It has been a great day!!!

Hi everyone. This is not Nicole as she is a bit distracted tonight in the hospital recovering from a short kidney. This is Anna's dad, Bob. The day finally came and it turned out just as the fairytale that has played out over the past several months.

As Nicole lay out in last nights post the day started early for both she and Anna. The only time they saw each other today was entering the hospital, soon to be separated and prepped for the day, but though they were apart they were in constant thought of one another. This story gets more powerful as each day unfolds. These are friends that truly have nothing but the others interest first, I know you have heard that or picked up on that during the months. But as the father of the receiver this point brings me to tears nearly every time I consider it.

Nicole and Scott stayed at a downtown Seattle Hotel as Nicole prepared for the next morning (read yesterdays post for more detail) and she says she slept like a baby or log or one of those heavy sleep descriptions. What strength, as she mentioned she might be in denial but I think it more of determination. She said after surgery that she just knew this is what she was suppose to do, and you know how that is when you know you are doing that which you are called you are at peace.

Nicole was in the operating room around 8:40 this morning ready to "give it up", while we could not see her prior to the surgery we heard her laugh and positive and strong attitude permeate the "induction" room. Soon she was knocked out and quiet... finally. This woman is one bundle of energy, never leaving a moment of life untouched or useless.

At around 10:30 Scott was notified that she was out of surgery. The doctors reported to him that the removal went as well as is expected, minimal bleeding and all to plan. We could not have asked for more, though it was a couple hours before Scott could see her. Now true to character Nicole brought a camera and asked the surgery staff to get pictures of the kidney (a warning as they WILL be posted as soon as Nicole gets out).

Let me give a side note at this point. Scott, he is the unsung hero of this story. This man offered his kidney to Anna and even fought over this issue with Nicole, a brave soul he is for this point alone. And it wasn't until the DNA results came back that he even backed down. His quiet and loving support for Nicole, Anna and Rick has gone without much fanfare, but he is a huge part of this story. I know Rick has been encouraged by his friend Scott. As Anna's mom and dad we have always loved Scott, but maybe it's a little deeper and more meaningful than ever before. Thanks Scott for being there for all of us.

What is the first thing Nicole asks when she comes to? Not when do I get to eat, where's the chocolate, but "Is Anna okay?" Not am I okay, were there any complications, etc? "Where is Anna?" Her mind was immediately on Anna. In the immortal words of my hero Forrest "That's all I have to say about that".

So Anna comes next, she goes in around the same time as Nicole so they can prep and make the incisions to receive her new life which lies just across the hall. The surgery again went according to book. As the doctor told us, as soon as the surgery was completed, that it went perfect and her new kidney began to function immediately.

I think Diane and I have been so confident of the end result (we just knew with all the miracles that have occurred to this day that God would not fail to complete this miracle). At this moment I think something inside took us to a new realization of what we had experienced with Anna and Nicole. I think it started when we first heard that the removal of Nicole's kidney went flawlessly. We both choked up a bit as we imagined that gift being carried to Anna from Nicole's sacrificial love. I think we saw a deeper side to what had occurred. I thought of the words of Jesus when he said "No greater love has one for another than to lay his life down for his friend". In the mortal being this is as close as we get to the realization of the gift that was laid down for us.

Scott was notified at the same time that we heard of Anna's successful transplant that Nicole had awakened and he could go see her. He went with great anticipation with gifts in hand for his love. We wanted to go too but it was apparent he wanted to be alone with Nicole. So we waited.

Now by this time we pretty much took a big hold on the waiting room as cousins Josh and Brian came early from Oregon (they arrived before Diane and I) and Jared and Noel with our grand kids Braden and Emma came to see auntie and of course Nicky (who is due December 7 but was clearly instructed by Anna that she could not go into labor early and miss this day). At some point I think the staff thought a family was trying to use hospital facilities for a reunion...they came over and said something like "Are you all here waiting for someone?" We played with the kids and the guys played cards, we did puzzles and some even nodded off a few times. It was a wonderful time with family and friends that we will always remember, the love and support. We need to mention that Rick has been an unending support for Anna and as parents we could never ask for more for our children. We have been very fortunate to not only have the children we have but have been blessed with their choice of spouses. Both Rick and Noel are like our own children and we love them very much. Don't even get me started on our grand kids as there is not enough time or room in this blog.

We felt the presence of so many that have been there for Anna and Nicole through out the ordeal, in prayers, thoughts, calls, e-mails, letters and financial support. We realized the strength of all of you today.

Back to Anna and Nicole. When Anna awoke the first thing she asked was "Is Nicole okay?"… sounds familiar. They wouldn't say much just she is okay. That wasn't good enough for Anna, she asked (well maybe demand would be a better word) to know details, which by hospital standards was not kosher to give too much detail of the donor or recipient in the first day or so. But between Scott and Rick and then the rest of us they were both told more details. Anna and Nicole were not allowed to see each other and no matter how much they worked the system they could not usurp hospital policy and room together. But between the two of them this policy is not final…wait for more.

As soon as they both were fully awake, aware and pain managed they found out what rooms the other was in they began to call each other. Seems they had problems getting through...because they were both calling at the same time...they wanted to hear it from each other…"How are you?..."Are you in pain?"...and what ever else those two have found to talk about for 28 years.

Nicole was told she was to share a room with someone else (but not Anna) but when said and done she received a room alone at the top of the tower. Thank goodness, she deserved the penthouse. It took several hours to get her to a room from post-op due to the lack of rooms which gave opportunity for the private room.

Anna will remain in ICU tonight but only because they had no room elsewhere in the hospital for her. Tomorrow she should move to another room and they have hopes that they will be roomed next to each other (as Nicole told the staff, "you might as well room us together because we're going to be in each others room anyway") Tomorrow they should both be walking and nothing will hold them down or apart.

Both are in a lot of pain of course but it has been managed for the time, they both look very good, upbeat and thankful. In fact I think Nicole was ready for balloons and champagne tonight. (We'll see after the epidural wears off).They will have hard days ahead but they are both confident. Nicole could be released Sunday but more likely Monday and Anna a few days later, that alone is amazing. They will both recover in Renton for a few weeks at Rick and Anna's home with Diane nursing them for this period on the weekdays and Rick and Scott taking over on the weekends.

Sorry for the long post but this is only part of today's many stories and not the end of the story. We will always remember this story started with a prayer of a little 5 year old girl asking God for a friend and He gave her just that and much more, 28 years ago.

Please continue to keep Anna and Nicole in your prayers. Thanks to all who have followed and supported the story of these woman. We want to give thanks to our Lord and Savior Jesus for his faithfulness throughout. He has compacted a lot into the past 9 months since Anna's kidneys failed. He has seen us all through pain and despair to hope and tears of joy. We have all grown through this and we have a deeper understanding of family and friends and the faithfulness of a God that loves us with an every lasting love. We only hope we have learned to be there for others in their hour of need as you have been in ours.

God Bless,

Bob and Diane O'Bryant