Healed On Purpose Blog
Published on November 24, 2025 by Tamera Mathis
Delayed, Not Denied: The Night My Miracle Was Put on Hold
Finally On The List
It’s easy to talk about a life-changing surgery, but before the miracle, there is the wait. And for me, the waiting game to receive a heart and kidney transplant was a marathon with endless hurdles.
The journey to the official transplant list was almost as difficult as the disease itself. I had faced rejection after my first evaluation in April 2024, primarily because I struggled to comply with the strict rules. In fact, I had a stubborn habit of signing out AMA (Against Medical Advice) whenever I felt confined. This was a non-starter for the transplant team. They needed absolute certainty that I understood the seriousness of the commitment.
After over a year of struggle, preparation, and proving I was ready, the impossible happened: on August 27, 2025, I was officially listed for the dual transplant. The relief was overwhelming, but it was immediately replaced by a new kind of anxiety. I was in a state of permanent readiness. Every phone call, every unexpected chime, was a potential life-changer. I wasn't sure if I had the emotional strength to sustain the wait, or even if I truly had it in me to go through with the surgery when the time came.
But I was on the list. I was ready. Or so I thought.
The Call
The call came just a few weeks after my listing. It was around 11:30 PM on September 12, 2025. I somehow missed the crucial call from the transplant team, which is the exact scenario you spend months preparing to avoid.
Because of this system failure on my part, they immediately initiated the backup plan: they called my mom, who then urgently called my dad, who was staying with me at the time. I heard my dad on the phone, his voice animated and urgent, but honestly, my dad is an animated person anyway, so I paid it no mind.
That is, until he came into my room and shared the news that made my heart stop: "Duke has a heart for you!"
I was thoroughly confused. How did he know? He explained the chain of calls—they called my phone first, then my mom. In an instant, the exhaustion and the wait evaporated. I jumped up, adrenaline surging. The time had finally arrived! I started calling everyone I knew while frantically trying to get ready. I wasn't prepared at all, just throwing things in a bag for my daughter, and then we, along with my dad, jumped on the road for the long drive to Durham, NC.
The Journey: Detours and Divine Intervention
We were fueled by urgency and hope. As we neared the highway, ready to start the long drive, we noticed a barrage of police cars and flashing lights. The highway was completely blocked off due to a major accident. My heart immediately sank; this was precious time we couldn't afford to lose. I quickly panicked, but then found the resolve to act.
I pulled up to a police officer and, with everything I had, explained my situation: "I was just called for a heart transplant! How do I get on the highway?" He immediately understood the gravity of the moment. He told me to turn around and meet his coworker up the street, who would guide us through a quick diversion to get around the blockage. Okay, fine. I told myself. Quick diversion. It’ll be okay.
We finally got on the highway and were cruising along, making up lost time. I called my transplant team to give them an updated ETA. We were about twenty minutes away from Duke when suddenly, something started furiously flapping on my car. I slowed down, realizing the unbelievable had just happened: I had a flat tire.
OMG! What else can go wrong right now?
I pulled over and got out to assess the damage. This was the moment I thought I would finally break, but I didn't. I stayed calm. I knew that panicking would only slow us down further. Calling AAA would take an hour or more, so I opted to call the police again and explain the situation to them. They were incredible. An officer was sent out right away, and he changed my tire in under ten minutes, getting me, my daughter, and my dad back on the road.
Every delay was met with an intervention. It felt like every obstacle placed in our path was instantly cleared away. We were going to make it.
The Answer
We finally arrived at Duke University Hospital, exhausted but riding the residual high of adrenaline. The clock read around 12:45 AM, and the team immediately began prepping me for surgery. After the chaotic, obstacle-filled journey, the hospital room felt quiet and certain. This was it.
As I lay there, ready, my phone buzzed with an incoming call—a Duke University number. I answered, and it was my coordinator. I held my breath as she spoke. It was 1:30 AM.
She informed me, gently, that after the surgical team assessed the organ, the donor heart was deemed no good and was unusable for transplant. She apologized profusely.
I can't say that I wasn't deeply disappointed. Every part of that stressful night, every obstacle overcome—the highway block, the flat tire, the kindness of strangers—was driven by the conviction that this was finally my time. But it wasn't.
However, I immediately felt a sense of acceptance. This was always a possibility. Once again, I had to trust that there was a reason, a greater plan for me.
Conclusion: Trusting the Plan
The long drive back home that morning was quiet, a stark contrast to the frantic rush to get to Durham. The entire night felt like a fever dream—a dizzying journey that ended exactly where it began: still waiting.
The whole experience, with its near misses, police escorts, and roadside tire change, made me realize that even when the path is cleared, the ultimate timing is not up to me. I thought I was ready, but God had different plans. His word gives me strength and perspective in moments like these:
"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11)
My time wasn't September 12, 2025. This was a challenging test of resilience, of patience, and of faith. I may have been delayed, but I know I am not denied. I must continue to trust those plans and keep looking to God for all my help and strength until the night my real miracle finally arrives.
🙏 A Closing Prayer
Lord, thank You for Your protection through the chaos. Help me to surrender my timing to Yours. Give me the strength to wait patiently for the promise, knowing that Your plans are always perfect, and that the blessing I seek is already secured in Your love. Amen.
🤔 Reflection Question
When has a sudden delay or roadblock in your life actually turned out to be God's protection or better timing?
💖 Final Thought
Keep watching for that urgent call—but more importantly, keep listening for that still, small voice of guidance. Your miracle is coming.
