One thousand four hundred and eighty… You read that right… 1,480… that is roughly how many rounds of dialysis Clive has received over the last 4 years and 27 days. Tonight Noah reminded me of the fact that this was HOPEFULLY his last time setting up Clive’s machine! 🙌🏻 (And a big thanks to Noah for setting up said machine on most of those nights!) We will be leaving for Dallas tomorrow morning, Clive will be admitted to the hospital tomorrow afternoon, and tomorrow night he will receive one final round of dialysis at the hospital! And then Lord-willing, Wednesday morning around 930 CST, Clive will undergo his kidney transplant! 🙏🏻 And if everyone goes as expected, no more dialysis! 😆 It’s really kind of weird to think about not having to do it, when we have done it for so long! 

People keep asking me if I’m ready for this week, and honestly I am nervous (and slightly scared out of my mind), but I have been so busy packing, finishing up therapies, cleaning house, doing laundry, and checking off all of the boxes that I haven’t had a ton of time to really think about it. But this is REALLY happening! Like, in two days! 

We have anticipated this day for over five years now. We knew even while I was still pregnant, that there would be a good chance he would someday need a kidney. And here we are…transplant week! The road has been rough at times, but OH SO REWARDING! 

This kid has amazed us. He has amazed his doctors, teachers, therapists, etc. He has done so well this past year, and yet has only had a total of 8% kidney function! The kind of dialysis that he does only improves function by 5-10%… his blood work has consistently shown 8% for the last several months. I’m not certain of the stats, but he should be getting a lot closer to 100% with James’ kidney. Can you imagine, what this kid will be able to accomplish with that?! 😱 I can’t! 

So yes, we are excited, we are nervous, and yes we are a little bit scared about this whole process because it is new territory for us. But thankfully I know my heavenly Father is holding our hands through the entire process. It’s just our job to follow Him through the open door. 💙

Prayer requests 🙏🏻:

1. Obviously the transplant itself to be successful.
2. James to recover well (it is typically more difficult on the donor because they come out having lost something)
3. James’ vehicle situation 
4. Clive to recover well
5. Clive to begin to learn to eat solid foods (yes he is still mainly on a liquid diet)
6. Clive to gain strength in his legs, so that he can eventually learn to walk
7. Clive to have good weight gain, and to get taller (he is below the 3rd percentile for his height)
8. Clive can “catch up” on some of his developmental delays and get prepped to start Kindergarten this fall
9. Clive to avoid any illness in these first several months post-transplant
10. That through it all, Noah and I (as well as James and Michal) can be a testimony for Christ to nurses, doctors, and others around the situation
11. That grandparents involved don’t go crazy babysitting the Meierdierks and other Downing children (you think I’m joking! 😂)

Thank you all! Also please remember to wear blue on Wednesday (or your Fearless Warrior shirts)! Take a pic and post it to any social media with the #tribeclive! As he recovers I know he will enjoy looking at the pictures of friends, family, and fearless prayer warriors who are thinking and praying for him. We will keep you posted! 💙