Brotherly Love

 When I was in Young Women's, a story was shared about a brother and sister to illustrate the importance of making good choices.  In the story, the brother lived a wild life and justified his actions with the statement, "I'm only hurting myself!"  Later, his sister was diagnosed with cancer and needed a bone marrow transplant.  He was a match, but wasn't able to donate because his blood wasn't clean.

Anyone else remember that little story?  I actually hated it because it seemed overly dramatic, a little staged for teaching purposes, and so dismal.  I hated thinking of the brother wracked with guilt as he watched his sister die.  

But, I've been thinking of that story today.  My dad's older sister was diagnosed with leukemia a few months ago.  She needed a transplant and after testing, they found out my dad was a match.  We feel so blessed that they are a match and I love that Heavenly Father sent those two little babies to earth so long ago with matching marrow so that it is possible for the transplant to take place today. 

It's a long, rough road to recovery, but today, I've been so grateful that my dad has lived a life that allows him to be her donor and that she has lived a healthy life that puts her in a better situation to try and recover from it.  He's much older than they typical donor and far outside the age limit for donors on the national list.  They make exceptions for family member matches.  His own health was closely examined before they approved him to be a match.  It's given me new appreciation for that story I heard so many years ago, but if I ever have to teach that lesson, I think I'll tell the kids about my dad and his big sister and the happy side of obedience to commandments and living a clean life. 

When they were little kids, my dad loved baseball.  She, on the other hand, did not.  As he tells it, she could never hit the ball, so one time, he told her he'd give her a million dollars if she hit the next pitch.  You guessed it - she hit it.  Through the years, they've often joked about when he was going to pay her that million dollars.  He never has, but I think this seems like a fair trade.