"90, 000...."

 

“Every molecule in our body is conditioned through millions of years of natural selection to ensure our survival, but if you can jeopardize your own survival to lift up another life, that, my friend, is called human life.” 

Sometimes in life we meet people who makes an impression on our life. 

Someone who you just can't put your finger on it ...but you just know.....they will become an intricate part of your life in some fashion. 

For me that would be a little blonde haired spit fire of a softball player, whom I would soon grow to not only love...but to think of as one of my own. 

It all started with a phone call from one of our friends Michelle. She had been Baileys Rec. Ball coach for 2 years. 

She called and told Travis about a Travel Ball tryout opportunity for Bailey. 

Now.... I wasn't all for the Travel ball life at first BUT it was something Travis and Bailey had been interested in ....so I caved. 

Within an hour, Bailey had her softball clothes on and had her bag ready to go....and off they went. 

And Lo and Behold.....She came home that night a member of 4EVER5.s 12U Travel softball team. 

All that night, I had a very excited and chatty little girl telling me all about the people she had met and what all they did at tryouts. 

I was as lost as could be....I had no clue what I was in for honestly. The travel bal world can be a bit messy and has a bad reputation so I was a bit worried. 

And lets be honest here....her momma aint no athlete!

 I am clumsy...and I have never swung a bat a day in my life. 

But alas....here we were. 

Fast Forward to the teams first tournament in Milbrook. 

I WAS SO LOST!!

I was a fish out of water....No seriously....I thought we played one game and got to go home. 

Ummmmm.....WRONG! 

I learned all about "Pool" games and then "Bracket" play ...and I still don't understand how the points work. 

And for the love of all things Holy.....Do NOT ask me to do Game Changer! 

I will mess it up. Just so you know. 

BUT....I found my place eventually...It was just going to take time. 

First, we bought a wagon because all Travel ball moms know a wagon is a must. 

Then came the tent...beacause...well for one....its HOT....and for two...RAIN. It can be sun shining one moment and pouring cats and dogs the next. 

Then came the cooler...becuase again....its HOT....and as I had learned from that first tournament...Softball Saturdays can be some very long days!

Fun....but long. 

And that brings me to the last thing....SNACKS!

Now let me tell you, I am the snack queen. 

At any given tournament, you will find my wagon packed with pickles (Nelson and Brooklyn), Hot Cheetos (Charli and Lexi), Dr. Pepper Zero (Skyleigh) Grapes, chips, Chocolate Chip Cookies, PB&J sandwiches....If I found out what the girls favorite snacks were....I was buying it. 

So now that I have laid down the layout of Travel Ball for you...lets get back to that first tournament. 

Again....I WAS LOST.

It was cold. I didn't have a chair or anything..but BIG Thanks to Michelle....She let me borrow one. 

She was the MVP that day because she saved me so many times. 

I noticed Bailey and this one little girl attached at the hips and called them over for a picture. 

It was between games and it was COLD. 

                           

These were the very first pictures I ever took of what would soon be the dynamic duo that is Bailey and Charli. 

It wasn't very long after that tournament that Bailey asked if Charlie could spend the night with us. I, of course, said yes. 

I texted Kelly and she said yes....and that's when she told me about Charli's Kidneys. 

She expressed that Charlie doesn't really like for her to tell many people but since she was spending the night she wanted to let me know. 

Fast Forward many, many, MANY sleep overs, tournaments, and trips later. 

And this child had become part of our family. 

She is now known in my household as Charles....I am Jessy...Travis is Timmy...and Bailey is Billy. 

Don't ask 😂 Its just how we roll. 

So when Charli had to go to to Birmingham for a Dr's appointment I had it on my calendar. Kelley and I had talked about it before and I just wanted to be sure I remembered so that way I could say special prayers that day. 

Now, Chari and I snap every day....as a matter of fact, she just snapped me as I am typing this. We have a 129 day streak and we snap constantly during the day. 

So when she snapped me and said they were admitting her...I knew something was wrong. 

From that point it was a whirlwind for Charli, Kelley, Jake and Cate. 

Charli would need a kidney transplant and would have to go on dialysis 3 times a week until a new kidney was found. 

My first thought....SIGN ME UP. 

I had no hesitation. Not a single one. 

It wasn't instant though....Charli had to wait to be put on the official transplant list. 

It took weeks. 

She was finally approved on October 26th. 

And when the link was active to sign up to become a donor...I  filled it out and submitted it. 

A few weeks later,  I was contacted by a Nurse from UAB who asked me a ton of questions and said that my paperwork had been approved and we could move to the next step of the donor process.

A few weeks later, I received a box in the mail that had 6 files in it with a Fedex label to return back to UAB. 

My sweet and precious friend, Kayla Sexton took my blood on her lunch break and took it to Fedex herself. 

It was about a month later when I got the call that I was a match for our sweet Charli girl. 

I instantly texted Kelley! 

I mean....what were the chances that I was actually a match! 

It wasn't long before the Transplant Coordinator was calling to set up a date to for me to come and do a extensive day of testing. 

That day was February 4th. 

In the meantime, they sent me a packet in the mail of everything I needed to do on my end before my appointment date. 

That included; 

An updated Mammogram

An updated Papsmear

An 24 hour urinalysis. 

A blood pressure log for 8 days taken by a medical personnel. 

Slowly and surely....I got it all done...and now I was just waiting on February 4th to come. 

When the day finally arrived, Gina and I left Troy about 3:30ish. 

I had an itinerary issued to me by UAB which started out with a blood draw at 7:30. 

20 viles of blood later...and no I am not exaggerating,,,,and a urine sample in a cup later...I could eat and finally drink some coffee. 

Next up was the powerpoint presentation, meeting with both of the surgeons, counselor, and Transplant advocate. 

With a small stop at Children's to see the one and only, Charli ....since she was up there for Dialysis anyways. 

Straight into an EKG, Chest X-Ray and ending with a CT Scan. 

We left and now all we had to do was wait. 

and wait. 

and wait some more. 

I finally received a call on Saturday the 8th....yesterday. 

I can not donate due to a small kidney stone in the exact kidney that they would need to transplant into Charli. 

Ive never had a kidney stone before...and she said there is no telling how long its been there. Its not bothering me....it doesn't hurt...there is no blood in my urine....but because of where it is at ...I can not donate. 

Fortunately, there is still 2 other people on the table right now that may be able to donate. 

They only take 3 people at a time. 

But if the other 2 people dont pan out...then the whole process starts all over. 

My heart is broken. 

I am disappointed. 

I am frustrated. 

Not for me. 

But for Charli. 

I was asked by one of the surgeons why I wanted to donate.....and I will tell you all what I told her. 

I am 41. 

She is 12. 

She hasn't drove her first car, gone to prom, Graduated High school, fell in love, gone to college, gotten her heart broken, gotten married, had some cute little babies that drive her up the wall like she does her mom and dad....essentially she hasnt LIVED to see who she will BECOME. 

And if giving her one of my kidneys ensures she can do all of that....Its hers for the taking. 

God doesn't call us to only think about ourselves....he calls us to LOVE. 

And Lord knows I love that little girl. 

She is Baileys bestie....her right hand man...her ride or die....she has taught Bailey what it means to have a true friend. 

The type of friend that is forever. 

No matter where life takes them....I believe they will always hold one another close.  

Let me be clear, I do not want a single ounce of praise for this. 

This isn't about me. 

This is about Charli. 

What I want is for you to do some research. 

There are over 90, 000 names right now on the National Registry waiting for a Kidney Donation. 

Charlie Grace Barron is one of them. 

The number of people that sit in the chair that I sat in on Tuesday of last week... willing to be a Live Kidney Donor is less than 500. 

Read that again. 

LESS THAN 500. 

So that means they are having to wait on someone to DIE  so that they can LIVE. 

So that they can be a mother....a father.

So that they can live life to the fullest. 

And in Charli.s case...so that she can be a normal 12 year old little girl that doesn't have to worry about going to dialysis 3 times a week....so that she can go to dances, drive a car..ride her four wheeler....graduate high school...and play the game she loves and one day play at the next level....and one day when the time is right...find a man that loves her uncondtionally. 

When you look at that list....Charlie Grace Barron is the face of that 90, 000.....and she WILL get that kidney. 

I stand firm in my faith. 

and I ask you all to stand with me. 

Whether that is from good thoughts, prayers and just good vibes. 

One day soon that number will go from 90, 000 to 89,999. 

Our Charli B is something special.

She is a fighter. 

She is fierce. 

Her testimony will be one for the books...Just wait and see. 

And she is 1 in 90, 000.