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On September 13, 2008 I wrote a post asking you to pray for my good friends, Ryan & Keeley White.

Ryan and Keeley learned in April 2008 that they were going to have twins. After checkups and doctor visits, they have found that one of their twin sons has a a congenital heart defect called “Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome” or HLHS. They learned about this condition after doctors realized that one twin had an underdeveloped left side of his heart. HLHS is a complicated condition that will require three stages of surgery all before their son turns three years old.

On Wednesday, November 12, 2008, Braden and Reed White entered this world.

That day Ryan and Keeley found out that Reed needed a heart transplant.

More than two months later on January 19, 2009, Reed got his new heart after successful heart transplant surgery.

Exactly two years later on January 19, 2011, I received this email from Ryan White (Reed’s dad). It was seriously one of the best emails I’ve gotten in a long time.

Here’s the email…

Friends,

Two years ago today, my life, and the life of Reed was changed forever.  Reed was 69 days old, and had never been outside the walls of Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital.  Looking back, those 69 days seemed like a life time.  Reed would not live w/out a new heart.  He was born with a heart defect known as Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS).  Around this time 2 years ago, we got a call from the hospital saying Reed was going to receive a new heart!  To this day, I don’t think I’ve had a better moment.  69 days of wondering if my child would live or die was so difficult…wondering why he was having to deal with this…why after losing Kyle, our family had so see Reed suffer, and deal with possibly losing him.  Today is a proud day for my family.  We are thankful to the Lord, we are thankful to the family who decided to donate their child’s organs so Reed and others could live.

I’ve learned a lot the past 2 years and 69 days.  The thing that stands out the most is a simple thought : “It could always be worse”!  The 69 days of waiting were the hardest, and most challenging days of my life. It was in those days my Faith was revealed.  It was in those times GOD revealed himself as Creator and Lord.  It’s was in those times I learned how much I’m loved.  It  was in those times I saw GOD was good, not because of STUFF, but because you know He has suffered too.  I am blessed not because Reed was given a heart, but because God sacrificed Jesus.   God sent Jesus knowing he would die.  God sent Jesus knowing he would suffer.  God sent Jesus knowing I would sin against Him.  God sent Jesus because he has a Love that words can’t describe.  God sent Jesus despite you & me.  It’s the sacrifice that makes God so good!  It’s the sacrifice that gives us Life!

In closing, I ask you to consider being an Organ Donor.  This is a way we can give Life to someone who needs it.  This is way we can be a miracle to someone like Reed.  For more information check out: http://www.donatelife.net/index.php

God is good!

Ryan White

Our God is the God who hears the cries of his people. He is the God who listens. He is the God who heals. He is the God who saves. He is the God who provides.

Thank you for praying and caring for this family over the years.