Pre birthday and surgery surprise!

It so happens that the new date of my kidney transplant coincides with my 33rd birthday. WHAT A BIRTHDAY PRESENT!

As amazing as it is there is also a down side to it; being away from my family. I am not huge on celebrating my birthday but what I always like is to be home with my loved ones. When I was younger I thought it weird how my parents always opted not for lavish parties but asked for quality time with family instead. I now understand this and how I would love for this to be the case tomorrow. I do realise that the next few days away from them is so insignificant compared to however many years I get of life without dialysis.

I am writing this from my hospital bed in surgical one at St Augustines hospital. My potassium levels are in a good range, my blood pressure is perfect, my pulse is good and I have finished my dialysis session. There is nothing more I can do but pray that the Lord gives me a good restful night sleep and tomorrow I wake up well and ready for the op. It is a strange place to be in and quite different from last week this time. Last week there was a lot of excitement and I was restless. Tonight I am calm.

Back to what my heading is about. Earlier on today I got the biggest surprise. While on dialysis my family (Shay & Evi and my mother-inlaw, Vanessa) came and visited me. What was the surprise? The fact that I got to see my Evi one more time before the operation. Wow, that really lifted my spirits. They came baring balloons, cards and big smiles. My heart was happy and still is.

Evi and I during my last dialysis session

I see how much I love my family and then think that God loves me so much more. Hard to believe, but He really does. I once heard someone say “I don’t believe in coincidences, I believe in God-incidents”. This is so true in my life. God has always had a plan and has been at play in everything I do. Like this operation taking place on my birthday, I don’t see this as a random thing. I see this as God giving me an amazing birthday present.