HERO’s DON’T ALWAYS MAKE THE 6 O’CLOCK NEWS

HERO’s DON’T ALWAYS MAKE THE 6 O’CLOCK NEWS

Mrs. C and I just got back from our tax accountant.  It took about fifteen minutes to sign stuff and write checks.  We spent another half hour hearing some of his recent problems.  When he was done, I had three new heroes.

The accountant, A.K., told us of his difficult past few weeks, not in way of a complaint, but as an explanation for taking a little longer to finish our returns.  That and because Mrs. C asked about his daughter.

A.K. has three sons and a grandson.  His sons are grown and out of the house.  Five years ago he and Mrs. A.K. adopted a two year old little girl.  This little girl had a medical condition.  Her mother did not take proper care of her.  The little girl needed a heart transplant. 

Mrs. A.K.’s best friend is a case worker.  It was through this friend that they learned of the little girl’s situation.

When this little girl was only one, she was in the hospital for months after a heart valve operation.   Her mother only visited sporadically and only for a short time.  The valve operation was not successful and the little girl was on a waiting list for a new heart.  Because her mother was negligent, the hospital determined she could not survive a transplant because she would never receive the care and treatment required from this neglectful mother.  They were going to take her off the list for a new heart.

Mr. and Mrs. A.K. stepped forward and took this child as foster parents with the intent to permanently adopt her.  The little girl got her transplant.  The A.K.’s completed the adoption after a difficult two year process and now four years later are loving parents of a beautiful seven year old daughter.

Recently the daughter has had problems related to the transplant.  She has undergone operations, and taken drugs so powerful she has to be quarantined because they lower her resistance to infection and disease.

The parents have spent much of the last fourteen days sleeping at the hospital and worrying about their little girl.  The results are not in yet.  She will either fully recover, or she will have to be put on a list for another transplant. 

The little girl has been a trooper throughout this ordeal.  Her only complaint is she occasionally asks why she can’t just be normal.   A.K. has no answer other than to tell her she is special and God must have a plan.

At times in relaying this story the accountant’s eyes welled up just a bit. He did say before we left that prayers would be appreciated.

Done.

This man, his wife and their little girl are my new heroes.