An inspirational tale

I had to interview a heart transplant patient this morning. It was one of the stories and moments in my job where I go, "that's why I love this job", which is a nice change to my current unmotivated mood.... =P

This patient, Russell, was only the 4th in our state of Victoria and 47th in Australia to undergo the heart transplant back in 1986. In order to qualify for the heart transplant, he had to be on the verge of death. Yet, his wife, Anne, and him recounted their tale of how they were watching "Crocodile Dundee" (when it was first released) and went back to their temporary apartment (while waiting for a donor heart) that they were told the hospital was looking for them cos the donor heart was on its way and he had to be prepared for the operation. They said everything happened so fast that when the nurse came with a wheelchair to push Russell to get x-rayed and all, Anne and him were running towards the x-ray room. The nurse didn't realise that and when she looked up from reading her magazine, she realised they were running! She said judging from his report results, he couldn't possibly be able to run. He should be too weak to run but he did.

It's been 20 years since and as we talked, they told me they are Christians. Anne wasn't when they got married but after a routine check-up after Russell had his transplant, a doctor said that things aren't looking as good as they think. This made Anne very troubled and increasingly depressed and after some time, she couldn't take it anymore and confided in a doctor who said she was happy to introduce Anne to a Christian friend to speak to, if Anne wanted. She did and spoke to the doctor's friend immediately who explained to her what Christianity was, prayed with her and asked if she would accept Jesus as her Saviour.

It was so good to talk to them and be able to relate to each other in our beliefs that our lives do not end here and we have heaven to look forward to because of Jesus' death on the cross and his resurrection for the atonement of our sins.