Take the Father, Leave the Daughter- Important Update

This has been a SPECIAL day, let me tell you why!

Many years ago when I was in high school I was on a vacation in Wisconsin with my best friend Tim Cleary and his family. Coming home one evening we were in a serious accident. I got pretty banged up, even to the point that Timmy said there was so much blood on me and I was unconscious that he thought I was gone. Well obviously I wasn't.

My mom and dad for reasons I don't recall came up in two different cars. When they got there they were very relieved to see that I had a serious head wound but was ok and released. However, Tim's Mom was in bad shape and admitted to the hospital. My mom volunteered to go back to the Cleary's cottage to help out the family and get them packed to come home the next day. My dad and I headed back home to Bellwood.

The next morning I was home alone when the phone rang. It was my aunt Pam and she was hysterical and informed me that my grandmother ( mom's mother) had just suddenly passed away that morning. I was left to share the news to my mother.

Sometime over the next few days, during the funeral and wake period, I was alone with my mom during a reflective time on her part. My mom was Patricia McNamara and was as Irish as the name implies ( she was even born on St. Paddy's day March 17th)! So if you know anyone Irish, there is a saying for everything tied to a God in heaven who has a special affinity for the Irish. I am sure this involved a few Guinness's too as it was an Irish wake! But I digress! Anyway, mom tells me about an Irish saying that ties to our lives right now, that in God's Providence, He will take the mother and leave the son! Being 15 the words and meaning were lost on me.

Well, I am a McNamara too and having never been one to let the truth get in the way of a good story, I'm going roll with it, but with a twist. God in His Providence will take the father and leave the daughter. So, why was today such a special day

We lost my dad a litter over a week ago. He was 90, lived a full and meaning full life. He was suffering so the end was a blessing to him, he was ready. For a whole bunch of reasons not important to this message, today was his memorial service for the immediate family. We had a beautiful morning of sharing memories with the family and a great luncheon afterward. We had this great spot in an out door tent with the sides opened up. The gathering broke up, but Nancy and I lingered awhile alone enjoying the atmosphere and the peace of the rain. Bridget called, maybe 15 minutes after she had left and said the words we have been longing to hear!

"Mom, dad, the University of Chicago called and informed me the insurance company has approved my transplant!"

Take the father, leave the daughter. Us Irish are on to something. What an emotionally packed day for our family, loss then such tremendous gain!

So, Journeywomen and Journeymen, its game time! We will be putting out detailed information this week and we need everyone to be proactive passing on Bridget's letter to the world with this life saving request. We ask you to post, forward, send up smoke signals ,what ever that will get the word out. We know God did not take us this far to drop us now. Our experience has taught miracles are real, but they don't just happen, they need to be earned! He does expect us all to do the work. WE NEED YOU NOW, PLEASE!

Thanks' to you all for love, support, and prayers over the last three years, it has aided us to get thru some immense challenges

All our love

Waltz, Stawarz, Sievers, Hombs family!