Andrew & Alex’s Story

Site created on October 11, 2021

Hi, fam!


This site will be used to update everyone in one place on Andrew Rutten and Alex Schultz's transplant journey. The transplant is scheduled for this Wednesday morning (Oct. 13), and we would love your prayers before, during, and after the procedure. We appreciate your prayers and encouragement!

Backstory

Andrew had a seizure on November 24, 2020 at home. The doctors found that he suffers from hypertension (high blood pressure) and chronic kidney disease, specially iGA Nephropothy (an autoimmune-based kidney disease). The combination of the kidney disease and elevated blood pressure was scarring his kidneys to the point where he needed a transplant. In God's providence, Andrew's transplant will come from one of his close friends, Alex, who ended up being a perfect match. Praise God!

Due to rising COVID numbers and other health evaluations that needed to take place, the transplant has been cancelled 4 times since July. As you can imagine, this caused immense uncertainty of whether the scheduled surgery on Wednesday would happen. However, as they've met with doctors today, it seems as though Andrew and Alex's surgery date will stick by God's grace and provision.

Please pray for them as they await their surgery this Wednesday. Pray for peace for them and their families. Pray for skilled hands and sharp minds for the doctors. Pray for God's provision in it all. 


Thanks, y’all!! So much love. 

Newest Update

Journal entry by Bailey Rutten

Family, 

How has it already been a week since we asked y’all to please earnestly intercede on our behalf in prayer for the guys’ surgeries?! When I think about all you have done by pleading to God that he would protect Andrew and Alex, heal Andrew’s body, allow Alex and andrew to recovery quickly and on top of it, you prayed comfort over Madi and I, I get so emotional in utter gratefulness for all y’all and thankfulness for your “yes’s” to pray 😭 From the deepest depths of my soul, thank you 🙏🏼🙏🏼 

Update: Andrew is loving being HOME! 🥳🥳And can we talk about the over-the-top awesome house decorations provided by our WONDERFUL citygroup?! Hahaha had me cracking up!! 😂 We had labs at the hospital Monday after coming home Sunday afternoon. Everything looks GREAT! His in-home nurse and post-transplant coordinator are so encouraged by his levels! He’s dealing with quite a bit of post-surgery/incisional pain and residual side-effect pain, but overall he’s recovering so well. If y’all could please pray for ample amounts of sleep, as that has been the roughest part, aside from the pain. 

The boys are loving having daddy home, too 🥰 Jethro is getting used to no rough-housing with his favorite wrestling buddy, but they’re getting creative with new things to do together! Reading, coloring, watching “the game” (Jethro sees that Andrew loves sports and now says “I just wanna watch the game with you, dad” UGH so sweet 🥺🖤)  Please pray for Jethro - even though he’s being such a trooper with everything, his understanding and emotions are everywhere and as an almost 4-year-old, he doesn’t know what to do when he’s sad. Lord, please be near to Jethro’s tender heart, be peace for me (and Andrew) in parenting and grant us abounding grace with each other. On another note, Riggs is a champ and his only concern is eating everything in sight and walking everywhere (‘bout time, buddy! 😂😂) 

Thank you to our wonderful family (and friends), without whom we couldn’t have done this with such ease, or at all. Thank you to our church fam, Providence Church Omaha - for rallying in prayer, providing for us and the Schultzes and celebrating huge victories with us - and for other church families that have prayed and supported. So thankful 🤍

I read Psalm 23 repeatedly over Andrew in pre-op last week, as this was the Psalm that The Lord gave him for comfort: 

The LORD Is My Shepherd

“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters. 
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.”

Andrew is safe forever with God. His eternity is sealed, and as long as he’s on this side of Heaven, Praise YOU, Lord, that you are forever with Andrew and he never needs to fear! You have overcome the world!! 😭🙏🏼🙌🏼

I am forever grateful that my husband is still here and now, thriving. Thank you, UNMC, for taking such amazing care of him. Thank you, Heavenly Father, for your sovereignty in all things. 

(In Jethro’s words that he prays with Andrew at bedtime) “I thank you, Jesus. I trust you, Jesus. I love you, Jesus. Amen!”

🤍🤟🏼🤍
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