From Failure To Freedom

Life was going quite well for me, if I do say so myself. I was married to the love of my life. My husband Troy and I were actively involved in ministry and I had a job I loved. Life was good. After follow-up to a routine visit with my primary physician, I was diagnosed with kidney failure and had to begin dialysis. Although I was devastated initially. I completed a thorough work-up and got on the kidney transplant list. I adapted my schedule and continued working.

Two years later, my husband and I went on a relaxing weekend away. The weekend was incredible except at night I had an awful time sleeping. Every time I attempted to lay down flat, I couldn’t breathe. I had to sit up in a chair to sleep. Troy and I decided a trip to the doctor was needed. I went to the doctor that Monday. I assumed I had allergies, a cold, or some type of breathing disorder. My doctor recognized the symptoms immediately, however she didn’t want to scare me. My doctor gave me an inhaler, but said I needed to go to the hospital for a chest x-ray before she told me when to start the inhaler. This made sense to me. However, after several hours in the emergency room, I called my doctor and told her my husband and I were heading home. She informed me I was going to be admitted because my lungs were filled with fluid and I was in congestive heart failure. After a few days in the hospital I was informed I would need a heart transplant. I now had two failed organs. My life changed dramatically.

For a while I continued to work, until my cardiologist said I could no longer work. In her words, “I was working myself to death”. Not only had my organs failed, but I begin to feel like a failure. My energy level felt non-existent. I could barely walk a few steps without having to stop and catch my breath. I had to turn to my faith in God to get me through this season. I began to meditate on Philippians 4:19, “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus”. I needed a healthy heart and kidney to live and I believed my God would supply them. After being placed on the Heart and Kidney transplant list it took five weeks before I got a call to get to the hospital they had organs for me to receive my transplant!

On March 15, 2006, I received my new heart and kidney. My life had dramatically changed again. This time it went from failure to freedom. With my new heart and kidney, I was free to start my own business, Destiny Learning Center. I was free to enjoy being a wife to my awesome husband, Troy. This year we celebrated our 22nd Wedding Anniversary. Four years after the transplant, I was blessed to become a mother to my beautiful son, Caleb. I now realize every day of my life is a gift from God and I will use this freedom to fulfill my destiny as my life has went from Failure to Freedom.