Friday, December 18, 2020

Dear Family and Friends,

We made it!!  Praise the Lord and God Bless all of you!  By the time this letter reaches you, I hope and pray that you and your families are well, highly blessed and ‘Praising God’, for the wonderful things He has done.

Like everyone else, Henry and I have been home, since early March 2020 when the Governor instructed everyone to ‘Stay at Home’, due to the Covid-19 pandemic.  We both have health challenges.

Henry has been off work because he is considered a ‘high risk’ candidate.  I’m sure all of you have your own stories and how this virus has affected your families, but I pray the Lord has blessed you and your families and kept all of you safe.  

As you may or may not know in 2009, Henry was diagnosed with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD).  September 2016, Henry was placed on the Kidney Transplant List through HCMC.  Many family members and friends have gone to Hennepin Healthcare to be tested but none has prevailed.  Hennepin Healthcare will not accept your kidney if it will endanger your health in any way.  We have been waiting for a new kidney for just under five years.  A live donor is best, but a healthy cadaver will also do.  Whichever comes first. 

Before dialysis was administered, Henry had to have a biopsy to determine his current kidney functions and surgery to place an import into his left arm for dialysis.  After the surgery was done, it closed up and another surgery was performed to place an AV Fistula import for dialysis.  Many doctor appointments later, multiple medicines, gaining over thirty pounds and the latest this past July 15, 2020, Henry started Dialysis.  Dialysis is no joke!  Going on dialysis, he was no longer able to work because of policies on his job, which states anyone on dialysis is not ‘Fit for Work’ (he was a Transit Bus Driver).  Henry has lost over 20 pounds and is waiting for a new kidney.  This is all new territory for us and we are in the Lord’s hand, because He knows our past, present and future.  It has been a long time, 11 years plus and we continue to pray and wait. Please keep Henry and myself in your prayers that ALL goes well ‘In Jesus Name’. 

If anyone wishes to learn more about the donor program at Hennepin Healthcare or wants to be a donor, please don’t hesitate to contact Jenny Bodner the ‘Donor Nurse’ on 612 873-7708.

That’s all for now, but remember, we love you, Merry Christmas and have a Happy New Year and ‘Have a wonderful day with JESUS!’

Henry and Bonnae