Bona Demo’s Medical Update
Contact Information for the Hospital:
We are including here the link that the hospital gave us for people who can be interested to be kidney donor for Bona.Ohio State University (osuwexmedlivingdonor.org)
In the information they will need to know that the kidney receiver is
Valbona Demo
Birthday: December 19, 1978.
Bona has O blood type
From Edi:
We want briefly to recap what has happened with Bona’s situation and where we are now.
Few years ago, when we saw that the function of the kidneys for Bona has started to drop, her older brother said that he was ready to help if the need was going to come to donating his kidney for Bona. (Bona has 2 brothers, one older and one younger than her). We did talk with both brothers, when we heard in August from the doctors in USA that her kidneys were failing, to consider donating the kidney and both of them did not take it well. Actually, they were both very upset that Bona shared this need with them. They started to not talk with Bona anymore and this was a heartbreaking situation because Bona was felt abandoned at the most difficult moment. And what was more hurting was that they were not talking to her anymore and stopped any communication with her.
At the most difficult time in our lives, many brothers and sisters came alongside to help. Actually 49 people (there was another person just recently added to the 48) in total were tested to be donors for Bona but with no positive result for a kidney transplant. (Another wonderful aspect is that in the conversation that I, Edi, had with the hospital few days ago, they said that Bona’s case is unique for Ohio State Hospital. They had never had so many people from all over, offering to be tested for a person. We give thanks to the Lord for the testimony this situation has been to other people.)
In January, Bona’s father had his birthday and Bona’s brothers came both from Italy to be with the parents. It was a very difficult situation, but God was so good that this time served as a possibility to start reestablishing connections. Both of them felt sorry for their way of dealing with this and when they heard that 48 people were ready to be tested for Bona to donate the kidney, they were shocked. Because of that they both decided to be tested. On February 22nd, we heard from the Hospital that the older brother (his name is Erjon) is a perfect match for Bona. But when Erjon heard it, He was scared and on February 24th he said that he needed to think again.
After praying about this situation, I, Edi, decided to go to Italy (where he lives) on Monday, Feb 27th to meet with him personally to explain to him our heart and to answer any question that he might have. I met with him and after a long but very good conversation I told him that our love and appreciation would never change for him and his family whatever his decision may be. We talked about his fears and I had a possibility to share more about what it means to trust the Lord. In the end of the conversation, he said that will come back to us with an answer on Friday, the 3rd of March. We start to pray for the will of the Lord to be done. Friday he told us that he has decided to have a zoom call in the coming week with the hospital and ask them for questions.
The Answer from Bona’s brother.
But, just yesterday the 5th of March, we received a call from Erjon and his wife. They said that he will not continue the process and don’t want to talk regarding this issue any more. We are in an unknown situation and Bona has felt abandoned from her own family, but we are praising the Lord’s name for whatever He will bring. We decided today to sent a written letter to Erjon and his family, insuring them that our love for them will not change, sharing with them that our hope and strength comes from the Lord, the giver of life, and we were able to share the Gospel clearly and invite him to consider it seriously to give his life to the Lord.
Will you please pray for Erjon and his family salvation?
We want to honor the Lord despite our momentary feelings and we want to be instruments in his hands so that Erjon, his family and others will come to know the Lord, that is the most important and deep desire that we have.
We want to be the aroma of Christ even in the midst of this difficulty.
The Plan for the Moment.
Now, we are considering to go in Ohio during April and we will talk more details with the hospital to see what will be the next step. As far as we have heard a match for Bona’s kidney will be the best.
Bona’s case is very unique because of her very high level of antibodies that will cause the body to reject the new kidney. Only very specific people who have type O blood may potentially be a match. The doctors said that the more people who have type O blood are tested, the better are the chances of finding a match for her situation.
We would appreciate it if you can continue to pray for this situation and please feel free to share with your friends the link the hospital gave us at Ohio State University (osuwexmedlivingdonor.org) In the information they will need to know that the kidney recipient is Valbona Demo, birthday: December 19, 1978.
Please pray also for Noel and Sion in the same time, is not easy for them to experience all this, but our prayer is that the Lord will make them and work in their hearts, minds and character, to make them men after his own heart.
Thank you so much for being our close family during this period of time in our lives, with your prayers, support, love, care.
Thank you so much. With much love and appreciation,
Edi, Bona, Noel, Siont