Dave’s doctor is telling him that he needs to be drinking a ridiculous amount of water to keep his kidneys healthy while he is taking the anti-rejection medications. It’s hard. And it reminded him of a letter that he received from Courtney back in April. He remembered she said that she has to drink “a very unfair amount of water.” Now he knows more than ever what she meant. Please enjoy this letter from an amazing little girl named Courtney:
Dear Pastor Dave,
My name is Courtney and I am a fifth grader who goes to IHC. I wanted to tell you that I have been praying for you as you go through this fight with cancer. I heard that you had your bone marrow transplant. I hope that this transplant will help you beat the cancer.
This is my story. On September 1, 2004, I had a kidney transplant and I was only three years old. I needed a new kidney because of issues at birth and my kidney started to shut down. My dad was the one with a kidney that matched mine so he was my donor. Since then I have had to take different kinds of medicine and drink a very unfair amount of water. At least that’s what I think. I am supposed to drink between 75 to 100 ounces a day. If I forget or don’t do one of these things my kidney can start not working as well and make big issues for me and my health.
With my kidney, things have been up and down hill with it. I have stayed pretty strong through the issues that I have had like being in the hospital because of transplant rejection one time or some other things. There is one verse that I say over and over again in my head. It is Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” This verse reminds me that things will get better through whatever situation I am going through.
Even though my transplant is not the same as yours and I am not going through the same health issues, I have been through a lot and things have gotten better for me. I hope with all the prayers from everybody from church that things will get better for you and your health will improve a lot more.
Truly yours with love,
Courtney H.
Here’s Dave’s Response:
Dear Courtney,
Thank you for your letter. I loved it. It is a very big encouragement to me. Thank you for your prayers. I will be praying for you, as well. I pray you continue to grow stronger and even more healthy every day. You are a very brave girl and a good example to me and to many others. You are so right that God has good plans with a hope and a future ahead for you. Keep trusting that.
I hope you enjoy this picture that I emailed to my doctor after she told me to drink as much as I could, like I was drinking from a fire hose. Dr. Lopez laughed when she got this picture. She loved it. You can probably appreciate this picture more than anyone else. I hope it makes you laugh.
I appreciate you, Courtney. Many blessings,
Pastor Dave