From missing keys to found friends...EVERYTHING happens for a reason!

Hopefully, by now, most of you all have heard the story of how an Amazon worker from San Marcos accidentally dropped his lanyard and keys in a package a few months ago and it got shipped to our dear friend's in Houston. 

Roman (their son) and our Rowan were SDS buddies ("The Texas Roros"). We met online in a FB Forum, started messaging and texting for over a year, and then finally met in person just before we left for transplant.  Then, Roman and his parents came to visit Rowan in Seattle the day before he moved to ICU and fell into the coma. 

Long story short, Nicole and Peter got the keys back to Kenny from Amazon, after finding him on Facebook.  This led to him looking at their Facebook page too, and learning about Roman not having a bone marrow match yet (just like Rowan didn't).  Kenny has now made it his mission to make the good out of that crazy (or not so crazy) situation.  He has become a huge bone marrow registry advocate, searching for Roman's match, and trying to live by Rowan's words at the same time: "If you can't see the good, make the good!".  And believe me, Kenny is making some tremendous good!  There has been a 3 day bone marrow swab event going on at the San Marcos Amazon Fulfillment Center because of this young man.

Yesterday, the Shen Family and I met there in San Marcos at Amazon, as Kenny arrived for work, to surprise him.  It was the first time that he had met any of us.  It was a surprise for him...but boy were the tears flowing from all of us.  

I brought a gift for Kenny...one of Rowan's bracelets, his memorial cards, one of his cross necklaces, and one of his t-shirts.  He was very moved.

I brought a gift for Roman, Rowan's little buddy, as well...

I gave Roman, Rowan's bike, helmet, bike gloves and pads, along with a picture of Rowan riding the bike, before he left for Seattle for his transplants. 

It is so difficult to give your child's precious possessions away after they pass, but I just knew that Rowan would want Roman to have it.  I told his Mom, "I fully expect him to grow into this bike, and for you to send me a picture of him riding it down the street one day, just like Rowan."

What a precious day yesterday was.  Gencure/Be the Match swabbed lots of employees as Kenny continues to do God's work.  We met an angel on Earth in Kenny.  He got to meet little Roman.  Tears were shed.  Lots of laughter too though.  Gifts were given...but the greatest gift of all is the potential life saving matches that may have been signing up yesterday...

...and all of this because Kenny accidentally dropped his keys inside an Amazon package at work one day.  Nicole said she chooses to believe Rowan had something to do with that, since Kenny and I don't live far from one another.  She thinks Rowan helped them fall into that box, knowing it was headed to Roman, knowing she would return them, knowing he would become an amazing advocate...and hopefully Rowan's wish on the dandelion, of finding his friend's cure will come true because of all this.

Thank you Kenny.

Thank you Amazon San Marcos for allowing this event at your center.

Thank you Gencure/Be the Match for hosting it.

Thank you Shen's for inviting me to be there for the surprise.

Thank you to everyone who swabbed.

Thank you Jesus!