Update on Walkers Transplant Journey

Walker texted yesterday “I’ve been cleared to go home and drive!!!!!!!!!!!”

A week ahead of Walker’s 3 month review at Mayo which is next Tuesday July 6th, his doctors said that he is doing so well that he can go home on the weekends and he is now Free! to drive his car. So, Candy and Walker changed plans on the fly to come home for the holiday weekend, a welcome change for all of us. And Walker is out now driving his sporty silver VW Passat with very dark windows and a kickin sound system.

God blessed Walker with some very healthy lungs that have fit right in, so to speak, from the get go and a kidney that gave a little push back in the beginning but soon after got on board with the program. And a couple of weeks ago a third awesome blessing, his gastrointestinal system decided to join the party and started to work like “normal” in that after 3 years of daily vomiting and general malaise, a world class awful stomach, it decided after some new meds to work like old times. Now it’s Food glorious food.

The fact that we have been blessed by the miracle of transplant medicine to get our son back in good health is joyous, incredible, and very humbling. Only God knows why he chose to save Walker from an illness that would have killed him twice and almost killed him at least 3 more times. Only God knows why our hearts were sparred the life long grief that comes with the death of a young child while many we know lost their kids through similar circumstances. Our hearts have been well seasoned to know well enough empathy for the depth of their loss.

And speaking of loss, I have to share and ask for prayer for my brother Peter’s family. Peter passed away suddenly without a known cause on June 14th 3 days before his 63rd birthday. His 3 daughters, his wife, and his sibling’s will miss him so very much, he was a character unlike any other. His zest for life was matched by his love for his family and friends. It was a huge shock to us all. 

As we take time out to celebrate this great country, toast to the freedom we enjoy and to the lives we miss that have touched ours. 

Happy 4th of July and God Bless America!!

Love

The McKnights