A California doctor is being credited with saving a stranger’s life through kidney donation.
The Gospel Herald reports Dr. Ester Kwok decided to donate one of her kidneys after learning that her patient’s son had suffered from kidney disease for more than 30 years. Though organ donation goes against her country of origin’s cultural beliefs, Kwok heard God calling her to act on Jonathan Chan’s behalf.
"I am a Christian, and I believe that God puts us in situations where he wants us to be His instruments," Kwok said.
She followed God’s call and joined the National Kidney Registry. However, she found that she was not a match for Chan. Still, Kwok kept her name on the registry, in hopes that God would work a miracle for Chan.
That is exactly what happened. Three years after adding her name to the registry, Kwok received word that she would be a part of a 12-person donation chain that would give Chan a new kidney.
She went through with the surgery, and Chan received a kidney. Unfortunately, the new kidney did not take at first. Kwok said this tested her faith.
"I said, 'Lord, I went through all of this—I never pondered that rejection might be something that would happen. Did I go through all of this for nothing?'"
She then heard the reassuring voice of God, telling her to have faith. One year later, Chan’s new kidney was working properly, and he was healthy for the first time in years.
"Faith is believing everything is going to be okay. I couldn't see [Mr. Chan] was going to be okay, but I felt in my heart he was going to be okay, and learning to trust in God in spite of not being able to see ahead is what faith is. I don't know God has in store for me in the future, but I know that whatever it is, I just have to walk and trust him,” Kwok said.
Publication date: May 12, 2016
