Superman Saves 5 Lives!!

So here's what happened in our week.
TL

I received my letter from the LifeCenter Northwest Organ Donation Network on Friday.

I've been expecting this letter since we left the hospital and getting more anxious about it everyday. It was the letter to tell me where all Michael's organs went and about the person who received them.

I was terrified that I was going to receive a letter that said, "I'm sorry, but we were unable..." (We already thought we had known the man that was to receive one kidney and pancreas and then were told that he had not received his transplant because he was too ill.)

I'm writing this to share with everyone who has been so supportive through everything that has happened, so they may rejoice with us in the lives Michael made the choice to save.

In the letter we learned that:

His right kidney went to a 16yr old girl in Washington, who had been diagnosed with kidney disease at age 11 and had been on dialysis.

His left kidney along with his pancreas went to a 43yr old man, with diabetes since age 4, from Washington. It quoted him as grateful for renewed health and "freedom from the insulin shots I have had all my life."

His liver went to a 55yr old man from Washington.

His heart was given to a 60yr old man from California.

And his LUNGS (yes they got to go too & we'd thought they were too traumatized to be donated) went to a 57yr old single mom in Washington!!

HE SAVED 5 LIVES!!!!

It is such a relief to know that all the transplants went so well and each recipient is recovering well! I now have a direction for my prayers!! Over the next two weeks, I will write letters to the recipients to tell them about Michael and his exceptional love of life.

I don't know if I will ever hear back from them (the letters go through the donation network) but that is not what matters. Everyone will handle this in different ways. What matters to me is the ability to share his story and then to continue to pray for them and their ongoing health.

Once again thanks to all for the love and support given over the last 5 weeks. Please continue to keep us in prayer for our healing, but also add these 5 people, blessed with Michaels' gift of life!

God Bless! Trish (TL)

Happy Wacky Wednesday!

First of all, to those who have taken (or will later) a moment to remember Dad & the family today, Thanks!

We appreciate the prayers & support so many of you have honored us with over this past year… more than you can imagine!

Austin’s school is having a special day today… it’s Wacky Wednesday!

A day where, as a thank you for showing up to support our school at McTeacher’s Night last week, the kids and staff get to be Wacky!

Didn’t Dad love opportunities like that? In fact, did Dad ever really act what most people would consider normal?

Thankfully, NO!

That’s a BIG part of what made him so special. His desire to stand out from the crowd. To be different. TO BE WACKY!

And he was great at it!!

Everyone Dad met knew there was something different about him. Not all could put their fingers on what it was; but whether you were the checker at the grocery store; a church member – past or present; the waiter or waitress at Denny’s; or maybe a member of the family… we all loved what we saw in him!

You know what it was, right? It was HIM in him! God’s light shining through!

Take time today to do something Wacky today and let your Light shine! Dad will be looking down at you with a big smile on his face - doing one of those famous Toyota Jumps!

Happy Wacky Wednesday!
Johnny:)

By the way… 2 things I wanted to pass on for any of you reading this today.

Tomorrow night from 4 to 8pm at Eatonville Middle School, there will be a Spaghetti Dinner & Auction to honor Michael, with all proceeds going to Tricia Lynn to help with the mountain of expenses. Please come!

Secondly, Trish e-mailed these passages to the family this morning to help remind us – on this day, especially – who is in control here! I share them with you to do the same.

Peace
The Lord bless you and keep you-- the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace. - Numbers 6:24,26

Hope
"For I know the plans I have for you...." declares the Lord. ..."plans to give you hope and a future." - Jeremiah 29:11

Love
The Lord your God is with you. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His care. - Zephaniah 3:17