Update as of October 19th: we have a surgery date!! On December 9th, Heather will selflessly go under the knife to donate her kidney to Adrian. It is not lost on us how significant this is nor how much faith it takes for someone to say yes to a call of sacrifice. And yet, Heather, in her obedience, is fully prepared to give a literal piece of herself to give Adrian a new life. I am reminded that the surgeon told Heather, this is a surgery that she will not feel better after, in fact, she will feel worse. Selfless. Heroic. Obedient. Will you continue to pray for us? Specifically, prayers over Adrian and Heather and for the success of the transplant. We're still working through logistics of travel, housing, and pet care. We are so close to our goal to help offset the expenses we'll incur. We appreciate your donations and we hope to be fully funded ahead of our travel. Thank you!

Update as of September 29th: with the best possible news, testing is complete and the case is going before the medical board for approval on Wednesday, October 1st. Over the past few months, we've prepared for the next test, the next scan, and the next confirmation. Now that we're coming to a place of it's really happening and we're so excited, but we know that there are logistics, potential risks, and healing that will need to occur. Can you please join us in prayer as we prepare our hearts for the next steps? We're incredibly grateful for the community that has rallied behind Heather (and Adrian) as this will be life-changing for them both. We will let you know once surgery has been scheduled!!

Update as of August 26th: as you may know, Heather underwent in-person testing at OSU Wexner Medical Center yesterday, August 25th. We were able to meet with several people: the surgeon to discuss what to expect during the surgery and recovery; the nephrologist to discuss the overall workups of Heather's labs and kidney function; the social worker to ensure understanding of the process, review Heather's background, and support made available to Heather; the donor care coordinator who is working through all of the logistics between the relevant parties; and the donor advocate to ensure Heather is seen and heard through the process. Additionally, Heather underwent a panel of bloodwork, x-rays, a CT scan, and an EKG. We are still getting test results back but overall, everything is as expected and is coming back normal. The nephrologist does want to do an additional test called a nuclear GFR to confirm Heather's kidney function is normal. Once the doctors have had a chance to review the results of yesterday's testing, we expect the nuclear GFR to be scheduled. Once the results are in, this should provide the final confirmation to move ahead with the kidney transplant. One additional update is that the surgery has been pushed to later this year. We will continue to keep you all updated on the timing as we wait expectantly. We fully believe that this transplant will occur and that Heather is the life-giving donor needed for Adrian. Thank you again for your support and prayers. Please keep them coming!

Update as of August 5th: Hi all, as an update, Heather's in-person testing will take place on Monday, August 25th. This testing includes more bloodwork, an EKG, a CT scan of the kidneys, and several consultations with an array of teams. The case will then be presented to the medical board on Wednesday, September 3rd. We expect surgery to follow within a couple of weeks of board approval. As we continue to get more information, and as the date approaches, we will continue to keep you all informed. We covet your prayers and your donations as the surgery gets closer!

My incredibly brave and selfless sister is donating her kidney to a 13-year-old boy named Adrian. Adrian has stage 5 kidney failure and is undergoing dialysis until he can receive a kidney from a living donor. If you know Heather, you know she's the first to ask what you need and then she meets it. In countless examples that she would never share, Heather has purchased a car for someone she didn’t know, she’s bought a washer and dryer for a family that she also didn’t know simply because God laid it on her heart, just to name few. Generosity is a heart posture, one that's obedient to the Lord. When scripture says God loves a cheerful giver, I envision his delight in Heather and how much she loves to help others.

God has laid it on her heart to donate a kidney. While she didn't know when or to whom, she remembered God's prompt. As Heather tells it, about 8 years ago, she was driving down the road and saw a sign for someone looking for a living donor for a kidney. When she saw the sign, she immediately felt the calling from God that she would one day donate a kidney. She knew it wasn't that day or that specific sign but knew one day that He would call her to donate.

Heather has known Adrian’s family for many years and when Adrian’s mom, Jessica, posted on Facebook that Adrian needed a kidney donor, Heather was reminded of the moment God spoke to her years earlier. She remembered God’s promise and reached out to Jessica to let her know she would like to be tested when they were ready to find a donor match for Adrian. Heather confirmed her blood type and began to work through testing. She’s gone through all of the critical testing to confirm donor match compatibility and this week, we received confirmation that Heather can move forward with the surgery. The time has now come and God, like He always does, made the way. He's been in every detail to get her (and Adrian) to this point. As scripture states in Isaiah 55:11 (paraphrased), anything that comes from His mouth shall not return to Him void.

We expect the next steps to be seamless. Next week, she'll wear a blood pressure monitor for 24 hours and once those results come back, she'll head to Columbus for a day of in-person testing and consultations at Ohio State University’s Wexner Medical Center. Then, the case is presented to OSU's medical board and once approved, the surgery will be scheduled. We expect surgery to take place at the end of August or the beginning of September.

While Adrian's insurance covers the medical portion of the surgery, it doesn't cover the travel expenses and missed wages they will incur. Heather will pay out of pocket for housing and flights. The purpose of this GoFundMe is to support Heather's travel and housing accommodations. She'll stay in the hospital for 3 days, but she will need to stay in Columbus for 2 weeks following the transplant. Anything not used by Heather, will be donated to Adrian and his family to help cover their expenses.