Full Draw Faith: Randy’s Heart Transplant Journey

A Picture Is Worth More Than a Thousand Words… Sometimes It’s a Lifetime of Them.

Every year, around the Fourth of July, I find myself looking back through an album on my page simply called “The Eye.”

Most people see old pictures.

I relive a moment that forever divided my life into before and after.

One firework.

One split second.

One decision.

One eye that would never see again.

For years, I wondered why God would allow something so devastating to happen. I struggled with the fear, the trauma, and the constant reminder every time I looked in the mirror. I couldn’t understand why my story had to include that chapter.

Now I know.

Sometimes our deepest wounds become our loudest warnings.

Then came this year.

On New Year’s Day, Randy suffered a massive heart attack. In a matter of hours, our world came crashing down. We faced ECMO, an Impella, dialysis, ventilators, uncertainty, and ultimately the miracle of a heart transplant. We spent 51 days in the hospital, wondering if the next phone call, the next procedure, or the next complication would change everything.

We’ve celebrated victories that once seemed impossible. We’ve cried more tears than I knew one heart could hold. We’ve learned to thank God for things most people never have to think about—another sunrise, another heartbeat, another biopsy with good news, another day together.

This year has reminded me that life can change in an instant.

Sometimes it’s a firework.

Sometimes it’s a heart attack.

Neither sends a warning.

So today, this isn’t about taking away anyone’s fun or telling people how to celebrate. It’s simply a heartfelt plea from someone who has lived on both sides of tragedy.

Please don’t underestimate fireworks.

Please protect your eyes.

Please keep children back.

Please don’t relight a firework that didn’t go off.

Please remember that no celebration is worth a lifetime of regret.

I would give anything to have the vision I lost.

I would give anything to erase the fear our family experienced this year.

But since I can’t change either story, I can share them.

If my testimony causes just one family to be a little more careful… if one child keeps their eyesight… if one person decides to leave the fireworks to the professionals… then perhaps God is still using some of the hardest chapters of our lives for His glory.

This Fourth of July, celebrate our freedom with gratitude, hug your family a little tighter, and remember that tomorrow is never promised.

As Scripture reminds us:

“Teach us to number our days carefully so that we may develop wisdom in our hearts.” — Psalm 90:12

From our family to yours, have a safe and blessed Independence Day. ❤️🇺🇸

UPDATE: We Finally Have Some Answers… Now We Need Wisdom for the Next Step.

First and foremost, thank you.

Thank you for every prayer, every message, every encouraging word, and for continuing to stand watch with our family. We have felt the Lord carrying us through every step of this journey, and we know so many of you have been faithfully praying right alongside us.

After weeks of unanswered questions, hospitalizations, testing, and waiting, we finally received the pathology results from Randy’s colonoscopy.

The colonoscopy itself looked normal, but the biopsies told a different story.

The pathologist believes Randy’s severe diarrhea is most consistent with colitis caused by one of his anti-rejection medications, Mycophenolate (MMF/CellCept).

While no one wants to hear that a medication is causing problems, we are incredibly thankful to finally have a direction. His biopsy showed damage and inflammation that is characteristic of this medication, and it explains so much of what we’ve been walking through these past several weeks.

It explains the relentless diarrhea…

The dehydration…

The electrolyte imbalances…

The kidney injury from losing so much fluid…

The repeated hospitalizations, all while his new heart continued to look strong.

For so long it felt like every test came back saying everything looked good, yet Randy kept getting sicker. These biopsy results finally connect those pieces together.

Now comes another delicate balancing act.

The transplant team has to protect Randy’s new heart while also determining how to treat the medication that appears to be injuring his colon. Because he is only months out from receiving the greatest earthly gift imaginable—a new heart—any changes to his anti-rejection medications must be made very carefully and prayerfully.

We will be heading back to Emory on Wednesday for follow-up appointments to discuss these results and determine what the next steps will be.

Today, I’m asking for very specific prayers.

Please pray for wisdom for Randy’s transplant team. Pray that God would give them complete clarity in knowing exactly how to protect his transplanted heart while bringing healing to his colon. Pray that they would have discernment, unity, and confidence in every decision they make.

And please pray for us.

We desperately need answers right now. We are praying that this is the turning point we’ve been asking God for—that this diagnosis provides a path forward and that Randy can finally begin to heal, regain his strength, and move beyond this difficult chapter.

The Lord has carried us through a heart attack, ECMO, a heart transplant, rehabilitation, and countless unexpected obstacles. He has never once left our side. We believe He is still writing Randy’s story, and we trust that He is already in Wednesday’s appointment before we ever arrive.

Thank you for continuing to stand watch with us. We are so grateful for each one of you.

“And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it,’ when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.” — Isaiah 30:21

Caregiver Chronicles | Standing Watch for Him

Just for clarity—I am still working through a TON of trauma.

I have so much I want to tell you guys about what this experience has felt like, not just during the heart attack, ECMO, CRRT, ventilator, VT storm, and transplant, but everything that has come after. One day, I hope to put it all into words. But the truth is, I am still processing it myself.

I think there is a misconception that once the transplant happens and you leave the hospital, life goes back to normal. That the hard part is over.

It isn’t.

Don’t get me wrong—we are incredibly grateful. Randy is alive. That alone is a miracle that I will never stop thanking God for.

But transplant isn’t the finish line. In many ways, it’s the beginning of a new journey filled with medications, biopsies, lab work, clinic appointments, setbacks, scares, complications, and a level of uncertainty that is difficult to explain unless you’ve lived it.

I keep thinking I’ve finally gotten my feet back under me. I think I’ve caught up on life. I think I’ve settled into a routine. I think maybe this week will feel normal.

And then something else in the transplant world rears its ugly head.

A lab value changes.

A new symptom appears.

A medication adjustment is needed.

A procedure is scheduled.

A phone call comes.

And suddenly, I’m reminded that our lives will never be exactly what they were before January 1st.

The reality is that while Randy was fighting for his life, our entire world stopped. Life as we knew it ceased to exist. And while everyone else eventually returned to their routines, we have been trying to build a new one while carrying the weight of everything we’ve been through.

Some days I feel strong.

Some days I feel exhausted.

Some days I feel incredibly grateful.

Some days I find myself reliving moments I wish I could forget.

And I think all of that is okay.

Healing isn’t just physical. It isn’t just for the patient. Families, caregivers, spouses, and loved ones carry wounds too. Some of them are visible. Most of them are not.

So if I seem quiet sometimes, or if I haven’t shared all the things God is teaching me through this journey yet, it’s because I’m still walking through it. I’m still learning. I’m still healing.

But I can tell you this: God has been faithful through every stage of this journey—not just the dramatic moments that everyone saw, but also the difficult days afterward that few people ever hear about.

And for now, I’ll keep doing what I’ve done since the beginning.

Standing watch.

One day, one prayer, and one step at a time.

Caregiver Chronicles | Standing Watch for Him

It has been awhile since I have posted one of these— the post that is raw and exposes me entirely— but here are my thoughts today that I wanted to share….

As a nurse, I have spent my career caring for people in some of the hardest moments of their lives. I’ve worked in hospitals, led clinical teams, sat at conference tables making difficult decisions, and stood at countless bedsides. I’ve seen emergencies. I’ve seen miracles. I’ve seen loss. I’ve spent years learning the language of medicine and understanding what happens when the human body begins to fail.

But even with all of that experience, ECMO was different.

CRRT was different.

A ventricular tachycardia storm was different.

These aren’t things most people encounter, and truthfully, they aren’t things most nurses encounter either. They exist in a world of highly specialized critical care where entire teams are dedicated to keeping a single person alive one moment at a time.

Before Randy, those were things I understood academically.

After Randy, they became things I lived.

When the doctors started talking about ECMO, I knew enough to understand what it meant. This wasn’t a routine intervention. This was the kind of treatment used when every second matters and every available resource is being thrown into the fight.

When CRRT was added, I understood the gravity of that too.

When the ventilator became necessary, I knew what that meant.

And when his heart entered a ventricular tachycardia storm, I didn’t need anyone to explain how serious the situation was.

As a wife, I desperately wanted reassurance.

As a nurse, I understood why no one could give it.

People often tell me they don’t know how I’ve done it. The truth is, there were many days I didn’t think I could. There were moments when I was exhausted, overwhelmed, and afraid of what the next phone call or doctor’s update might bring. But every morning God gave me enough grace for that day. Not for next week. Not for next month. Just for that day. And somehow, day by day, prayer by prayer, He carried us through. If this journey has taught me anything, it is that God’s faithfulness is not something we simply talk about on the good days. It is something we discover in the hardest days. And for that reason, I will keep standing watch—not just over Randy, but over the countless ways God continues to work in our story.

Standing Watch for Him

Some days the victories are loud, and some days they come wrapped in uncertainty.

Today was one of those days.

After months of relentless diarrhea, nearly 40 pounds of weight loss, dehydration, malnutrition, and countless tests that seemed to lead nowhere, Randy underwent a colonoscopy at Emory. Going into the procedure, we prayed for answers. Not necessarily the answers we wanted—but answers nonetheless.

The doctors found widespread inflammation throughout his colon, along with ulcerations and irritation that could explain many of the symptoms he has been battling. They also found a large polyp that will need to be addressed later, once the inflammation is under control. Multiple biopsies were taken, and now we wait.

Waiting has become familiar territory for us.

Waiting for test results.
Waiting for biopsy reports.
Waiting for treatment plans.
Waiting to see what God is doing when we cannot yet see the full picture.

But as I sat tonight reflecting on all that Randy has endured this year—the heart attack, ECMO, the transplant, rehabilitation, kidney issues, and now this—I was reminded of something important. This report wasn’t a dead end. It was a step closer to understanding what has been stealing his strength.

His transplanted heart is doing well.
His kidney function has improved.
The procedure went smoothly.
And now we have something concrete for the doctors to investigate.

So tonight, while we wait for the biopsy results, I am choosing gratitude over fear and faith over frustration.

Standing watch for him has taught me that God’s answers don’t always arrive all at once. Sometimes He gives just enough light for the next step.

“The LORD will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.” — Exodus 14:14

Please continue to pray for Randy—that the biopsy results provide clear answers, that the inflammation is treatable, that his body begins to heal, and that God continues to strengthen him for the road ahead.

As always, thank you for standing watch with us. ❤️🙏🏻

🏹 Full Draw Faith Update 🏹

We are HOME!!! Praise the Lord! 🙌🏻❤️

After today’s colonoscopy, we still don’t have all the answers, but we are grateful to be back home together. The doctors took several biopsies during the procedure, and they told us it will likely be about a week before those results come back.

In the meantime, we are moving forward by making dietary changes and treating Randy’s symptoms as if they are related to Dumping Syndrome while we wait for more information.

The good news is that Randy’s heart and kidneys are back to normal and looking good! After everything he has been through this year, that is an incredible blessing and a reminder of God’s faithfulness every step of the way.

While we would love to have a clear answer today, we know that God is already there in the waiting. We will continue to trust Him, follow the doctors’ recommendations, and take things one day at a time.

Thank you for every prayer, message, and word of encouragement. Please continue praying that these biopsy results provide the answers we have been searching for and that Randy’s body will begin to heal and regain strength.

“But as for me, I will look to the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation. My God will hear me.” — Micah 7:7 ❤️

Just a quick update for those of you who have been faithfully praying for Randy.

Today he underwent the colonoscopy that the doctors hoped might provide some answers as to why he continues to struggle with severe diarrhea, weight loss, and malnutrition. Unfortunately, at least for now, the procedure did not reveal any obvious cause. While we are grateful that nothing alarming was found, it is also frustrating to still be searching for answers.

At this point, we are waiting to hear what the doctors want to do next. Our prayer is that they feel comfortable sending Randy home today, but there is also a possibility that more testing may be needed before that can happen.

If you would, please continue praying with us. Pray for wisdom for his medical team, clarity in finding the root cause of these ongoing issues, strength for Randy as he continues this journey, and favor that we may be heading home soon.

Even when we don’t understand the path, we trust the One who does.

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.” — Proverbs 3:5-6

Thank you all for standing with us, encouraging us, and carrying us through your prayers. We will update you as soon as we know more.

Just a quick update from our corner of the battlefield—God is still writing Randy’s story, and today brought a few encouraging signs.

Randy’s kidney labs are looking better, and everything related to his heart and transplant continues to look good so far. Praise God for that victory! We are still waiting on his results for AlloSure and one other test for rejection before we completely exhale and rule out transplant rejection as the cause.

We met with the GI doctors today, and they have scheduled a colonoscopy for Monday, with a possible EGD as well, in hopes of finally getting some answers about what has been causing all of these stomach and bowel issues. They ran additional stool tests today, but so far everything continues to come back negative.

One thing I noticed today is that Randy has had more of an appetite. I truly believe getting fluids back into his body has helped him feel better physically and emotionally. Sometimes the smallest improvements feel like the biggest blessings, and today we’re choosing to thank God for those small things.

We are hopeful that Monday will bring some answers. In the meantime, thank you all for every prayer, message, and word of encouragement. We can honestly say that we feel your prayers carrying us through this season.

Please continue to pray for wisdom for the doctors, healing for Randy’s stomach, strength for his body, and peace for our family as we continue searching for answers.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.” — Proverbs 3:5-6

No matter what answers Monday brings, we will continue to trust the One who already knows them.

Thank you for standing watch with us.
❤️ Randy & Kimberly

Friends, we need your prayers again.

If you’ve been keeping up with Randy’s journey, you know that a few days ago I asked for prayers because he has been having a terrible time with his stomach lately. What started as ongoing digestive issues has now led to severe dehydration, and today we learned that it has caused him to slip into acute kidney failure.

At his appointment at Emory today, several of his lab values and electrolytes were also dangerously high and low. We left the appointment believing we were headed home, but before we could get there, we received a call from his transplant cardiologist instructing us to go immediately to the closest emergency room and have them contact the transplant team.

We came straight to Emory Perry Hospital, where they have always taken such wonderful care of us. After evaluation, the decision was made to transfer Randy to Atlanta, where he is being admitted for further treatment and testing.

Right now, we simply do not know what the next few days will hold. Our prayer is that the doctors can finally determine what is causing the extreme diarrhea so that it can be corrected, and that once the root cause is found, all of the other complications that have followed can begin to improve as well.

As always, we trust that God is already there in the days ahead. He has carried us through every storm so far, and we know He will carry us through this one too.

Please pray for wisdom for his medical team, healing for Randy’s body, protection over his transplanted heart, recovery for his kidneys, and peace for our family as we walk through another unexpected chapter.

“The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” — Exodus 14:14

Thank you for standing with us, praying with us, and believing with us. We feel every prayer.
❤️🙏