WE DID IT!!!

Good morning!!

I am the happiest and blessed person right now, because when you read this, I will be home recovering from my living kidney transplant! Yes, that’s right!! We found my 100% match kidney donor!

I want to first apologize for not letting people know, but we didn’t want to let the cat out of the bag in case of rejection. But, so far, everything is going great!!

I want to focus on my living donor. Who is he? He is an absolute wonderful young man from Illinois named Rob who is a father of two young children. He saw my sign in Spring Grove on August 17, then texted me. We talked and I was so moved by his willingness to donate, I had tears in my eyes. He filled out the health questionnaire as we talked and, during that call, he filled me with hope and gratitude and made me smile.

Two months later, Rob let me know he was having an interview. One month later, he texted again saying he was going in for his 13-hour day of testing in Chicago which he ultimately passed. Another month later, he texted me to let me know he passed his final test, a psych exam. Then, when everything was all done, he texted that he was my match and I had to GET READY! I had to take a stress test, a CT scan and multiple MRI’s, but before you knew it, I was READY!

What I read and felt through Rob’s texts over 7 months was his kindness, his wonderful sense of humor and his devotion in giving me life. Every text he sent he started with “Hey, guess what?” and would then leave me hanging a few minutes. I’m sure you can imagine what I was feeling. Over time, I started feeling this connection to him. I wasn’t sure if he wanted to meet me or if I was ready to meet him. When I asked, he simply said he thought about it, but it was up to me – no pressure, no timeline.

We didn’t know at the time that our pre-op appointments were scheduled together. Three weeks ago, we met. The genuine care he showed me over the months, the high energy and happiness that spilled out in his texts was all there. His smile is a mile long that says everything about him. And he surely knows how to hug! What a wonderful soul he has.

This first month of recovery will be intense, but as soon as I am able, I will write to you all again and let you know how I am doing. Rob as well.

Meanwhile, I want you all to know, I couldn’t have gone through this journey as well as I did without all of you. You have been here for me in your own special way, all of you giving me strength, courage and hope. Thank you seems so little, there is just no other words.

For now, I leave you with this; Going through this challenge has enriched my life and taught me so much. My relationship with God was strengthen during this time. I knew he would provide for me as I trusted in him. So, when Rob texted that we were a match, I recognized it was God talking directly to me through him. It gave me chills then and still does today. I am at peace as God walks with me holding my hand.

Talk soon,

Bonnie

Rob Kesler and his two children