When my nephew, Harley, was seven months old he was diagnosed with leukemia.  He received a bone marrow transplant and recovered.  However, he had serious side effects from the heavy chemo and radiation to his tiny one-year-old body.  The most serious one was irreparable damage to his lungs requiring a lung transplant to live. In 2003, at age nine, he was referred to Texas Children's Hospital in Houston, TX for this transplant.  Harley would need at least $50,000 for his operation.

My sister, Bobbie, had moved to Hildebran, NC at least 17 years earlier and had moved her church membership there. Our church family, Holy Cross Lutheran, had many "newer" members who did not know Bobbie or Harley personally when this need occurred.  But that didn't matter.  Many people answered his need.  My faith family had a yard sale, spaghetti supper, private donations and special offerings.  These Christian brothers and sisters did this out of love... Jesus' love for others. They certainly were living examples of what Jesus told us all to do in John 13: 34: "A new command I give you. Love one another.  As I have loved you, so you must love one another." 

My faith family donated over $4,000 to Harley's endowment fund.  When our pastor's father suddenly died, he asked that memorials go to Harley's fund.  Even in his time of grief, he was thinking of Harley's need.  Many people mailed cards, sent money and prayed.  Many people were telling me that they were praying for Harley and his family.  This was so comforting and humbling.

Harley did receive his lung transplant and was "healthy" for several months.  However he developed an infection and died last January.  Again, there was my faith family with cards, hugs, visits, prayers and money.