On Monday, Micah's medical situation was presented to the transplant team at Duke. Monday afternoon, while I was with students in Chicago for our PowerPlant: Chicago Mission Trip, Sarah received word that the transplant doctor also believed that it was time to begin the transplant process.
While this is all new to us and we are learning as we go, our next step is the testing and extensive evaluation of Micah to insure that he is able to be a transplant candidate. The first tests begin on Thursday, July 12. On this particular day, we'll actually meet the transplant doctor, as well as Micah will have a series of blood tests and an ultrasound of the abdominal organs/blood flow. There are other meetings and appointments we must schedule that we hope will, in part, be able to happen on this day as well.
The second test will be Wednesday, July 18 when Micah will return to Duke for an echocardiogram (and I guess the potential of additional tests if needed).
Knowing that all tests were pointing in this direction, I believe Sarah and I were praying for the Lord to allow the process to begin. We didn't want to wait and risk the potential he would get too sick to receive the transplant. Nevertheless, it's been hard. There are not too many moments passing by when it doesn't come to mind. Yet I have been reminded again that God will be glorified. Exactly how is hard to know or say. I struggle sometimes to grasp how much God could be using this or how He will ultimately use it to glorify Himself. But we know He is glorified even in the most difficult and painful of situations. Jospeh understood this. Betrayed by brothers, sold as a slave, falsely accused, unlawfully imprisoned and forgotten by jailhouse friends he helped, Joseph still knew that what others did to him for evil, God meant for good. God was glorified in and through Joseph.
Yet the time-splitting event of history demonstrates it magnificently. Jesus Christ, the sinless Son of God, treated as a criminal, arrested for trumped up charges, abused while in custody, illegally tried and convicted, severely beaten and then murdered, but God was glorified in Him and through Him. The glory of God and His great love is demonstrated through this tragic and horrific moment of history. Oh that the Lord would be glorified in and through us in this time which is so small in comparison.
Regardless of the trouble, the tragedy or the test, God is good. We must always remember He is good. "For the Lord is good..." (Psalm 100:5). He, alone, is worthy to be worshipped at all times. Again I say, a god who is not worthy to be praised in the time of difficulty and despair, is not a god to be praised in times of peace and prosperity.
Please continue to pray for us, our entire family, as we begin this process. May we worship the Lord for He is good and His lovingkindness endures forever.
