Jim Gerdeen, Prof. Emeritus, Mechanical Engineering
University of Colorado-Denver
Life’s greatest challenge.
For some of us, it may be the struggle to receive tenure. I never felt that way. My first professorship was at Michigan Tech where I was tenured within four years, and was granted the faculty research award in six years.
I was an outspoken Christian faculty, and tried to give God the glory whenever possible. Life had gone well. But how would I respond in a true “life-and-death” situation? This year, I found out.
I Was The Donor
For two weeks this spring I was in Minneapolis at the University of Minnesota’s medical center. My younger brother was scheduled for a bone marrow transplant, and I was the donor.
He has been sick with a blood disease for the past three years. For two years he has been receiving 80 blood transfusions every 10-14 days with no real success. Recently he was advised that he should have a bone marrow transplant as soon as possible.
He was told he had a 50% chance of survival, and that if he did not die, he would be wishing he was dead. I was told that at my age (70) I had only a 30% chance of being a successful donor. Thus the net probability of successful treatment for him from my bone marrow I calculated to be 15% (P= .50*.30 = .15).
Life And Death
Faced with a true life-and-death situation, what should we do? All of our Christian relatives and friends, including Christian faculty, were praying for us. I was led to do two things: to provide daily promises from Scripture on the family web site, and to give God the glory no matter what happened.
It was apparent that even though I could donate my bone marrow, it would not do any good unless his body could receive it. And he did. He lives.
Recovery has been slow for him. He lost 50 lbs, has been nauseated, had a blood infection, lost his hair, and has been very weak. He seems to be improving now. I told him that he had better not commit a crime now, because he has my DNA.
God has provided abundantly more than we could ask or imagine (Eph. 3:20). If my brother should die, we will give God the glory because our family has grown closer together and closer to God, and because many friends have been touched by the testimonies on our website.
Always Watching
The world, I have discovered, is always watching. At the alumni reunion at Michigan Tech this summer, the president of the university told me: “I graduated in 1974, and I remember your speech when you accepted a research award. I especially recall your closing words.”
“What did I say?” I asked him.
He replied that I had thanked God, and that I had said “by the grace of God I am what I am.” I find it amazing that someone can recall my witness – 30 years later.
Life is still about glorifying God, whether surrounded by admirers at an awards ceremony, or surrounded by whirring machines in a hospital bed. This spring I was reminded of II Cor. 12:9, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
I was willing to give bone marrow to my brother. It was not a hard decision. Would I give it for anybody? Probably not. Would I do it for a faculty friend? I hope I would. I was reminded of this: “While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
I can’t think of a better reason to thank God each day, and to do all things for His glory.
© 2007 Jim Gerdeen Used by Permission of Faculty Commons