Road To Redemption
Road To Redemption
Divine Call: A Fireman's Courageous Act of Kidney Donation
Could a divine calling from an acquaintance change your life forever? Discover how Mike Freyer, a retired Chicago fireman, heeded a spiritual nudge to become a kidney donor for Bill McKissick, a man he barely knew. This episode of Road to Redemption delves into their remarkable journey—how Mike's unyielding faith in God and sense of purpose led him to offer his kidney, and how this incredible act of kindness forged a lifelong bond between them. Bill reflects on his decade-long battle with kidney issues and dialysis, revealing how his faith provided strength and opportunities to witness to others during his most challenging times.
Join us as we explore the powerful intersection of selfless giving and divine intervention in Bill and Mike's story. Mike recounts the spiritually peaceful process of becoming a donor, while Bill shares the awe-inspiring moment of discovering a perfect match in an unexpected friend. Their experiences underscore the importance of trusting in God's plan and actively participating in it, demonstrating the profound impact one act of kindness can have on a community. Prepare to be moved by tales of unwavering faith, the ease of witnessing through personal trials, and the extraordinary ripple effect their story continues to have on those around them.
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Welcome to Road to Redemption, a show sharing powerful life testimonies, giving hope to those on their own road to redemption.
Speaker 2:Hey, welcome to Road to Redemption. This is Drew. I'm your guest host for today and with us in the studio. We have two guys here with a really cool story we want to share with you Bill McKissick and Mike Feuerwer. Did I get it Close? Hey, welcome to Road to Redemption. Thank you, thank you, all right, so just give us a little backstory of how you guys became friends.
Speaker 3:Bill, do you want to start? Oh, I'd be glad to. I mean this story in this life and this miracle is just so wonderful. I mean it just all day, every day when I walk around. It's just like I get to express it.
Speaker 3:But I was needing a kidney transplant. I was on the transplant list and Mike and I were acquaintances at best. I served on a group here with his wife and so I kind of knew him through his wife and she told him that I was on a transplant list and they both asked if they could test to see if they would be a match for me for a transplant. So from there it just bloomed to Mike being a bulldog and not taking no for an answer, with with the hospital to get approved. And uh, and he got approved and got approved and he was a perfect match and wow, we've had to transplant and everything's went just unbelievable. But you know, I'll let mike tell a story about how, how this all came together. This plan didn't start six months ago. This plan started years ago. Wow, god started this in motion not long ago.
Speaker 2:So so cool.
Speaker 4:Yeah, yeah, let us know about that, mike I prayed to god when I retired four and a half years ago. I prayed to him several times over the four and a half years to give me something in my life with meaning, give me something. I was a fireman in chicago, loved my job. It was a great job. It spoiled me, rotten, though for life, I mean, it was always something exciting. And I came down here and people are wonderful, everything's wonderful. Something was missing. Yeah, watch what you pray for.
Speaker 4:And bill came into our lives. My wife and I were sitting on the couch one night and we were talking about it and he said I just had a feeling that this is something I needed to do. I don't know why. I've never had the feeling before in my life, not like this. And yeah, we went through the process. We put our names in a hat, so to speak, and they picked me and the testing went on. And I tell everybody and this is no exaggeration whatsoever I've had more anxiety about getting my teeth clean that I had about this surgery. Wow, that god has been leading the way, has been completely buffeting me to any bad feelings all the way through it's. It's been so unique so wonderful.
Speaker 2:So no fear, just peace. It sounds like God has really given you the spirit of peace about this. It's just amazing and that's so giving laying down your life. It's so Christ-like when I think about it. I was talking to John yesterday when we were talking about this interview and just how Christ-like that is Giving of yourself, a part of your body, to help somebody else.
Speaker 4:That's well, it's the temple of the Holy spirit. Your body's the temple of the Holy spirit. It's funny. I've read that three times in the last day.
Speaker 2:And I was just thinking about that yesterday. I was like God, let me be better. You know, I just want to be better. I want to be better to the temple. You know, because I want to be better. I want to be better to the temple Because I want to be around as long as I can be to tell people about Jesus. So amazing, I knew you just feel at peace and the operation went well. The awareness.
Speaker 4:There's a couple of things that really came to light, and it's with. The devil is real, yeah, and I tell that Bill's heard this. Before Laying on the gurney going into the operating room, all of a sudden thoughts started going through my head. Never went through my head before. Why are you doing this? What are you nuts? You barely know this guy. Why would you do something like this? And all of a sudden the Holy Spirit came back and literally, like I said, I'm a retired fireman, so I actually said a few things I probably shouldn't have said out loud to the devil, Things that you don't want to repeat in nice company. And all of a sudden a smile came on my face and that smile stayed on my face all the way to the operating room. God gave me the peace right back again. But the devil is real. The devil tried it again and he's no match.
Speaker 2:He didn't like what was going on. No he didn't like it and that affects has it affected you in any way? How are you feeling? I feel fantastic. You had two kidneys you could let him have one.
Speaker 4:Well, I tell everybody I was trying to lose weight.
Speaker 2:Anyway, it worked and god brought away for you.
Speaker 4:Yeah, they say it's a half to three quarters of a pound. I mean it's not a lot, but I'll take it right. Who?
Speaker 2:wouldn't bill. I mean what? How did that make you feel?
Speaker 3:uh, when, when he he told you, I I just. It's like, are you sure, because I have no living relatives on earth, I'm an only I can have a family reunion on my Harley and have a seat left over. Yeah so the chances of me finding a match for a transplant is just. The odds are so far out there.
Speaker 2:Really. So it's not easy, it's not really easy to find a match no, yeah, I mean it's extremely difficult.
Speaker 3:Uh, in fact I've had four or five, maybe six people have gone through the test testing yeah and haven't haven't made it. Some of them haven't made it past the interview okay, a couple of them didn't make it past the physical.
Speaker 3:But and then you, after you, if you're physically capable, then you have to have the proper genes and the rejection whatever that is. Yeah, it's got to be compatible our rejection modes, uh, blood type, so there's a lot to it that that has to match after you're just healthy enough to do it and and the odds, if you would, if you look at the odds, would be crazy. So this is just nothing more than a complete miracle that God started, like he said, before he even moved to town. So he put this plan in place.
Speaker 3:He was preparing for years, yeah, working behind the scenes, absolutely, and to bring this together, it's like I talk about a miracle every day.
Speaker 2:What you were talking about before the show, before we came on the air. Talk a little bit about that, about how you have been able to share this.
Speaker 3:Absolutely. It's really unbelievable great that my health's improved and I've got a kidney and I'm doing great. We both talk about the surgery how smooth the surgery went. We both recovered faster than the doctors anticipated. Everything just went great.
Speaker 2:Yeah so.
Speaker 3:God's hands was on everything.
Speaker 2:Praise God Through the whole procedure.
Speaker 3:But the biggest thing for me is now the opportunity that I have to witness to people about this. I mean, it's great to have the miracle, but to be able to spread this miracle and tell people about it. I get the opportunity multiple times a day. Before you know, I would witness to people when I have the opportunity and previous, you know, I might get to witness a couple times a week where I'm in a proper position or the opportunity comes up. But now I get an opportunity multiple times a day. I mean anytime somebody says how are you doing? I get the opportunity to witness right there. They might be a believer, they might not be a believer and if they're not a believer, a lot of times they'll start engaging me with a conversation. So you know, I just I can't thank God enough for giving me this opportunity and giving me the tool to be a better witness, to do a better job, to be a better disciple for him.
Speaker 2:That's great, that is so cool and you know you guys are here in our area and in the community and talk to so many people maybe in on vacation, and it's just so neat that you're able to share this story with people vacation, and it's just so neat that you're able to share this story with people. What would you say to somebody who's listening right now, who might be in a dire situation or a similar situation, and maybe they are asking for help? Maybe they also need a kidney or an organ, or maybe they're on the other side and feeling like God is asking them to give of themselves. What? What would you say to somebody right?
Speaker 3:now through my whole process. You know I've had this kidney issue for 10 years, 12 years since I was diagnosed and I knew it was coming to this at some point. Okay, um, but my faith with god, my love for god, is so strong that the faith has brought me through everything. Even when I was on dialysis, my faith was, I had all a bit of faith in God that he was taking care of me. Whichever direction, whatever plan he took was his plan, it was right plan and I was going with it.
Speaker 3:But they would laugh at me when I would go to dialysis. You know, somebody would say, oh, how terrible is it? And you got to do this and you got to do that. And it's like, well, not really. I said I'm just like kind of like a human Tesla, I've got to go get charged three days a week. And people's like, yeah, they think you need to be down and depressed over it, but I was never, because I always felt God had me in his hands and he had me lifted up and he was taking care of me. So I'm just going to do the best I can with what he's given me to work with, but that includes participating. You can't just sit there and wait for it. You have to participate.
Speaker 2:That's such a great attitude. Feels to me like you're participating with your efforts to have a good attitude.
Speaker 3:Absolutely, and then that helps me. That's how I would get to witness before, because people would know my story and ask me about it, and they would ask me it's like well, bill, how do you keep such a great attitude with this? And that would be my way that I would get to witness. So now it's just gone to another level. He's given me another story. That's even better.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and as we grow older and get up in our years, you know, some people may feel like, well, what's next? Or you know, do you have anything else for me? God has something incredible for everyone, and it ain't over yet, is what I'm saying. So you got some sort of diagnosis, you need another organ, guess what God can work it out. We're hearing that. We're hearing the story right now with Bill and Mike. And Mike, what would you say to somebody, maybe on your end of the spectrum.
Speaker 4:It was a wonderful experience and you never really hear that when somebody goes in for surgery, major surgery. But we were able to witness to not only people around here but when we were in Gainesville at Shands Hospital the doctors, the nurses, everybody we came in contact with who looked at our paperwork and they kind of gave you a look Wow, you're donating a kidney. And I said yeah, and then you start to be able to tell them how God has taken away all the anxiety, how it's been almost suspiciously easy, wow.
Speaker 1:That's how I have to put it.
Speaker 4:And everyone, right down to the surgeon Wow, it's been wonderful. And they all are very receptive. None of them have a stand back attitude. Everyone really wants to know why this is going so well. Yeah, why you guys, your attitudes are like they are and all that other stuff Inquisitive. And then you just lay it out there it's God. This has been a God thing from the very beginning. When God's in control, there's nothing to worry about and God's in control of everything, so don't worry.
Speaker 3:It's amazing how many people, even at the hospital, are coordinators and staff and everything when we'll tell the story that it actually brings them to tears? Yeah, and so how many people are they now going to tell after they've heard the story? Right, so how this blooms and this opportunity that we have is just a complete gift.
Speaker 4:I can't wait for the next thing. Yeah, because he's going to do it. It's always growth with God, so how are you going to grow us next? God, bring it on. I can't wait, amen.
Speaker 2:Amen. I'm trying to talk but I can't, because it's beautiful and it builds my faith, building my faith. God's in control, he's going to take care of it. You had a kidney situation. I've got my thing and whoever's listening has their thing. God's in control, he's going to take care of it. He's working behind the scenes. And, god, I trust you and I pray for that supernatural peace that you gave Mike and and with Bill and and the opportunities to share that. Take my story and let it be for your glory, you know absolutely Couldn't.
Speaker 3:Couldn't have said it better my story for your glory.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and there's a song Matthew West has and we'll check it out. If you just tuned in, we're talking with Bill McKissick and Mike Farrer A little bit easier to say it that way, but he was coaching me on how to really Farrer, but anyways, what an incredible story. And Mike gave his kidney to Bill and the chances of it even being a match and y'all knowing each other and you met each other through church it's just an amazing story. So if you're getting in on this and near the end of the show, you can go to the podcast location for Road to Redemption and thank y'all so much for coming in to do this. Is there anything else that you'd like to add?
Speaker 3:Yeah, I wouldn't, I think. I can pick up on it as well. Once again, I'll start it, you finish it.
Speaker 3:But, this all came together and we talk about being brothers. But it's amazing that we didn't know one another to amount to much as far as conversation, know our personalities, our likes and enjoyments in life six months ago. Uh, today we're. If you would see us together, you would think we were brothers from birth. We can finish each other's sentences. We have the same humor. We have the same same love of god. We we direct our direction with. God is the same way we text text one another every morning at 5.30, 6 o'clock in the morning to get our prayers going and get our day started. I mean.
Speaker 2:You've got family. You've got family with Mike. He's your brother. I had family back then.
Speaker 3:I had no family Like I said I had zero blood and family. Now I have a true brother.
Speaker 2:Praise God.
Speaker 4:And it's God put us together. And I know God put us together because when you come together like this, the opportunity for awkwardness exists as far as, okay, we didn't really know each other. Now we're actually part of each other. Yeah, oh right, and there hasn't been any of that. There hasn't been any overstepping.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 4:It's just, we pray, we both, we pray every morning.
Speaker 2:God just guide us, give us the wisdom of Solomon, you know just, he gave, just give us a piece of that, and he has it's so cool to to look at y'all, uh, and look at men of God in the church. And as I've been growing up in the church in Northwest Florida, you know, since I was a little boy, I would look up to people, the older kids in the youth group, the men, and so what would you say to a young man listening right now? Uh, I just, I'm just telling you that I look up to y'all and your story encourages me, your life encourages me. What would you say to somebody, um, who's just wanting to do better? Or some advice for younger men.
Speaker 4:Pray, pray, pray. I heard something on the radio just the other day. I'll give you the cliff notes of it All the demons were in a meeting and they're all discussing why they can't get this individual to walk away from God. They said we take away his money, we take away his family, we take away his health but, still nothing.
Speaker 4:And then Satan stands up in the back of the room, all hooded and dark, and he says that's because you haven't taken away his prayer. And I think that that is it. Your relationship with Jesus Christ has to be number one on your priority list. And once you get that relationship with him, once you talk to him, once you bring everything to him in prayer don't worry about it, don't worry about it, don't worry about it, don't be anxious about anything. That's what him and I used to say. He's got this.
Speaker 3:And the key point that he hit there, that I go back to all the time, is the prayer and relationship. So the key in that part to me is relationship. When I came through my journey with God, when it went from religion to relationship, it changed. I mean, it was a drastic change Before I was doing it because I was living that life, because I thought that's why I was supposed to do it, to be a Christian. But somewhere along the line an epiphany went off and I started doing it because I loved God and it was a relationship and so I don't think about, is this right or is this wrong? Should I do it like this? Should I do it like that? It's just, I'm doing it out of love of the relationship and so I'm not doing it because I'm supposed to. I'm doing it because I love to you want to you want to thank him back with your life Right, amazing.
Speaker 2:Well, thank you so much. Bill McKissick and Mike Thayer here today on Road to Redemption. We always say three things at the end of every show Get into a Jesus based church, a Christ centered church, and open the Bible. Read every day. If you're not sure, there are Bible apps Disciple Me is a great app, pastor Stephen Vigalis. Check out Disciple Me app. Plenty of apps to get into God's word every day and meditate on his word and pray. And then get into a small group. A small group where you can meet a friend, where you can meet a brother who might have a kidney when you need a kidney. You didn't know it, but you went to the small group and there you go or he was a greeter. God is writing a story right now with you and is going to use your story for his glory. And don't worry, god's got this. Guys, thanks so much for coming in. This is amazing. 20 minutes just flew by.
Speaker 3:Thank you for giving us this opportunity to speak to thousands of people. That God's given us this opportunity to tell a story. Amen, that God's given us this opportunity to tell a story.
Speaker 2:Amen, and I pray that people who are supposed to hear it will hear it and God will open their ears, including mine, years from now down the road up online when they click on this, and it could be years down the road somebody listening. I pray that this is anointed in Jesus' name and speaking of, would you mind closing for us in prayer Sure. Thank you, lord Jesus. In prayer Sure.
Speaker 4:Thank you, lord Jesus we love you, we need you. You are the pinnacle of our lives. Lord, just lead us through everything that we go through in our lives, both good and bad. We thank you for being there. We thank you for being in control. Thank you, jesus.
Speaker 4:We give everything that we have to you. We love you, lord. Let this message get out to people who need it. Let this message get out to people who can use it and just guide them, like you guide Bill and myself. We know what's going to happen. I just can't wait for it to happen. In Jesus' name, amen.
Speaker 2:Amen, thanks so much for joining us on Road to Redemption. We'll see you next week. All right, thank you, nice.
Speaker 1:You've been listening to Road to Redemption, sharing powerful life testimonies, giving hope to those on their own road to redemption. If you have any comments or questions, we would love to connect with you. You can reach out to us at destinyradiolive. Thank you for listening and we'll see you next week on Road to Redemption.