Transplant Trick or Treat

Sometimes in the midst of our everyday busy lives we are drawn to do something. I have felt that way about volunteering with Lifeline. Tonight was no different. I had been planning to attend a meeting at Lifeline this evening for weeks. Of course when it came down to getting there that was a different story! Evenings are hectic but Bill and I had things arranged, he would get everyone to their activities so that I could make the meeting. I got a late start, the traffic was horrible, I was late (noticeably late!), like I almost turned around to go home because I thought I would not get through the traffic. But something kept me going.
When I arrived at the meeting, Terri shared some news with me. Jonah's preschool teacher had just had a heart transplant. She had just visited her in the hospital earlier in the day. What are the odds that one of Jonah's former teachers would need a heart transplant just like he had? Terri told me that she had let Kim, Jonah's mom, know about this connection.
After the meeting concluded, some of the people from the group were going to go visit some of the new transplant patients in the hospital. Reverse trick or treating, dress up and pass out candy to the patients. They asked me to join them and gave me a bag of candy. How could I say no. Then Terri told me that Kim was going to try to join the group so that she could visit Jonah's former teacher. Well that sealed the deal for me, if Kim was going I was going.
When I got down to my car Kim was just arriving armed with witches hats to dress up in. Off we all go, candy and costumes to spread some Halloween cheer. We may have spread cheer, but I think we all received our share of joy. Patients so happy to see people who have had success with their transplants. Family members of donors who helped others receive the gift of life. Heart warming stories of friends donating kidneys to childhood friends, a son donating a kidney to his mom, the stories go on.
We work our way to the heart unit to see Jonah's preschool teacher. I was so touched that Kim wanted to go visit her but I also knew it would be hard for her too. But never underestimate that woman! She is an amazingly strong woman even when I am sure she does not feel very strong.
While we were waiting for Jonah's teacher to get settled in her room we waited in the hall outside her room, chatting amongst ourselves. Kim had been wearing a jacket for the last couple of weeks with a button of Jonah from soccer when he was little. She was carrying it over her arm while we walked through the hospital. While we were standing there talking a loud clang came from the floor. The button had fallen off the jacket and landed by our feet. The button that had been on the jacket for weeks, was now sitting on the floor, outside the room of the preschool teacher. Kim and I both start crying. Jonah has a special way of getting people's attention, especially his mom's! If ever there was a sign of his presence it was right then. None of us could believe it had even happened. All night we walked though that hospital, visiting many patients, and at that moment the button falls off. Once we stopped crying we had to laugh - it was just so Jonah! His spirit was with us all night.
Jonah's teacher was so happy to see everyone especially Kim. She is doing great! And with an angel like Jonah to watch out for her I am sure she will have a speedy recovery. I know that I will always follow my heart to where it leads me whether it be to a meeting or somewhere else. Because God works in many ways to make sure you are where you are supposed to be doing what you are supposed to do.

For Kim

Kim- I know you saw the text pictures but wanted you to see the bigger image. It was so beautiful to see the sun going down over Jonah's name. The kids were so happy to do this for you! Hope its even better than you imagined! I especially love how Ethan is wearing red. See you soon!

Donate Life!

This was definitely a God night. No doubt about it. Sometimes there is no way to explain how and why things happen the way they do other than God is in charge.

Last month I signed up to go to an orientation to become a Lifeline of Ohio Ambassador. Having been touched by what Jonah's family has gone through, along with another friend's little girl Isabelle, I wanted to do more. Add to that, I am a recipient of a bone donation in my spine, I am drawn to this cause in a personal way as well. The walk for Jonah on Sunday was not something I could have done three years ago.

I never would have made it that far walking let alone trying to keep up with my little girl!

 Having my spinal fusion with donated bone was the best route for me to achieve the best possible surgical outcome. At the time I was so focused on getting through my surgery and recovery, I didn't think much about what actually fixed my spine. But all of this really came to light over the last two months. When I spoke with a friend at Lifeline she said they are always looking for people who have received a bone donation or a donation of healing. Well, I was more than happy to become involved.

My friend Cathy from church also signed up to volunteer. This is just one of the many ways that Jonah has brought people together. Cathy and I had a very entertaining ride to our meeting tonight. Not knowing too much about each other we discovered that we used to work for the same company, at the same time, in different areas. Well, we laughed the whole way there telling stories and just in amazement that our paths had not just crossed but crashed into each other!

The evening at Lifeline was very moving. We were asked to share if organ donation had touched our lives in some way. Cathy shared Jonah's story which in itself is very moving. When it was my turn I said that organ donation has come up at various points in my life. The first one was when I was a nursing student. For one of my first clinical rotations, I was placed at OSU on the transplant floor. I was very excited and interested in this area. I then shared my own story of my spine and how having surgery has made me better able to enjoy and participate in activities and life.

During the presentation, one of the Lifeline staff spoke of his personal experience with receiving a liver donation, 15 years ago. To make a long story short,  this was my first patient of my nursing clinical experience in transplant! I thought he looked familiar! Sure enough we talked and he told me what happened to him after I had him for my assignment.

What an awesome night. Cathy and I were gabbing all the way home about what a neat night it had been. She topped it off by giving me a bracelet she had made out of the Lifeline colors. She had made one for herself and one for me and Jonah's mom. How special to have that bracelet to wear when we volunteer or want to remember all the organ donors and special recipients. Thank you Cathy for such a special gift.

Kim - This picture is for you, I know how important Marilyn has been in your journey with Jonah. Cathy and I wanted to take this for you to see how Jonah's legacy continues through others today.

We Walked for Jonah

Mary, Paige, Erin, and Lindy before the race.

Jonah did it again. He took a cloudy, breezy day and made it beautiful and sunny just in time for Pickerington to share with his family a celebration of his life. The "I Run for Jonah" race had been planned for months, before Jonah lost his battle waiting for a new heart. But the race went on as planned. So many people showed up to walk and run it lifted my spirits to see how many people support Jonah's family. They are such strong people and I can't imagine how difficult their days are. I hope this lifted their spirits as well.

Erin said she was not doing a race unless she could win and she took off running. My little girls were so excited to participate in this event. I think it was a way for them to feel they were doing something to contribute. We intended to just do the 1 mile family walk but Erin was not going to stop. She slowed down after she made it a mile and we helped her out along the way. The girls had their friend Mary along who helped me give Erin piggy backs while Bill helped the girls with a couple of rides.

Ethan came in at 43 minutes and Kyle was just behind him. All the girls wanted to cross the finsh line by themselves. They came in at 58 minutes to a cheering crowd that included Jonah's family. They were so proud they made it the whole way! I am proud of all of them for pushing themselves to the end and wanting so much to do something special for someone else.

Ethan and Nathan

Ethan, Nathan, and Mitch, Jonah's Sunday School classmates.

The crazy ladies from Peace!

Go girls!

Samantha and Emily - Ethan's fan club!

A little help along the way from Dad!

Shine On

Tonight was a very special evening, the end of an emotional weekend celebrating the life of a young boy from our church, Jonah Hoser. This afternoon was a beautiful memorial service filled with music, prayer, laughter, and many, many tears. Jonah received a heart transplant at the age of four. Now nine years later, at the age of 13 he began rejecting his heart and was on the transplant list for a new heart. He lost his battle this week. There was not to be a heart for Jonah. As Ethan said, "God wanted Jonah now,” such a simple statement from a little boy, but so true. Jonah is in heaven playing and running and doing all the things he hasn't been able to do the last two months.

Tonight was the annual candlelight vigil for Lifeline of Ohio, except this year was different. They were trying to beat a world record of the most candles lit simultaneously at a single event. It seemed appropriate to go in Jonah's honor. A group from church went downtown to the statehouse for the ceremony and lighting. WOW! What an awesome night. We signed in and were assigned to a leader who was in charge of our group and to make sure that our candles were accounted for when they were lit. We joined a family who was there with their daughter who received a double lung transplant. Such inspiring people were all around. Jonah's family has inspired so many of us over his life and especially over the last couple of months. We were surrounded by so much hope tonight it was uplifting.

Many stories were shared. A lady shared her living donation of her kidney to her friend, another the story of her son's donation to save five lives, a daughter who spoke of her father not getting the heart he was waiting for, and a women who is waiting for a liver. We listened and cried at all of the stories. The spokeswomen from Lifeline shared that one of the speakers who was scheduled to be there was not able to make it, they were recovering from receiving their heart last weekend. She shared of the loss of a boy (Jonah) who had been waiting for his heart, they made sure to include Jonah in the evening.

After the stories were shared we gathered around our red balloons that marked our spot in honor of Jonah. After the countdown was done we quickly lit our candles. The wind that had been blowing our balloons, all but disappeared. Our candles stayed lit for 20-30 minutes. It was as if God and the all the spirits came through to light the candles and keep them lit.

After our candles had been lit for awhile, we gathered around our balloons and held our candles together. Someone noticed that we had 13 lit candles joined around our 13 balloons. We let our balloons go and everyone yelled, "We love you Jonah." People all over started clapping. Our balloons took off right towards Pickerington, they stayed in our sight for awhile, getting smaller and smaller, closer to home. We joked about how neat it would be if they made it to Jonah's house or to Peace.

Jonah touched many people in his 13 years. He inspired many as did his family. In his memory, make sure that you are a registered organ donor. Give the gift of life so that the light will shine on.