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Dear Friends,
Thanks to your generosity we have reached our fundraising goal and at the present time are no longer in need of your generous financial assistance. Please continue to visit our blog for continuing updates.
Jonathon and Caitlin
Dear Friends and Family of Jonathan Woodlief,
As many of you know, at thirteen Jonathan was diagnosed with Lupus. After three years of trying to fight this disease, his kidneys failed and for two years he was on dialysis. In 2000, Jonathan had a kidney transplant four days after graduating from high school — his mother was his living donor. Now about twelve years later, Jonathan is in need of another kidney transplant because about two years ago the lupus returned and began attacking his transplanted kidney. Unfortunately, even with several rounds of chemotherapy and other treatments, the kidney continued to decline and Jonathan in now in kidney failure and needs another transplant.
Jonathan and his wife, Caitlin, were told that he had a one percent chance of finding a kidney match with the general population. A group of amazing friends was tested to see if any of them could be the living donor to Jonathan — four of the five tested were not matches. But a miracle happened. Four months after Jonathan and Caitlin were married Caitlin learned that she was match. However, doctors found a slightly enlarged lymph node found near Caitlin’s left kidney, so plans for the transplant are currently on hold. Please pray that the Lord heals Jonathan and if not, that Jonathan maintain his current health as he waits for either Caitlin’s lymph node to shrink, or until another living donor is identified. The hope is that Caitlin will be tested again in early May and the transplant could then take place soon after at Baylor Hospital in Dallas.
Even with insurance, Jonathan will have many uninsured transplant-related expenses such as: co-pays and deductibles, doctor visits and the costly immunosuppressant medications that he will need to take for the rest of his life. This presents a financial challenge to the family as the transplant team at Baylor has estimated that Jonathan and Caitlin will need approximately $15,000 – $20,000 for first year expenses.
To help offset his uninsured costs, a fundraising campaign in Jon’s honor has been established with HelpHOPELive (formerly NTAF), a nonprofit organization that has been assisting the transplant community for nearly 30 years. All contributions are tax-deductible, are held by HelpHOPELive in the South-Central Kidney Transplant Fund, and are administered by HelpHOPELive for transplant-related expenses only. You can help make a difference in John’s life. Please, if you can, make a donation today.Please continue to pray for Jonathan, Caitlin, their family during this time. They are resting in the Lord’s love, truth, grace and promises and see His mighty power encouraging the faith of many at this time. Thank you so much for your love, care and kindness.
Sincerely,
Friends and Family of Jonathan and Caitlin Woodlief

Updates (15)

July 16, 2012

Almost 4 weeks

Hi Friends,

I can't believe the last time we updated you was in June. I am so sorry we have kept you waiting for so long. Just to bring you up to date, Jonathan has been going to the doctor regularly and while we have had a few scares, his body and my kidney are still getting along quite well and there is no sign for rejection yet! That is amazing!!! Please keep praying however, the first 6 months are the time when Jonathan's body is most likely to reject the new kidney, so we still covet your prayers. I also went to the doctors and everything looks ok with my body as well!

We both have improved a great deal. We can walk pretty well now and are able do most daily tasks by ourselves. We are still unable to lift heavy objects, but I started driving last week! We also both started back to work part-time last week and we were both so tired when we finished our short day. We are both still pretty tired after a half day of work or an outing but it's still been great to get out and see friends and slowly start to get back to a normal schedule.

We also have had the blessing of resting,( especially when we had both of our moms visit, my brother and sister-in-law visit and Jonathan's sister visit. They all helped SO much and we were so grateful to see them) reading many encouraging notes and cards, seeing friends, receiving much appreciated meals, celebrate two of friends getting engaged and even celebrated my birthday last night.

We continue to be overwhelmed and humbled by all that we have received. I wanted to leave you with the lyrics to a song Jonathan and I have been singing around the house a lot that has encouraged us so much. I pray that the Lord draws you close to Himself and reveals how beautiful He is to you so that you may respond in awe and adoration. We love you, thank you for loving us.

In Him,

Cait and Jonathan

The Greatness of Our God-Hillsong

Give me eyes to see

More of who You are

May what I behold,

still my anxious heart.

Take what I have known

And break it all apart

For You my God, are greater still.

CHORUS

No sky contains,

No doubt restrains,

All You are,

The greatness of our God.

I spend my life to know,

And I'm far from close

To all You are,

The greatness of our God.

Verse 2:

Give me grace to see

Beyond this moment here.

To believe that there

Is nothing left to fear.

That You alone are high above it all.

For You my God, are greater still.

June 21, 2012

Moving on UP!

Every day it seems that the miracle of God's hand in Jonathan and Caitlin's story grows. Today has been a good day for both of them (relative to the amount of pain they are in..).

Jonathan was moved to a regular room last night and this morning, Jonathan and Caitlin were both up and walking around together. This is such great improvement, and it is highly encouraged by the doctors to help with the recovery process!

Isaiah 40:31 rings so true, "Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."

The doctors are still very pleased with both of their progress, so much so, they will both be able to leave the hospital in the next day or two. Their recovery will still be a long one...but they are moving in the right direction.

Your prayers are more than appreciated, we are still praying:

For Caitlin and Jonathan to recover quickly and without complication

For the kidney to continue to work in Jonathan's body

For Jonathan's body to accept the kidney and not try to fight it off

For Caitlin's body to adjust to functioning with only one kidney

Thank you so much for the continual prayer and support.

-Lauren (Jonathan's sister)

Photo Galleries (1)

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Guestbook

January 26, 2013

Dear Jonathon, My name is Duane Carlson I was your Pard District basketball coach from Marietta Ga. My sons name was Ryan. Today I was looking at some old photos and came upon your picture with Michael Jordan that you autographed for me. I decided to try to find you oby googling your name and some how found this site. I am so happy that you are married and doing good. I wasn,t sure how things turned out. I talked to your mother after I left Ga. and moved back to Chicago. I was going through a divorce at the time. I have since remarried and it it ironic that my wife has family in Dallas. They live in Southlake. Not sure if you are familiar with that area. At any rate we visit there often. I have since retired from Delta Airlines although I still get to fly for free. I would love to hear from you if you have time. My email address is duane.carlson@comcast.net or phone number is 847-322-9576. It definitely made my day finding out that you are doing so well. Tell your mother I said hello. God Bless You and Your Family. Your friend Duane Carlson

Duane Carlson Arlington Heights il.

August 3, 2012

Jonathon and Caitlin,

I have not written yet, but I have been following your story since spring. I have been praying for you guys and asking the Lord to show his strength with miracles and provision and healing, and to show his character through this. I am amazed and grateful to see that happening! I admire you two and am awed by your courage in all this. I am so proud of you and how you are living through this the right way. I am not sure what else to say, except to encourage to keep doing so. This morning I took extra time to pray for you, your bodies' healing, the transplant not being rejected, your provision and more.

Caitlin, I hope I can meet you some day! Jonathon, it's been way too long since I have seen you, but life is just like that. I hope that we can remedy that at some point!

Alan Goddard, now in Athens GA

June 27, 2012

Hey Jonathan! We haven't seen each other since Campus Crusade days (you may not even remember me!), but somehow I have heard about your recent transplant! Thought I would read over your blog, and I am completely amazed by you and your wife! It's amazing to see what God has done in your life! Know that Derek and I will be keeping you both in our prayers!

Jeanie Foster