Dear 2025,

You were quite the year. We had our highs and we had our Lows, and everything in between. Each year, I look back and try to summarize the year in a sentence or a phrase.

2020: hope wins with a transplant

2021: the year of hospitalizations

2022: the year of the kidneys

2023: the year that tested me

2024: the year of the migraines

2025: the year we hit the limits of medicine

You see, 2025, this year we continued to see specialists for endocrinology, neurology, cardiology, orthopedics, general medicine, gynecology, gastroenterology, nephrology, hematology and emergency medicine.

And slowly throughout the year, one by one; we heard, “we’ve tried all the transplant and cardiac safe meds, we have nothing more to offer”. And we weren’t seeing any slackers, we were seeing the best of the best in their fields.

Neurology: can’t help with the migraines, nothing else is safe to try

GI: first line treatments aren’t transplant safe, all we can do is manage symptoms.

Hematology: let another specialist deal with your anemia

Nephrology: I’m the kidney doc, but I’ll manage your anemia. Iron infusions for you.

Ortho: you’ll need a hip replacement at some point, but I don’t want to do an injection for your pain, not great for you.

Endocrinology: you are highly insulin resistant and I’m going to order this lab test that is impossible to get filled to fully diagnose you.

Gynecology: we are going to put you through a procedure, but the procedure will fail two times and we don’t have a great solution. Ask transplant.

PCP: I’m with you through it all, but we are kinda stuck.

Transplant: can’t change your meds, so let’s just manage symptoms.

Emergency medicine: what do you expect us to do if your specialists cant figure it out?

So 2025, medically, you were a tough one.

But personally, I was pretty bada*s and finished my masters. Went on some dates, found someone special, grew exponentially, healed parts of my heart that needed healing, survived anxiety and depression at times and began steps to heal my relationship with God and the church

There were some incredibly difficult moments, like watching mom go through gallbladder surgery. There were moments of grief, like hitting the 5 year mark post transplant and realizing my life was far different than I thought it would be or remembering that my mortality rate goes down at the five year mark, so it’s a big accomplishment. Nothing I thought I’d celebrate at 37 years of age. While also knowing that I live, while a family grieves their missing loved one. Gratitude and grief continue to coexist.

There were moments when I didn’t think Hope would win. I watched friends walk through unimaginable situations. There were times, when pain was so unbearable; I didn’t know how I’d survive to the next day. But even in this years hardest moment, there was always that flicker of light, that hope that remains. I refused to be anything other than stubborn in hope.

My dear friends-Perhaps you had a great year and the holidays are bringing you so much Joy. Or perhaps your year was hard for whatever reason, and the shiny and bright of Christmas seems duller this year. And you are ready for 2026 to get here…

This Christmas find a place to put yourself in the manger. Perhaps it’s next to the Holy Family, or the three kings, still finding your way to Jesus, or it’s with the shepherds and the animals..I’m pretty sure I’m downwind of the sheep and donkeys this year. I’m nestled against the sheep, observing it all, nudging the donkey to go somewhere else. Wishing I was closer to the King of Kings, but nevertheless, still in His presence.

That’s where Hope wins, when we can look back at all the moments that got us to today, and remember that though he may have felt distant, God never left us alone. He remained with us.

So as you prepare for 2026, perhaps don’t seek resolutions, but invite God to be the author of 2026. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you, seek a Bible verse to carry with you throughout the year.

Mine for 2025 was Romans 15:13-“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in as you trust in Him, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”

I didn’t know at the start of 2025, that I’d have to place my trust in Him, when the medical world failed us, or I was stretched to my limit, but as the year closes out, I remain hopeful that Hope will continue to win for you and me.

Be assured of our prayers for each of you this holiday season.

And thanks 2025-you were real..uh…a real pain in my behind at times. But I learned so much. Now you may pack your bags and hit the road!

With love, K