The search is over - Patrick has found a place to stay!
After his interview with the Anchorage Daily News someone reached out and offered him an arrangement that we felt specifically suited his needs. We are grateful and extremely relieved.
But we also wanted to address those of you who reached out; to those whose offers we declined - we are so appreciative of your efforts! The staggering kindnesses, incredible grace, and amazing generosity - from family, friends, acquaintances, and strangers alike - has astounded us. We have been left simply speechless.
Patrick's story has also been broadcasted with our permission (and often Patrick's participation) on various news outlets. This has been nothing less than a platform for him to express his gratitude for the assistance he has received along the way from Alaska Airlines, the University of Washington Medical Center, and the people around us and who have heard his story. It has also been an opportunity for Patrick to not only share his faith, but to share a universal message of looking beyond oneself in the face of great tragedy, and to find positives in the smallest and darkest of crevices.
I may be Patrick's wife and prone to illuminating the finer points of his character, but my words truly fall short in comparison to his words, actions, and reactions of the last week. Even through his deepest struggles he fairly wept with love and grief for Steve and his family, and for those in line after Patrick waiting for a heart or other organs.
If I could ask you for a round of applause, as though this was a lectern and you my audience, I would.
The events of this last week have highlighted in our minds the plight of those like Patrick who depend on organ donation for decent quality of life, for relief from chronic and life threatening illness, and from impending death. Patrick never expected to be in a position of needing someone else's heart to survive.
Say this with me: "I never expected to be in a position of needing someone else's heart to survive."
This isn't just Patrick's story. It's yours and mine. It's our parent's. It's our children's. It's our friend's, our neighbor's, and our colleague's.
There are a lot of Ifs in life, but two of them are more important than we can probably fully understand.
… If I get sick and need an organ transplant.
… If I die, and someone needs my organs.
Please don't ignore these Ifs.
Register as an organ donor for Patrick and everyone we love who is on a transplant list. Pursue opportunities. You can live with one kidney. You can donate bone marrow. You might unexpectedly die tomorrow - give someone the gift of life and display that little heart badge on your driver's license.
Thanks again to everyone for your time, your support, your encouragement, and your prayers.
The photo attached to this post was taken October 9, 2007. Patrick is 5 days post-bypass surgery and holding our newborn daughter.
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