A leap of faith and an inspiration

For Sandpoint residents Jeff and Denise McLagan, every day is Thanksgiving.

During the past year, Jeff and Denise say they have witnessed God’s miracles firsthand – miracles that allowed Jeff to give the gift of life to his 2  1/2-year-old grandson, Aiden Borchers.

Aiden was born with alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, an inherited disorder that causes liver disease. Alpha-1 antitrypsin is a protein produced by the liver that protects the lungs.

“He was jaundiced when he was born and it never went away,” said Jeff. “They took some tests and he was diagnosed.”

A liver transplant was Aiden’s only hope for survival. But doctors in California, where Aiden lives, told the family the transplant could not take place until Aiden was about 3 years old, after his body had had a chance to mature.

But as the weeks and months passed, it was clear that Aiden’s health was failing quickly. The family waited for a cadaveric liver, but when Aiden’s condition worsened, they began to test relatives to find a match.

“The first criteria is that you (the donor) have to be the same blood type (as the recipient),” said Jeff.

Jeff’s daughter Kristin has a different blood type than her son, meaning Aiden’s father would be a match, at least for the blood type. But Aiden’s father is not a part of his life, so testing him was not an option.

Because liver donation from a living human is a relatively new procedure, it was not until Kristin called her dad that Jeff, 52, even thought about being a donor.

Jeff immediately went to see his doctor and learned he was a match.

The McLagans left for San Francisco, where Jeff spent a week undergoing CT scans, ultrasounds, blood tests, and an analysis of the liver and blood vessels. In the end, Jeff and Aiden matched perfectly. Jeff also had psychological evaluations to ensure he was emotionally prepared.

“My survival is one issue they (the hospital staff) addressed,” he said, and added that there are still things that could go wrong for years to come, including the failure of his own liver and scar tissue which could potentially wrap around the intestines.

“There were too many things to worry about, so we gathered it up and gave it to God,” Denise said. “A peace just came over us, and we knew it was what we had to do.”

Jeff said he never gave his decision a second thought. “We had to do it or he would have died.” On June 26, Aiden received a portion of his grandfather’s liver. Almost instantly he was transformed from a sick boy to a lively toddler.

It wasn’t so easy for Jeff, who developed complications and was re-admitted to the hospital. Recovery took three months, and Jeff said he’s still not back to full strength. But each day he gets stronger.

Patty Hutchens

Taking the lead in toy drive

When a family of four is living at or below the poverty level, paying bills becomes the top priority. Christmas presents are a luxury many can’t afford.

For the past several years, Cheney Outreach has collected toys for children who otherwise wouldn’t get them. In a trying economic year, the organization has been busy securing grants to give clients in dire financial straits $75 of emergency funds.

The money can be used to help pay rent, utility or other bills that must be paid to make it until the next paycheck. It has been so busy at Cheney Outreach that there was a fear it would not be able to organize Christmas Gifts for Cheney Kids this year.

Then Sally Shamp, a volunteer at Cheney Outreach and a member of the Cheney United Church of Christ, stepped up to find a new way to coordinate toy collection. Cheney Outreach will still distribute the toys.

“We can’t let it go,” Shamp said.

She’s been talking to service groups, such as Kiwanis and Rotary clubs. Her pastor, Debi Hasdorff, has been contacting pastors at other churches in Cheney to see if they can help. Shamp is organizing volunteers, coordinating donors and finding places for drop-off boxes.

“Everyone says yes,” Shamp said.

Shamp is trying to plan for 200 children to get a gift or two.

Those wishing to donate can send checks made out to “Christmas Gifts for Cheney Kids” to Cheney United Church of Christ, 423 N. Sixth St.

Any family that would like to receive gifts f should call Cheney Outreach at (509) 235-8900 to qualify.

Lisa Leinberger