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Enjoy the 3rd most listened to episode of 2025 with Joy Kats: What if the door you begged to open was actually protecting you for the work only you could do? That’s the tension we walk through with author and speaker Joy Kott as she traces the path from a failed kidney match to three sacred months caring for her father in his final season, and then to a later donation that finally connected. It’s a story of timing, trust, and the quiet courage to serve when plans fall apart.

We start with the shock of a sudden diagnosis—congestive heart failure uncovered after a back injury—and the unplanned shift that made Joy her dad’s primary caregiver. She brings us inside the home, the garden he loved, and the daily tasks that demanded both grit and gentleness. One tender moment—washing his feet after a hospital stay—reshapes old distance into real connection. The practical becomes spiritual: preserving dignity, noticing small joys, and learning to say I get to where I have to once lived.

Then the plot threads tie together. The earlier “no” to donation meant Joy had the strength and time to walk her father all the way home. Months later, another need surfaced, and this time she was the match. Along the way, we talk about living without regrets, finding purpose in detours, and holding onto Jesus when fatigue and grief threaten to empty the cup. For caregivers, faith leaders, and anyone navigating elder care or chronic illness, this conversation offers honest encouragement, real-world perspective, and hope that nothing is wasted.

If this story moved you, follow the show, share it with someone who needs courage today, and leave a review to help more caregivers find practical hope.