Michael Minor

In 1996, Michael Minor began experiencing troubling symptoms uncommon for a young, healthy 24-year-old—frequent urination, dry mouth, and blurred vision. Concerned about the blurred vision, he promptly scheduled a visit with his physician. To his surprise, Michael received a diagnosis of Type I Diabetes and was prescribed medication along with a recommended diet and exercise regimen. Although he diligently took the medication to manage his glucose levels and visited his physician periodically, Michael made minimal changes to his lifestyle. Over the years, he continued with poor eating habits and minimal physical activity, keeping afloat by the absence of noticeable illness, which allowed him to overlook the potentially grave consequences of unmanaged diabetes.

As the years passed, Michael received another diagnosis: Type II Diabetes. One might have expected this revelation to prompt him to take his health more seriously. However, it did not incite change in his lifestyle. Now, 15 years after his initial diagnosis, Michael found himself in the midst of a living nightmare. The consequences of diabetes had accelerated, resulting in a myriad of health issues his doctor had long warned him about—hypertension, diabetic neuropathy, nerve pain, a detached retina in one eye, congestive heart failure, and end-stage renal failure, commonly known as kidney disease. Over the years, he underwent six eye surgeries and numerous hospitalizations.

In 2012, Michael began at-home dialysis treatment, which unfortunately proved insufficient in purifying his body. He transitioned to the traditional clinic-based dialysis regimen, undergoing treatment three days a week. Despite being on the kidney transplant list for three years without any success, a remarkable turn of events occurred. On September 12, 2015, Michael received a life-changing call from a church member, Adrian Michelle Murry, who remembered his story. Tragically, Adrian had recently lost her son in an accident and discovered that he was a registered organ donor. Although Michael was not next in line for a kidney transplant, Adrian designated him as the recipient of her son's kidney.

Michael is deeply grateful and acknowledges that he owes his life to Adrian's incredible and selfless act. He sees her gift as a miraculous intervention, for which he had fervently prayed to God. Through his journey, Michael learned that God has a sovereign way of correcting individuals, capturing their attention in ways they could never anticipate. Today, he testifies that he is a transformed man. He finds solace in Hebrews 12:5-11, a passage that reminds him of God's profound love and discipline:

"5 And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says, 'My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, 6 because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.' 7 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? 8 If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. 9 Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! 10 They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. 11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it."

  –Hebrews 12:5-11