Gifts of Life by deb stewart

Author:deb stewart
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-06-23T16:00:00+00:00

Andrew and Alison

Some years ago, we were having a discussion about organ transplants. I didn’t really go along with the idea, believing we were interfering with God’s plan for our lives and taking the control of our lives into our own hands. Asked if I would be able to deny this chance of life for one of my own children, I wasn’t able to reply with any real confidence, but felt that if I had to make such a decision, that God would give me the direction and strength at the time. Following is the story of the miracles that God performed in my walk with him to bring me to the decision that we made to have my son Andrew’s organs donated.

Nothing prepared me for that day in September 1999. I was enjoying a visit from my grandson Jarrett and his partner and little girl when the phone rang. I was pleasantly surprised to get a call so early in the day from my son Michael (Michael is Andrew’s identical twin). That feeling soon changed to shock and horror as Michael went on to explain that he was calling from the Darwin hospital where Andrew was in intensive care. Andrew had been admitted the night before after a road accident. Michael later told me of the chance meeting with a friend who told him about the accident. (The police have not notified us to this day.)

The doctor in charge of ICU advised that I needed to get there urgently as Andrew had suffered extensive brain injuries. Hanging up the phone I prayed long and hard for Andrew’s recovery. I finished my prayer asking God to keep him safe. ‘You know I desperately want to be there, but you also know that I don’t have the finances to fly from Adelaide to Darwin.’ Trying to hold my emotions together I went into the lounge room to tell my grandson. Repeating it all made it seem so real and so hopeless, and highlighted my frustration at not being able to do anything, other than pray. I had to let my other children know, so I phoned my son Hal who also lived in Mt Barker. A couple of hours later Hal called back to say that he had contacted everyone else and to go ahead and book my flight as he and his wife Gai would pay for my ticket.

Phoning the first airline I was told that their flight had left for the day. I phoned the second one to be told the same thing. I explained the urgency of getting on the next available flight, to be told that I was entitled to a compassionate fare, 40% off normal price. ‘Thank you, Lord.’ A booking was made for the next day.

My daughter Jaqi phoned from Melbourne to say that she was unable to get on the same flight but that she was booked onto a direct flight through to Darwin arriving within ten minutes of my arrival. I was sitting in the departure lounge after my son Hal had dropped me off.

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