Paul Cardall - Heart Transplant Recipient and Award Winning Pianist

Tonight we had a couple into our home who is expecting a baby with HLHS (Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome). This is the same diagnosis given to baby Paxton (Friday's featured bloggers new baby). As you can imagine this couple needed some encouragement and some hope. They're scared. Will you please pray for them: Ben and Cindy are their names - their unborn baby's name is Natalie.

While my husband and I were talking to them I told them that the prognosis of a heart patient is extremely varied. Sometimes a patient with a simple hole in their heart can die during surgery yet a patient with a very severe defect (I hate that word) can live many years. There really are no absolutes when it comes to heart defects (Ugh, I truly hate that word)...

Kathyrn's baby lived less than a year... Anna (my daughter) lived 6 years, and Paul Cardall has lived over 35 years! Knowing it would give them hope, I told this couple about Paul and even though Paul hasn't signed up for Getting to know YOU - I want to tell all of you about Paul too. He has no idea I'm doing this - in fact, I don't think Paul Cardall knows I exist - but I feel a strong prompting to share his blog with you today. So, let me break my rules for one day and introduce you to somebody who is not on my "list" - sometimes you just have to veer off the path and go where you feel God is sending you - maybe God wants me to do this for one of you.

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I have no idea how I found Paul's blog, but I found it about six months ago. When I read about the details of Paul's diagnosis I noticed that some of his heart issues were similar to Anna's (including single ventricle). I became a little emotional because it was a reminder that Anna might have lived longer - even though her diagnosis was very severe. I know, technically, it would have been impossible for her to live longer, because God planned to take her exactly when he did - when she was 6 years old, but sometimes you just feel things anyway, ya know?

As I read Paul's story I was just amazed by his joyful spirit and his positive outlook. I felt very drawn to his family and found myself wishing I would have known him when Anna was alive. I think his life would have been a tremendous encouragement to us - especially to Anna.

As I read more about him, I discovered his wife's name is Lynnette - spelled exactly the same (and trust me, that's unusual - most Lynnette's spell their name with one "n"). Just a fun little detail that drew me to them more.

Well, Paul recently received a new heart and I've been following his journey. I'm so glad he's doing well. In addition to all of this - as if it isn't enough - Paul is an award winning pianist. Amongst many others, he did the album that was the companion to the the book: The Christmas Box.

Want to be touched deeply - just go and visit Paul's blog and then click around to his other sites and listen to his music and an interview or two. It will be a good use of your time, I promise.

Oh and don't forget to leave a comment for him on his newest blog post telling him you're visiting from "Lynnette's blog" or "Getting to know YOU" and I'll enter you in the drawing for the fun November prizes. Like I said, he has no idea who I am - but don't worry - I'll fill him in. ha! Enjoy your visit.
**I'm editing away and will share the Your Photo - My Edit pictures this week sometime.