I reported in my last blog regarding my upcoming kidney transplant surgery. My wife, Bonnie, has decided to donate her kidney to me. If that is not humbling enough, the transplant procedure will now happen on January 30th, my wife Bonnie’s birthday. I’ve tried to convince her I’m fine on dialysis and continuing to work, as I’m doing now. I’ve even tried to get in some hot water by spending too much at the Bass Pro Shop, but my wife seems very determined to make this huge sacrifice of love.
I’ll be out of the office, beginning January 30th, for approximately three weeks. In my absence two of our Senior Leaders, Linda Wood, and Steve Borja, will take turns as Acting Directors. If you, as a contributor to the amazing work of Union Rescue Mission and Hope Gardens Family Center, wonder at all about what you could do for my family and I during this life changing event, please know that besides praying for us, the absolute best thing you could do for my health and well-being, would be to financially support URM during the time that I am out of the office.
We met with the team of surgeons this week and I negotiated permission to begin light work; phone calls, conference calls, and writing personal thank you notes on receipts, shortly after surgery. I’ll be returning to the office for limited duties after three weeks away. This will be difficult for me, as I love the work that I am privileged to do at Union Rescue Mission, and I look forward everyday to coming to Union Rescue Mission to witness the Life Transformation that takes place here each day.
Thank you, for all of your amazing support! If you want to keep up with our adventures, follow me at twitter.com/abales.
God bless you!
I will be praying for you and your wife Pastor Andy. I will also ask my bible study to pray. God bless you.
Love,
Julie-Ann
Hi Andy wow transplant thats something, thank God for your wife coming through for you, i will keep you and your family in my prayers. God is so good and in control and i know you will do just fine.. I will add you to my church prayer requests also, peace and love, diane
PTL, I pray that a full recovery is God’s will for you, HE has already used you in a mighty way….What a wonderful act of love from your wife…Blessings to you and family, we are all praying that you come out of this healthy and ready to serve HIM as you have in the past! <
Found your blog/site via a friend on Facebook – Many blessings to you and your loving wife, Bonnie and the rest of your family and friends. What the world needs is more acts of true love. I wish you the best possible outcome. Seems to me you’re in good hands. I’ve just come through something myself and have been reminded that all we can do is pass on the love. I’ll be following your progress and your light.
Namaste’
Hi Andy!
Dave and I will continue to pray for you and your beautiful Bonnie and family. I read the above with tears in my eyes. So much genuine, deep-abiding love -> Bonnie for you, you for the homeless guests you serve and, of course, the ever-present, unconditional love of our Jesus.
We love you, Andy. Please don’t sacrifice overly much of yourself during this period. We’ll see you soon!
Praying for you and Bonnie!!!
Thanks for faithfully serving, it is great to see God’s providence for your need. I will be praying for both of you to have a quick recovery. In April I was part of a team from Saskatchewan that had an opportunity to help prepare meals. We could all feel God’s presence in the URM so continue to glorify Jesus in all you do. God bless. P.S. and if you are wondering, yes it’s cold up here.
Thanks, all, for taking the time to read & respond with such loving words! We appreciate your prayers! Much love!
Praying for both of you Andy and Bonnie!
Hey, Andy — Sending prayers to the throne room on your behalf, for both you and Bonnie. This reminds me of Kathy and her transplant, and floods my eyes and heart with tears, remembering her. She kept me a bit more up to date with you when she was here, and she always felt “connected” because of what you both have been through. Gratefully — thanks to the promises of our Redeemer — she is enjoying life with our Savior now and isn’t fighting with disease. This life brings so many challenges, but the LORD our Mighty Jehovah is with us through them all! May His name be glorified through everything that happens and may your lives be full of Christ so that others will see HIM!
I wish you much luck, but I’m especially praying for the expertise and steady hand of your surgical team, Andy. Praises be to Bonnie too. She truly loves you. Perhaps you remember Des Moines and River Bend, where we met. I’ve moved on to Kansas City and a wonderful husband! Much love to all.
If you know any one else that needs a Kidney I will donate one of mine I have A pos. blood type. I am also on the list to donate bone marrow.
You don’t know me, but i remember you from Lake Ave and the Pasadena Athletic Club. We have some similar friends: Curt & Kathy Gibson, Gary Yuman, John Wilson and a few others. And I believe our sons both went to Iowa State. Thank you for your blog and sharing what you are going through. Last August i had a heart attack, followed by a quaduple by-pass and currently on dialysis. i am hoping to have a transplant by April thanks to the sacrifice of one of my kids or sibling (TBD). I have always been in awe with what you do and am inspired by your story and am praying that God looks at me with favor as he has done with you. I love your picture on the bike. Keep up the good work and thank you for keeping me motivated.
God bless you
This is my testimony of progress. i came across a testimony of a man on the internet who testified that he sold one of his kidney to Doctor Donald to save a patient in his hospital for 200,000USD so i decided to contact Doctor Donald to know if they are interested in buying my one of my kidney and luckily for me he told that they always need kidney to buy in their hospital and that they where willing to buy as many as possible so we negotiated and today i am so happy after many years of living in poverty that i sold one of my kidney at the rate of 200,000usd without side effect. Do you want to sell one of your Kidney to save a soul or Do you to buy kidney than contact Doctor Donald via email: indiakidneytransplant@gmail.com