God's Many Blessings

I had hoped to get this post to the blog done before Thanksgiving, but I needed to write them out first. So, I am a little late. We give God the Glory for everything that has brought us to the reality of Alan's Second Chance. I will never be able to list them all but here goes

God at work in our lives these last 5 months


- Spiritual Growth
- Physical Healing, Pushing himself at the fitness
center made his body stronger pre and post surgery
- He came off the ventilator with no problems
- He did not have to have a feeding tube or stomach
wrap
- No special diet
- Minimal diabetic
- Walked 28 miles in the hospital the first time and
18 miles the second time in the hospital. After surgery
they require that you walk 1 mile before you leave
the hospital. Alan pushed through the pain and
broke records.
- Financial Security and my Manager held my position
open for me.
- Neighbors to watch our home in Charlotte
- Family in Durham, My cousin Carol has been our
"Angel"
- Our car has had a few quirks, but I only prayed,
did not take it to a garage, and God has been
faithful to keep it running.
- Safety for us and our loved ones as they visited
- We found a supportive church, Berea Baptist
- Duke Transplant Team and all the wonderful nurses, cnas, technicians that cared for Alan in ICU, 3rd flr, & 7th flr
- Everyone at the Pepsico Fitness Center where
Alan exercised 5 days a week
- The people that we met here at the hospital and
the apartment complex where we live, that are
taking this journey as well. Relationship in ( )
- The Carlton Family - Met ICU - (Wife & Mother)
- The Natoli & Shannon Families - Met ICU
(Daughter and Grandaughter)
- John and Barbara
- Paulette
- Don and Brenda
- Sonny and Ellen
There is a wonderful story here. Our daughter,
Traci was a youth minister one summer in
college. She lived with an amazing couple
from the church that have since gone to
Heaven, Artie and Gladys. Sonny is Glady's brother.
It really is a small world
- Jack
- Christian
- We learned something and shared a lot with all
of the people above. We will take them home in
our hearts and prayers.
- Co-incidental Blessing
- My cousins husband is a camera man for a
TV station. He is filming a donor family
the time they make the decision to donate
their loved ones organs, through the teams
coming to harvest all the way to the
recipients of the organs. Alan and I have
been hungry for insight into the feelings
and thoughts of the donor family.
- Our daughter, Traci, has visited with her
family many times since we have been here.
She and her husband Mark came for 2 dry runs
and the surgery. Mark stayed for 4 days and Traci
for 8 days. She called us every day, sometimes more
than once. Our grandchildren, Lane, Connor, and
Anna Kate have loved and prayed us through also.
- EACH OF YOU!!! You have prayed, called, visited,
emailed, sent cards and packages. Your love,
support and encouragement has been invaluable
and will NEVER be forgotten. If your church has
been praying for us, we would love to visit and
thank them in person. Just give us the word.
LAST OF ALL, This would never have been possible
without the DONOR and their Family. They gave us the
GIFT of LIFE.....and a SECOND CHANCE. Our prayer is that we honor them by giving something back. We want to make a difference, and we pray God will lead us in that direction. As always, we hold you close in our hearts, thoughts, and prayers. Alan and Judy