Mary Ann: Another Chance At Life
- Christ Episcopal Church
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
Dear Christ Church Family,
I hope this message finds you well.
I'm writing today with a heart full of gratitude to thank each of you for your prayers, support, and kindness over the past three years. Some of you may know parts of my story, but many do not. I want to share it with you now—not only as a testimony to God's goodness, but also as a heartfelt thank-you to this incredible community. I don't believe I would be alive today without the many prayers of my faith community, my family, and my friends.
In the fall of 2021, I was diagnosed with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Not long afterward, I became a member of Christ Church. Before that, I had been a member at St. John's Evangelist Catholic Church. Christ Church welcomed me with open arms from the first day I stepped into the church. I knew I had found my home.
On January 23rd, 2022, I was admitted to Howard County Hospital with acute pancreatitis. Shortly after, my gallbladder, which had died entirely, was removed. What followed was a very difficult period in my life: I spent nearly two out of the next three months in and out of the hospital, facing complications with my bile ducts.
Due to the placement of multiple stents in my bile ducts, I developed a rare condition called secondary sclerosing cholangitis, for which the only cure is a liver transplant.
In October 2023, I was placed on the UNOS liver transplant list. At that time, over 10,000 people were waiting for a liver. My MELD score—which determines transplant urgency—was mid-range, not yet high enough to qualify for a deceased donor transplant. That's when my team suggested I look for a living donor.
Sadly, no one in my family had the right blood type to be a match. I was encouraged to share my story publicly, but I hesitated. I had written it out, but lacked the faith that someone outside my family would step forward.
Then, in March of 2024, tragedy struck the Lynchard family.
The Lynchard family, who used to live across the street from my own, received the devastating news that their son Jared had passed away unexpectedly. Jared and my son Phillip were best friends during their elementary years, when they were between the ages of 10 and 12.
Though we hadn't seen each other in over 11 years, I brought Anjie and her husband Steve a prayer shawl from the Shrine of St. Anthony—just a small gesture to let them know they were loved and lifted in prayer.
When Anjie saw me, she could tell I wasn't well. I explained that I was living with liver disease and needed a transplant. She and Steve promised to pray that I would be healed, not knowing that Anjie herself would soon become part of that healing.
Not long after, I saw a post from a stranger on the Nextdoor app, asking about becoming a living donor. It made me realize—people are willing to give, even to strangers. Inspired, I finally shared my story on Facebook.
In July of 2024, Anjie and Steve received a message that, through Jared's death, lives would be saved while on a mission trip in Costa Rica they had taken in Jared's honor. Upon their return, the first thing Anjie saw upon opening Facebook was my post. She told me she felt, in that moment, that Jared was asking her to do this for me.
She then began the donor evaluation process; miraculously, she was a perfect match. On December 3rd, 2024—which was also Giving Tuesday—Anjie gave me the most incredible gift imaginable: a portion of her liver, and with it, a second chance at life.
Just before surgery, she was asked if she'd consider having the procedure done robotically. She said yes. This became the first time at Johns Hopkins—and possibly in Maryland—that a liver was removed robotically. The outcome was remarkable: minimal scarring, less pain, and a much faster recovery for Anjie.
We share this story in hope that others might be encouraged—not only by the power of prayer and the faithfulness of God, but also by the very real possibility that one person's selfless act can transform another's life. And now, with advancements like robotic surgery, the process is easier and less painful than ever.
In every detail—every delay, every prayer, every person—God was working. I believe Jared is continuing his mission from heaven, watching over us and inspiring others through this miracle.
To my Christ Church family: thank you. Your prayers carried me through dark days. Your faith lifted mine when I was faltering. And your love has been a constant source of strength.
May this story be a witness to God's healing, mercy, and the power of community.
Please feel free to share our story. You may save someone's life through organ donation, or in finding their way back to Jesus.
If you would like to hear more about our story, you can click the following links:
With deep gratitude and love,
Mary Ann Carroll
"I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth, you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world." - John 16:33
I am eternally thankful to Mary Ann for sharing this powerful, life-transforming story. This is a beautiful message of faith, resilience, and grace. We currently have a parishioner who needs a donor, so if you feel God's call to be a donor or know someone who desires to become a donor, please let me know. ~Fr. Manny
