Now that I am hungry for dessert, I will carry on :)
I get it. We all get it. There is a little skeptic in all of us. Especially me. Sometimes skepticism causes people to talk to each other. Usually when this happens, little things called rumors are born. Now, usually these things are harmless. VERY harmless, but have you ever played the game telephone??? Exactly. If you haven't played telephone, you were totally robbed as a child and I suggest you go to every teacher, youth group leader, coach and girl/boy scout leader involved in your life, and demand a refund! Or you could just ask a friend :)
So, this blog post is entitled FACT or FICTION. It is a compiled list of little things we have been told out and about, that may or may NOT be true. Just to clear the air. Maybe, to make me feel better. Also, this isn't the result of one incident or one person. Again, just to clear the air.
1. Josh is actually Maggie's cousin.
Answer: FICTION- Maggie has a cousin named Josh. Her donor Josh isn't her cousin. I know that my 4 loyal blog readers already know this, but just in case someone didn't get the memo, they just met a few weeks ago.
2. Josh is being paid by the Watson- Meador family to give Maggie his kidney.
Answer: FICTION- Selling/Purchasing organs is very illegal and just a really bad idea. Josh is giving it up freely and willingly. He doesn't mind. We aren't expecting anything in return. Except, maybe an invitation to her birthday party or Kindergarten graduation. It isn't everyday that your kidney gets to graduate Kindergarten for the second time, is it?
3. This donation will never work because Josh is so much bigger that Maggie.
Answer: FICTION- The kidney will actually go in Maggie's abdomen. Not where her kidneys are now. A kidney donor must be over 18 years old. Therefore, ANY live donor Maggie received a kidney from, would be an adult.
4. After Maggie receives this kidney she will be cured.
Answer: FICTION- This is just another medical treatment for Maggie. As much as it hurts me to the core to admit it, Maggie won't be cured by this. Maggie WILL get to be off of dialysis. Maggie's new kidney could last 20 minutes, 2 years or 20 years. No one knows. But, I guess we will all find out together.
5. Our family is moving.
Answer: FACT- Yes, we have a contract on our current home. We are moving to Gallatin so we can live in a town that has an ER (for our own son) and be closer to Vanderbilt. We also need more space! We have a contract on a home and are schedule to close around June 8th. Josh WILL NOT be able to do any heavy lifting OR excessive exercise during this time. This is to reduce the risk of an abnormal urinalysis. Exercise can cause protein in urine and would stop the donation process. So, if any of you know a good mover or have a magic wand. That would be great!!
6. We have lots of help for Josh's recovery.
Answer-A LITTLE BIT OF BOTH :) While we don't have "lots of help," the help we do have is loyal, loving and good. To be totally honest, I am scared to death about this. Josh won't be able to do a lot and our life is...well, intense at times. It will be hard. I will not decline a casserole being tossed in my direction during this recovery.
We did have to make plans to include Biscuit being hospitalized at the same time that Josh is in the hospital or recovering. He is actually due for a hospitalization, so it could very well happen. PLEASE pray that it doesn't.
7. A not for profit agency is paying our family's bills while Josh is out of work recovering from the surgery.
Answer: FICTION- Without going into too much detail about out finances, I will say this. Josh has a short term disability policy from his employer. This policy will pay him a percentage of his pay after a one week waiting period. After 6 weeks of payment, that amount will reduce as he will transition to long term disability. Our family has budgeted for him to be off work.
8. Josh will be responsible for his medical bills from the surgery.
Answer: FICTION- No donor is required to pay medical bills from their procedure. This is paid by Maggie's insurance. Normal annual follow up will be paid by the donor's insurance. But, he will not be responsible for medical bills. We will have increased expenses from living in a hospital for a week, Vanderbilt isn't a cheap place to be, but neither is Walmart :)
While we are on the subject of expenses. Raise the Praise is the weekend of June 1st and 2nd. Laura, Maggie's Mommy, and Josh will be speaking about Maggie and bringing awareness to live organ donation. In addition, they will also be selling Tshirts to off set some of the medical expenses. These shirts also remind people about Maggie and that there is power in prayer. It reminds people to pray for Maggie. So, I strongly suggest that you all buy one :) Personally, I know I will be sporting mine on surgery day. I am still trying to convince Josh to put a little pink hair bow on for the transplant surgery. Just so the doctor's remember where that kidney is going :) Wouldn't it be great if on June 25th (surgery day) EVERYONE had on a Maggie's Prayer Warriors Tshirt??
I hope that this doesn't come accross as mean, snotty or just ugly. That isn't the intention at all. But, maybe when you are sitting at the local diner and you hear about that guy that is giving that little girl the kidney, you can just set them straight. Really, we don't have anything to hide. If you want to know, just ask. Yes, people can just be willing to help with no strings. Maggie is a child of God and we love her like she is our own. If everyone felt that way about EVERY child in the world, things would change quickly. Too may of us wait to see if someone else will help and nothing ever happens. Then, we all sit around devastated because no one did anything. Be the one that does something. It is OK to be the minority!!
So, with all of that said and TOTALLY off the subject. The Bit was the groom in the QU wedding at school. His "friend girl" (not a girl friend, but WAYYY more than a friend) was the bride. We had a lot of fun with it. Here are some pictures! ENJOY!
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