| Giving Life
Nothing seemed out of the ordinary when my husband,
Marvin, walked in with mail in hand. As he began sorting through
the usual envelopes, he came to a nondescript envelope addressed
to him. He opened it to find a generic card with a picturesque scene
adorning the front. Opening the card, he read what must be the most
potent words anyone has ever written him: "Thank you for saving
my life."
Several years ago, Marvin and I were in church when someone made
a plea to the congregation for bone marrow donors. A young boy in
our community was dying and his only hope was to find an unrelated
bone marrow donor.
When we left church, Marvin suggested we go to
the drive and register to be donors. And so we did.
Unfortunately, neither of us matched the young boy and he died soon
after. However, years later Marvin received a letter stating that
he was a possible match for someone else. Marvin called the telephone
number, and so began our experience with the National Bone Marrow
Donor Program.
Marvin completed several more blood tests to confirm that he was
a match to this anonymous patient. Every time he was contacted it
was to continue to the next step, until November 1998 when he was
notified that he was a near perfect match and they scheduled an
operation date.
This was an exciting time for our family as my husband, eleven-year-old
daughter and I prepared to welcome our first son into this world
– due date, November 25. The first date suggested to my husband
for the operation was on our son's due date, so he declined and
scheduled it for two weeks earlier.
Marvin left, beeper in hand, along with my father
to drive three hours to the out-of-state hospital. All of their
expenses were covered, including the large steak dinner they treated
themselves to.
I talked to Marvin on the phone after his surgery to assure him
that I was not in labor and he could relax. Marvin described the
experience and the royal treatment he was given. He felt fine, a
little sore. He told me about the nurses that were brought to tears
when they learned why Marvin was at the hospital and about the doctors
that so diligently cared for him. He told me about the note he wrote
to his recipient wishing him well and sending our prayers. Marvin
recovered very quickly during the day and so they drove home that
evening.
Since the donor and the recipient are kept anonymous, we don't know
whose life Marvin helped to save. For all I know, it could be you
or your husband, brother, father or son.
Our son was born on his due date. As we watch him grow and mature,
we know that somewhere there is a man who began his life again and
is continuing to grow and mature. Men sometimes ask women what it
is like to give life. Now I just say, "Ask my husband."
by Kimberly White Kerl
Reprinted by permission of Kimberly White Kerl © 1999 from
Chicken Soup for the Christian Family Soul by Jack Canfield, Mark
Victor Hansen, Patty Aubery and Nancy Mitchell Autio.
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