[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 47 (Wednesday, April 24, 2002)]
[House]
[Page H1604]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 LYNN LAUFENBERGER'S KIDNEY TRANSPLANT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Gutknecht) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. GUTKNECHT. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to share a story of faith, 
hope, love, and incredible generosity. Lynn Laufenberger works in our 
district office back in Minnesota. She is a young woman full of courage 
and hope.
  In 1995, Lynn's kidneys began to slow down. They no longer functioned 
well enough, and Lynn was placed on dialysis. For 6\1/2\ years she 
received dialysis every day, usually in her own home.
  Earlier this year, Lynn's kidney disease became worse. She felt an 
increased sense of urgency to obtain a kidney transplant. Lynn spoke 
publicly of this need at her church, Elim Baptist, in Rochester, 
Minnesota. A friend, Heidi Stensland, approached her after she spoke 
and told her that she had already been praying about giving one of her 
kidneys to Lynn. Heidi had only known Lynn for a couple of months.
  Heidi submitted herself for tests to determine if her kidney was 
healthy and a match for Lynn. The results showed that her kidney was 
indeed a match. This was no small feat, since Lynn's blood type is 
rare. Lynn had been on the active transplant waiting list for about 1 
year.
  The transplant surgery was performed February 21 at Rochester 
Methodist Hospital. Heidi, a home day care provider, took her yearly 
vacation time to donate her kidney. She even postponed her own wedding 
to deliver this amazing gift of life to Lynn.
  The surgery was immediately successful. The transplanted kidney began 
to work in Lynn's body right in the operating room. Lynn's parents from 
Wisconsin were able to come to Minnesota for her surgery, and they 
stayed afterward to provide much needed support. Her only sister was 
also able to be there.
  The faith community of Elim Baptist Church was very supportive of 
both Lynn and Heidi. Church members provided transportation for their 
follow-up appointments. The church also brought much appreciated meals 
and assisted with some of the extra expenses.
  When Heidi resumed providing day care in her home, church members 
were there to help her until she was able to handle it by herself. 
Heidi continues to provide day care in her home. Lynn has returned to 
her staff assistant's job in my office.
  This is a beautiful story. I want to express my thanks and 
appreciation to Heidi Stensland for her generosity and her faith. I 
thank the members of the Elim Baptist Church for their prayers and 
support for Lynn and Heidi. And to Lynn, I want to wish all of the best 
for a very bright future, now full of hope. I commend her for her faith 
that God would provide an answer to her prayers.
  To all those involved in this great story, I say, God bless.

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