Nancy Drew, Porky and one of the Girls from Tart Street

I know it has been a very long time since I have blogged. It is not that I dont love getting all sorts of things down to share but the apron is really MIA and has been for an extremely long time, the penguin is chasing the apron, I assume, and well, my life is just floating by with little to share. I am going to write anyway.

Years ago I loved and read so many of the Nancy Drew Mystery books. They were a rare thing in my childhood, books where the girls were the strong, smart and major characters. Nancy had a knack for figuring out all sorts of problems and solving crime throughout her town. The teasers started on the cover with titles like "The Secret of the Old Clock" or "The Legend of the Crystal Skull". Nancy could solve problems and had guts with a capital G!! She was smart, daring, willing to face scary situations and very helpful. I loved her and her stories. Our library has dozens of Nancy Drew books that are still widely read. They are a success story.

Later this week a woman I know well will be helping to step in and solve a problem bigger and much more scary than any Ms.Drew had to face. She is doing it willingly, with no hesitation and with a boatload of support. If it were a book it could be called "The Case of Sisterly Love". This case involves a very private but much loved and comical man in need of a new kidney and his equally as loved and loving only sister who would never hesitate to give you the shirt off her back or, in this case, her "extra" kidney.

That we have medical experts who have fine tuned this procedure over the years and that the hospitals specializing in organ transplants are doing it routinely is a wonder to me. My cousin has been a wonder of his own. He is joyful and hard working. He has been on his own since he was about 15 and been with the same woman since that age, too. He has been the support for his wife as she battled and survived breast cancer at an unusually young age, gone through and rallied after a liver transplant years ago, together they opened their home to his mother when she was widowed and cared for her until she passed away and he has NEVER broadcast his medical problems or asked for help. (If asked he will tell you, but if you dont ask he keeps it to himself). He still runs a successful business between dialysis days often leaving the country. He is strong and lives a normal as possible a life with his wife, their dogs and their horses. He did not tell anyone of his need for a kidney until he had no choice. He asked no one to be a donor. It was his private battle. Until it became our family journey. When first told of the need for this operation everyone said the same thing, without hesitation, "he can have one of mine.". I know of 11 family members who sent in paperwork offering a kidney. I am sure there are some I dont know about. Most of us were told we were not compatible for one reason or another. But more than one of us was a possible match; but there was only one ideal and as close to perfect a match as possible. I think the words were, "she couldn't be a better match even if she were his twin".

It has taken many medical professionals, numerous tests, sacrifice, prayer, willingness to help, sharing of emotion, faith, desire and need to live without dialysis, and most of all deep deep love for one another to get to this point. It is the essence of what family means. Unselfish and never ending love and support. So there you have it. The story of the journey of Porky and the Girl from Tart Street will continue this week. A story that I pray has a fairy tale ending. They have my prayers and, hopefully, yours as well.


UPDATE: As of midnight on Sept 1st the surgery was finally over and both were recovering. Now we keep praying that they both live long long long and healthy lives. Heroes are everywhere and love abounds!! Thanks to all for supporting our family in your thoughts and prayers!!