Man Fighting for His Life
By Brian Barrier
Mitchell County
Terry Jamerson may only have months to live if he doesn’t find someone to donate a kidney very soon. He is a man fighting for his life.
Terry and his wife of 20 years, Sarah Jamerson, live in Bakersville, North Carolina and they are desperately seeking a donor to replace Terry’s failing kidneys. Terry had suffered a serious heart attack back in February, which is often called a “widowmaker” or a one hundred percent blockage in the left anterior descending (LAD) artery. He was able to have stints put in but then found out that his kidney function is failing due to severe high blood pressure. If a donor isn’t found, he may have less than a year to live, according to doctors.
Terry has been on dialysis at the DaVita Dialysis Center in Spruce Pine several times each week for about three hours each session. Unfortunately, Terry’s kidneys are only functioning at eight percent and Sarah says that the doctors have told them he may have less than a year to live without a donor’s kidney.
As most people know, finding a donor isn’t easy and the short time Terry was given has made things very stressful in the search. Sarah said that many people can live for years while on dialysis but in Terry’s particular case, time is of the essence.
Terry has been accepted by both Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center and the University of Tennessee Medical Center for Transplant Services but, so far, there has been no kidney available for Terry.
Despite their heart-wrenching plight, Sarah told me one of the best things that happened during their search was when a potential donor gave his life to Christ!
A 46-year-old man from Missouri volunteered to be a donor but had an alcohol problem. The man, determined to help the Jamerson’s, stopped drinking for the required time to become a donor. Unfortunately, the doctors determined that the man was pre-diabetic which disqualified him from the program.
The man, realizing his own need for a Savior, gave his life to Jesus! Tears streamed down Sarah’s face as she recounted the story and gave thanks that even though they were so desperate, God used Terry’s illness to save another person.
“In the evenings, we go down to the Toe River and there’s a rock there next to the river, and we hold hands and pray,” Sarah said. “It’s quiet and peaceful and we pray at the river”.
Sarah and Terry are praying for a miracle. They are praying someone will read this article and at least contact them to find out if they might be able to help. At this point, the doctors are willing to use a donor with any blood type to save Terry’s life.
“But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased” Hebrews 13:16
If you would like to find out more about being a living donor for Terry, please contact them through Facebook at Facebook.com/sarah.jamerson.399
If you don’t use Facebook and would like to get in touch with them, contact Brian at the Blue Ridge Christian News at 828-413-0506.
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