April 26th update

The Spring has sprung, the grass is ris, and birdies sing in the trees

While we are big fans of Christmas celebrating the birth of Christ, it is Easter time celebrating the risen Christ that brings us most joy. Plus Candy looks amazing in kelly green, I’m just sayin 😊. While Christmas celebrates the birth of a new journey, through the life of Christ. It is Easter that celebrates a transformation or a renewal of life overcoming death ✝️. And April 6th marked one year since Walkers amazing double lung and kidney life saving transplant at Mayo. So this Easter was an especially poignant time for us as we reflected upon the miracle of a living Christ and the miracle of our living son. Lots to celebrate!!

The first nine months post transplant went extremely well, while the last 3 month has been an all hands on deck battle. Walkers great doctors pulling out all the stops and blasting his system with the best medicine money can buy to fight the rejection by his body of the new organs. Since February, Walker has had 3 - 2 week stays at Mayo where they do repeated plasma infusions to clean out the antibodies that are mistakenly fighting a good thing. So far, his docs are winning the battle but he is not out of the woods yet. He came home Friday April 21st from his latest Mayo stay and is experiencing complications still. So the battle continues. Please pray that Walkers body stops rejecting these new organs and to be at peace. 

While this 4 year trial has been an emotional roller coaster for his family, it is Walker that has remained a constant stable throughout handling his medical trials with an awe inspiring strength. His parents, while being pretty tough characters themselves, still marvel at Walkers ability to never complain about his condition, like never. He accepts his most harrowing and rather awful medical conditions, facing each new challenge, and there have been too many to count at this point, with a somewhat mind-boggling Grace which affords him the ability to treat his doctors, nurses, medical staff, and his family with a sincere uplifting kindness. It is remarkable to witness him in action. 

And there has been plenty of it, action that is. To date, his family has exhausted the account of funds ($24,184) raised in 2022 to support his family as they support him through his travels back and forth to stay at the incredible Mayo Clinic in Jax. He and we are very thankful for the support we have received to date from so many in so many ways. In one of his recent stays, Walker was blessed to have his great friend Christina Rumbaugh and her awesome mom, Gina, stay in Jax for 3 days visiting him daily and bringing their therapy dog, Duchess, who stole the show. 

We are seeking to raise additional support through the National Transplant Foundation which covers only travel and lodging for his care givers. See below:

You can help in the following ways:

• Send a tax-deductible donation via check or credit card. Please make your check payable to NFT Florida Transplant Fund. Remember to write “in honor of Walker McKnight” on the memo line.
• Visit www.transplants.org to make a secure online donation. Click “Find a Patient” to search for Walker.
If you have any questions about The National Foundation for Transplants, feel free to contact the staff at 800-489-3863.

Many Thanks!

P.S. Want to help Walker even more? Ask your company if they will match your gift!


As always, we ask for prayers for Walker and his family for continued strength and healing grace

Thank you for your love and support through all these years!

Love and blessings to you

The McKnights