Update on Tom

Tom and Pattie went home on Saturday, back to their own home and their family and friends, including two precious grandchildren. Tom was here for three weeks, Pattie for two, which was another sacrifice that they made (not that they would ever refer to it as such).

 

Tom’s surgery and thus his recovery was rougher than mine. He didn’t have the benefit of the steroid load which I was on to prevent rejection. He was in a lot of pain from the surgery and had to continue meds for it while he was here. The good news is that he’s mostly off of them now and continuing to take long walks and get his strength back. He has similar activity restrictions to mine for six weeks post-surgery.

Besides the process of the surgery, it was a pleasure having Tom and Pattie here. While Tom and I spent a lot of time together as kids, since then we’ve seen each other only sporadically. It was good to have the last weeks (especially the time out of the hospital), to connect in new ways and share our lives. We shared meals and talks and groaning in pain. They got to spend time with our children; we got to learn about their children and especially their grandchildren. It was one more blessing in this whole process.

We were family before, and we became closer in this experience. But our connection runs far deeper than family or kidneys. We are all recipients and beneficiaries of the love of Jesus, who has given us life. And for that we are forever grateful.