It has been a year since this crazy journey started!! On February 7, 2021, I was having surgery to have a pacemaker put in.  Now, one year later, with new and old friends and countless prayers, here we are on the other side. It doesn’t seem possible.  I apologize that we haven’t updated in a while. Most of you know I am back at home and back at work. There is truly no place like home. I included a picture of the welcome home party we were surprised with. Those that know me well, know that the tears started flowing as soon as we pulled onto our street. What an amazing community we belong to!! 

All my tests continue to show “no rejection” and all my lab counts are good.  I will continue periodic trips back to Houston, and in between I am under the care of Dr David Nelson at Integris in OKC.  I have been truly blessed with excellent medical care throughout.  Since being home I have been able to do the things I missed most: actual face to face time with my kids, planning a last minute lunch or coffee with family, girls night out evenings with my crew, watching  OSU games surrounded by my favorite Pokes, going to Mass in my home parish, getting ready for two college graduations, and wedding planning!! Life is getting back to normal and it feels so good. 

Since this is most likely the last post, please let me thank all of you again for your prayers and support. Words fail to express all that I want to express.  You truly were the driving force behind this miracle. Please don’t ever doubt the power of your prayers. God hears every word.  Please continue to remember my donor and my donor’s family in your prayers. I have written them a letter and am anxiously waiting to hear back from them.  The first thing I do when I wake up and the last thing I do before I fall asleep every day is pray for them. It is of course up to them whether or not they respond to my letter, but I have a strong desire to know more about them. 

Lastly, this year has taught me more about God’s love for me than I could have ever thought possible. I’ve always known I belonged to Him, but being in a place where I had no choice but to surrender everything to Him puts it in a different perspective. I see His hand over all of it. All I had to do was hold up my heart to Him and let Him pour out His love and grace over it.  I learned the beautiful gift of being receptive  and open to all he had to give. To take what He gives, and give what He takes with a smile. And in this surrendering I learned, 

“And when I must lead you down a path that is different from the one you choose, I will prepare you; I will carry you in My arms; I will let you find yourself, like children who have fallen asleep in their mother’s arms, on the other bank of the river. So trust only in Me, rest in Me, surrender to Me in everything. And I promise you by My love that if you say ‘Jesus, You take care of it’, I will take care of it all.” 

If any of you are in a difficult place, surrender it all to Him, you won’t regret it.  And always be assured of my continued prayers for each and every one of you. 

Much love,

Becky