THE CHRISTMAS MIRACLE

Dear Donor,

I really have no clue how to write these kinds of letters or how and where to send them, but, I feel the need and desire to do this, so, here goes.

From the moment I was born, I was a troubled child. I don't mean that in the behavioral sense, I mean it in the medical sense. You see, I was born prematurely and unfortunately for me, it came with some issues. One of those issues being that I would eventually need a transplant or two to fix the organs in my body that weren't exactly working to their full capacity. It was tough but somehow I managed.

My life went back to normal after that and I was able to do things that I hadn't before, such as play soccer. I was in heaven and loved every minute of it. But like with most good things, they come to an end and sometimes that's an abrupt end. One that we don't see coming but hits you like a freight train.

I was told that I would have to have one my lungs removed because it just wasn't functioning the way it should have been. I was devastated because it meant that I had to give up the things I had come to love. It tore me to shreds when my doctor told me that.

Once that procedure had been completed, the depression set in and it wasn't pretty. I hated my body for rejecting my organs, I hated my life and I hated my parents. I blamed them for a lot of my problems and they took it. I just didn't know what to do. I felt lost.

Then I found out that the one lung I had been relying on was failing and I needed another transplant effective immediately. Being told that at Christmas is the worst thing you could ever be told. I thought that I was going to die. There was nothing I could do. My parents and I prepared for our last Christmas together. They made it their mission to make every second count. it was really sweet and something I'll always remember and cherish for the rest of my life.

I remember going shopping with my mother one day and I lost my breath. No matter what I did, I just couldn't breathe. Then out of nowhere, an Angel sent you to me. You walked over to us, took my hand and coached me through my breathing until help came. You asked what was wrong and my mother -who had tears in her eyes- told you everything. You looked at me and smiled. From that moment on you became my hero.

You stepped in when it mattered the most and you gave me the greatest gift of all, a second chance.

Because of you, I was able to finish school and graduate, go to college and spend many more Christmases with my family.

In truth, I wanted to write this to you and thank you for all that you have granted me. You are and will always be my Guardian Angel.

Thank you for being the most amazing Christmas miracle I could ever receive.

Your forever grateful recipient,

Faith Matthews.