A local pastor has struggled with weak kidney function for much of his life. Three and a half years ago, Pastor James Madden says he had to go on dialysis, limiting his mobility and his ability to preach, but all that is about to change when he’ll get a new kidney donated by his daughter.
Corn hole, pizza, and cake shaped like a kidney. Folks here at Frontline Ministries in Busy are having a party. Their pastor is getting a new kidney, and a new lease on life, from his daughter Kristen.
“Well to me it wasn’t even an option really,” said Kristen Hurt. “I mean it was just something that I knew I was going to do. I knew it wasn’t even a question.”
From an early age, heart problems plagued Pastor James Madden. Antibiotics damaged his kidneys, eventually requiring him to go on dialysis. But it just so happened his daughter was a perfect match for kidney donation.
“It’s kind of funny the way they explain it. They said they put our bloods together, mixed my blood with her blood and the bloods didn’t fight each other. They accepted each other,” Madden explained.
While this was a day of celebration here at Frontline Ministries, Pastor Madden says his illness has brought along with it difficulties over the years; difficulties in mind, body and spirit.
Madden says the dialysis has strained his faith, but not to the point of breaking.
“If I don’t get a supernatural healing from God, I’ll go to Heaven some day, still proclaiming that God does heal,” Madden said.
If the operation is a success, and Madden says his doctors are confident it will be, Madden says he’ll be a brand new man.
Madden and his daughter will go under the knife June 19th. He says their recovery time should be just a few weeks. WYMT TV
