Kyle Butt, I asked him if he was going to do that one day? He quickly said "Sure mom, I can do that." I pray to God that he will be a man of God and preach the truth.

We were going along quite nicely until we went to Mississippi for a short visit. We got to see old friends and meet some new ones. Jim preached it up Sunday. It was AWESOME. Then the dreaded stomach bug came to visit Jim. It was ruthless. It made him miss his anti-rejection medicine so it was off to the hospital we go.

The whole week of spring break and God Almighty knows how much of a break we needed...we spent at UAB. It was a reminder, of how blessed we have been all these months. To have no rejection, no complications. That would be the last time for a while. God had given us a wonderful time together and like a fool, I quickly took it for granted. I am so naive at times to think that my world will ever be perfect and great. But in a way, it is always perfect and great. I have God in my life, He sits on the throne of my life. He is my ruler, my strength, my fortress. No matter what the world may bring my way, He is my constant anchor. It has been safe and easy sailing for some time now. But the storm clouds have gathered and it is definitely raining.

Jim has shown signs of rejection that the doctors are closely monitoring. They are subtle and sneaky things showing up. After coming home for the weekend, Jim was readmitted to the hospital this week. It was another hard blow. The boat was surely rocking and I could feel my emotions wanting to capsize. I steadily filled my mind with scriptures and listened to CDs of gospel preaching. I turned it up to combat the seeds of doubt that the devil was trying to stir up within me.

The doctors called us just a few minutes ago to let us know for the third time in 2 weeks that Jim's kidney and liver functions are not good. He is still dehydrated and his anti-rejection level is still too high. I thank God that we are at home right now. That we can enjoy ourselves and spend the night watching one of the finest young men, Kyle Butt, defending God Almighty.

I ask for your fervent prayers. You all have been so good throughout the past 7 years to lift not only Jim up but our entire family in your daily prayers. Jim has never preached as good as he does now. I am very reserved when it comes to complimenting him. He has so much strengthen and passion. His conviction to preach and teach only what the Bible says is so powerful to me. He is revived and I pray that he will be able to do it for many more years to come. I know God knows better. I thank Him for all the wonderful time that we have had. I pray for a better attitude and that I may always seek to put Him first in all things. I hope that I can take care of myself, so that I can properly take care of my family. Thank you for the continued prayers, cards and those who financially support us. You are a lighthouse in the midst of a dark and scary storm.

Let the Lower Lights Be Burning

Brightly beams our Father’s mercy,
From His lighthouse evermore,
But to us He gives the keeping
Of the lights along the shore. 

Dark the night of sin has settled,
Loud the angry billows roar;
Eager eyes are watching, longing,
For the lights along the shore.
Trim your feeble lamp, my brother;
Some poor sailor, tempest-tossed,
Trying now to make the harbor,
In the darkness may be lost.

Refrain:
Let the lower lights be burning!
Send a gleam across the wave!
Some poor *struggling, fainting seaman
You may rescue, you may save.

You Prayed For Me

Where do I start? How did I end up like I am...determined to live for God. No I am not better than you. Someone prayed for me, that is why I am determined to serve God everyday, every moment. From my earliest memories (which many where erased due to becoming sick 10 years ago) I remember my mother telling me that she prayed for me, my sister and my brother. She would tell us how she prayed over and over, day after day. What an amazing memory to have. A mother taking time to praise and petition God for her children. In all honesty, I can't remember my dad ever praying except for when it was time to eat. I wonder if he prayed for us so fervently?

We as children were not really taught how to pray unless is was by one of our Bible class teachers. I see several of them from time to time. My precious teachers from Oxford church of Christ. You prayed for me. You prayed that all those little ones that you taught would grow up to love the Lord and serve Him all their days. Thank you. 

Throughout my life someone from time to time has told me that they were praying for me. They were begging God on my behalf to help me in some way. That is the best gift anyone could ever give to someone. Going before the throne of God, the Creator and Designer, and laying your requests at His feet. What a humbling thought. 

Please continue praying for me. I am a work in progress. I need to be transformed daily to what God would have me to be (Romans 12:2). Thank you to my mother for planting the first seeds of the good news in my heart. You made my life what it is today. You planted seeds of love and pure joy, that no matter what I can be an overcomer. 

Update

I have been very busy lately. It has been a wonderful time in my life. Jim is feeling great. The kids are over there sicknesses. I am teaching and preparing for new things to come. 

Julianna finished her basketball season 3-3. Her team won first place. She did a great job scoring, rebounding and taking up for her teammates. Julianna has cooked breakfast for the whole family the past 3 weekends. She is an amazing cook and she also gave me a pedicure. I feel like I am royalty. 

Cameron is really involved in reading and writing his own stories. He still loves to collect rocks and watch nature shows. He's my little scientist. 

I have been meaning to write about our trip to OK over the Christmas break. I didn't want to rush into it. I wanted to really process everything. Lord willing, I will share my thoughts of the trip soon.

I want to continue to thank everyone for their support of Jim and our family. With January, we saw increasing insurance costs and drug deductibles. It is hard to swallow a bill that's over $1300 for just two medicines. With God's love and mercy we will always be provided for. 

We want to especially thank the Glencoe church of Christ and the Weaver church of Christ for their recent help with our medical bills. Brethren, you just don't know how much it helps. We also want to thank the various congregations that have asked Jim to preach. Isn't God so good? Jim is able to do what he loves without feeling like a truck hit him. Praise God!

Remember, to fight the good fight...press on toward the mark...it will surely be worth it.