Posted: March 3, 2013 – 12:05am | Updated: March 3, 2013 – 4:40pm
Editor:
Sawyer Mobley, a third-grader at Bel Air Elementary School, just celebrated his one-month anniversary of his new lung or “New Breath Day.” On Jan. 16, 2013, he received a double- lung transplant. As we cried tears of joy and praised God for His miracle, simultaneously we found ourselves praying for the family of the donor who provided this priceless gift.
Prior to the transplant, Sawyer’s health was quickly deteriorating and we are so thankful that the lungs arrived when they did, because other organs began being impacted in a devastating way. In fact, there was a period of time that we were afraid Sawyer would no longer be a viable candidate for this transplant.
Sawyer and his mom are still at the St. Louis Children’s Hospital. He has had a tough and bumpy road on this miraculous road to recovery. He has passed two rejection tests and those results indicate that the lungs are a perfect fit. His days have been long, hard and frustrating, but every day we get a word of encouragement as his mom posts on the Strength for Sawyer Facebook page.
Presently Sawyer is working on increasing his strength and mobility, increasing the variety and number of solid foods in his diet, and is being weaned from the powerful medications that he has been on for months. He tells his mom every day, hundreds of times a day, that he wants to go home. He has been having anxiety attacks and we pray that he learns to adjust and adapt to his new body and the therapy that he will have to endure.
Aiden, his twin, came home to stay with his dad. However, Sawyer’s mom and Sawyer will be in St. Louis for at least two or three months as they travel the road to recovery together. They will need continued prayers and encouraging words.
We have surpassed the $77,000 mark as a result of devoted and giving family members, faculty at many Columbia County schools, owners of local businesses, the American Legion Post 192, AHEPA No. 407 and churches. We thank God for His many blessings that He has bestowed on the Strength for Sawyer campaign. We thank the media and Augusta-area residents for being a part of those many blessings.
We are asking your readers, especially those living in areas around Bel Air School and Ashton Woods subdivision, to consider placing a green bow on their mailboxes or at their places of business and homes during the month of March and April as a sign that we are anticipating Sawyer’s return home.
Presently we have volunteers making bows, and you can pick up a bow on Friday, March 8 at Bel Air Elementary School from 5 to 7 p.m. There is no charge for the first 200 bows, but donations will be accepted so that more bows can be made. Residents are encouraged to make their own dark green bows. Green ribbons represent transplant.
Debbie Callan
Evans
(Debbie Callan, a retired educator, was Sawyer and Aiden’s first grade teacher at Bel Air Elementary school and fundraiser leader for www.cotaforsawyerm.com.)
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