TIM BURROWS GETS LIVER TRANSPLANT

 Mr. Tim Burrows 

  “Queen” sat to our left across the waiting room. I don’t know her real name, but the word “Queen” was tattooed high on her black arm. She groaned and leaned forward, holding her swollen lower stomach. 

“Are you all right?” asked an older white lady sitting in the gastroenterology office.

“I’m OK,” Queen said. “Thanks for asking.”

An attendant appeared and helped Queen walk to an inner office.

“She has liver problems,” I said to Barbara. I had prayed internally for Queen, who seemed nauseated. I wondered why no one visited the doctor’s office with her. 

Barbara had come with me on Monday morning to see Physician’s Assistant (PA) Rivenbark about my liver. A few years ago I was diagnosed with “fatty liver,” putting me in danger of cirrhosis. 

Sources say cirrhosis is severe scarring of the liver and can be caused by many forms of liver diseases. Alcohol over-indulgence used to be the first thing people thought about when hearing the word “cirrhosis.” But the cause of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is unknown. Genetics and ethnicity can be factors, as well as obesity, gastric bypass surgery, high cholesterol, and type 2 diabetes. NAFLD is becoming more common, especially in Middle Eastern and Western nations. It is the most common form of liver disease in the world.

By losing some weight, I have been cleared by PA Rivenbark — she only needs a blood test from me each year. But I need to be on guard for NAFLD. 

While in the gastroenterology department, Barbara and I thought about Tim Burrows, son of our pastor, the Rev. Raymond D. Burrows. Tim has been waiting for a liver transplant. Like many of you, we have prayed for Tim to receive a transplant. Tim and his family ministered often in song at Faith Temple before his sickness. We want to hear again his powerful baritone voice singing songs such as “The Lighthouse.”

Suddenly, on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, Pastor Burrows posted on Facebook, “Dear church family, Timothy is having liver transplant surgery this afternoon at 3:30 P.M. That was unexpected, of course, and with all of the variables with traveling and potential imposition on people to fill the different roles, we are making the decision to cancel this evening's service. Please utilize some of that time to pray for Timothy. The surgery is scheduled to last about 8 hours. Thanks for your expressed love support and prayers.”

Mrs. Ann Burrows, our pastor’s wife, wrote on Facebook, “Tim, is having the liver transplant this afternoon at 3:30! Praise the Lord for His goodness and mercy! Please pray for Tim and the surgeons. Please also pray for  Raymond as he travels down. Pray for Tammie and the family as they navigate this very exciting but demanding season to come!”

Facebook folk wrote responses about Tim’s surgery at the MUSC Transplant Center in Charleston, SC: 

“Oh, does GOD still answer prayers? ABSOLUTELY. PRAISE HIS NAME FOREVER AND EVER,” posted Jackie Pittman. 

“We are praying,” wrote Pastor Trey Thompson.

“Praise God!” said Autumn Zazueta.

Tim had another surgery to correct “a pinched portal vein.” On Friday afternoon, Pastor posted, “His liver is responding well after the correction of a pinched portal vein yesterday.”

The last Facebook post by Pastor that I saw before finishing this column at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 20, was this: “Thankful: Timothy is responding to my voice and even gave me a thumbs up. He is definitely understanding what I am saying, and that is encouraging.” ###

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