Stan Barsch

A Perfect Match

Stan Barsch was in desperate need of a kidney. He was suffering with
polycystic kidney disease (PKD). PKD is a genetic disorder that causes
fluid-filled cysts to grow in the kidneys. It changes the shape of the
kidneys and makes them larger, reducing the organ's function and possibly
leading to failure. It can also cause high blood pressure, cysts in the
liver, and problems with blood vessels, according to the National Institute
of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Barsch learned of his
disease in 2002 after seeing if he was a donor match for his mother, who
also suffered from the disease.

Barsch spread the word of his need of a kidney on Facebook in December of
2018. He shared that he was in stage 5 renal failure and that he has an O
blood type. He learned that a match was found and that the donor was
willing to share her kidney with him on February 14, 2019, Valentine's Day
as well as National Donor Day. The willing donor was someone that he knew,
and she broke the news to him in a unique way.

"So I heard "urine" (you're in) need of a kidney," Megan Ambrose wrote to
her former Montgomery County (Maryland) beat partner, Stanley Barsch. "Want
mine? Turns out that we are a perfect match. Not only on the job but in
blood and organs, too. You always had my back on the road and off. Now you
can have my kidney."

On May 14, 2019, the pair of retired police officers and former beat
partners underwent surgery so that Ambrose could successfully share a kidney
with Barsch. Barsch later posted the following message on Instagram: "On
Tuesday, May 14th, I got the gift of life from my former police beat partner
@meganambrose5. Megan selflessly gave a piece of her life without
hesitation to give me the gift of life. My new kidney is functioning like a
baby. I've lost so much energy over the past few years that has been
restored to 100%. My numbers are all looking great. I'm a new man with a
new leaf of life!! I'm blessed beyond words. My young boys of 6, 4, and 3
have never known my energy level in their lifetime; they're in for a huge
treat!!!"

Because of our sins, you and I have a fatal condition (Romans 3:23; 6:23).
But, thanks be to God, a willing Donor has offered to give us the gift of
life! The willing Donor is Jesus, the Son of God. He is the Perfect Match,
for only the sinless Son of God could pay the price for our sins. He paid
that price by dying on the cross for our sins (1 Peter 2:24). He died so
that we might live. The life that Jesus offers is not only the abundant
life now but eternal life to come.

God will save and give eternal life to those who place their faith and trust
in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turn from their sins in repentance (Acts
17:30-31), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and are baptized
(immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38). He will
continue to cleanse from sin those who continue to walk in the light of His
Word (1 John 1:7-9).

Because of Jesus, each of us can be a new person with a new leaf of life!
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have
passed away; behold, all things have become new" (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Won't YOU accept His offer on His terms?

-- David A. Sargent

* Information gleaned from "Retired police officer is perfect kidney donor
match for former beat partner" by Alexandra Hein, www.foxnews.com. Posted
February 18, 2019.