Kidney Donor Needed

“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.” 1 John 3:16

“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” Matthew 25:40

“If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?” 1 John 3:17

Does Jesus mean this literally? As I ponder these scriptures, I ask myself, “Did Jesus intend for me to do these things?” I am convinced that we should care for one another, pray for one another, and not live our lives just to ourselves and for our own selfish pleasures. The Lord is challenging me personally to obey His voice more, to listen to Him more and to walk in holiness more. Could it be that one of us will be the one to donate a kidney? (By the way, I did offer and was told I was too old! Ha!)

I have had the privilege of having Brian and Letitia Miller in our Independent Studies program for many years. They continue to bless me and challenge me as I watch them walk with the Lord in such faith and peace in the midst of the serious situation they find themselves in with their daughter, Nicole. Please pray for the Miller family as they walk down this path finding a kidney donor for Nicole.

From Brian Miller, dad of Nicole, 6 years old and in preschool at MCS:
As many of you know our 6 year old daughter Nicole was born with chronic kidney disease related to a genetic disorder she inherited.  She was born with only one kidney and that kidney has been slowly deteriorating since birth.  Regretfully, she has reached the stage in this progression where she is going to need a kidney transplant.  We continue to pray for the complete and total healing of Nicole.  We know the Lord is capable of performing this healing and this will remain our testimony until the very end.  However, should the Lord choose not to heal Nicole she is going to need a donor kidney.  Letitia and I are writing to you today to prayerfully consider being a potential donor for Nicole.  We understand that it is no trivial matter to donate one of your kidneys and will require a great deal of thought and prayer.

Nicole was our gift from God after praying for 9 years for another child after the birth of Nathan.  The doctors told us that having any more children would be a miracle.  We now have 4 beautiful children.  That being said, we know that the Lord is intimately aware of Nicole's need and we are going to trust Him to find Nicole the perfect donor.  If, after considering this matter, you feel the Lord is leading you to become a potential donor then please contact Katy Shaffer at University Hospitals in Cleveland.  She will guide you through the initial stages of this process.  One thing to keep in mind is that you will incur no costs in this process.  Our insurance will pay 100% of the expenses.  Any miscellaneous expenses, such as travel expenses, Letitia and I will personally cover.  This is the least we can do.

We have provided the contact information for Katy Shaffer below.  Thank you for your consideration.  One final thing, regardless of whether or not you decide to become a potential donor please add Nicole and our family to your prayer list until this process is completed.  Those prayers are coveted more than anything.  Blessings to all of you!

Katy Shaffer
Kidney Pancreas Transplant Intake Coordinator
University Hospitals Case Medical Center
Telephone 216-844-1932
Fax 216-983-2051
Email Katy.Shaffer@UHhospitals.org

I have decided, finally, to start a blog to write down my thoughts and experiences.  With all that is happening with Nicole I thought now would be a good time.  I have made my first blog post, "From Deliverance to Hardship to Glory".  It is about what is going on with Nicole and where I feel we are at both physically and spiritually.  It is long, but I am wordy about my little girl!  I hope the words bless you and your family.

Please feel free to follow the blog regularly and I will be providing regular updates to Nicole's kidney transplant process through this blog.  Here is the link: http://standintheway.blogspot.com/

I hope you enjoy it.  Also, please share this link with anyone that you believe might be blessed by it or who might want to know what the progress of Nicole is regarding the kidney transplant process.

For His Glory,
Brian and Letitia Miller