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9-year-old from Greenwood gets miracle kidney transplant

A 9-year-old Greenwood girl needed a kidney transplant. She needed a miracle and turns out, she actually got two of them.

GREENWOOD, Ind. (WTHR) – A 9-year-old Greenwood girl needed a kidney transplant. She needed a miracle and turns out, she actually got two of them.

"When Dr. Goggins told me his exact words were, 'It's as if your kidney was meant for her'," Pastor Chris McLaughlin shared at IU Health Wednesday.

Divine intervention is described in the dictionary as a miracle or act of God that causes something good to happen.

These two know all about that.

"It was sad because I didn't know what was going on," 9-year-old Alana Miller said.

She was diagnosed with kidney disease three years ago. Two years ago, she found out she needed a transplant.

"I was in the hospital for a long time and it scared me," she admitted as she clutched "Riley" her stuffed bear.

"You just pray the perfect donor will be found," Alana's mother Jennie Miller said.

As her health kept getting worse, they did the best thing they could think of. They told their pastor.

Chris McLaughlin did more than pray for the family. He got tested and all their prayers were answered. He was a match.

"It was a phone call and I remember crying and he said 'Jennie are you still there?' I said yes I just need a moment," Jennie remembered.

"I heard silence for a while and then I said 'Jennie are you alright?' She was like I am so thankful and overwhelmed," Chris McLaughlin the family Pastor at Stones Crossing Church added.

But there was one catch.

"They said Chris's kidney was beautiful but abnormally shaped. The shape was abnormal," Jennie Miller continued.

There was some consternation. Would an abnormal shaped kidney work for Alana?

"So when he actually put it into Alana to see how he would need to adjust it or rework it, it was a perfect fit. He didn't have to touch it. It was the perfect fit for her," Miller said with the relief showing on her face.

As it turns out, Chris's abnormal kidney was just what Alana needed.

"It was perfectly designed for her," Dr. Goggins told Chris at IU Health Wednesday. "When you first told me that I was blown away. Just blown away."

"God had his hand in it for sure. It was amazing. Been praying for a long time for Alana to come out of this great. I think is is one more of God at work," Alana's father Seth Miller concluded.

"This is a great gift," Dr. Miller said as he sat down next to his prized patient. "Yes it is," Alana answered.

So Wednesday everyone got together for a picture. Then after three years of strict dieting, Alana was given the OK to buy anything she wanted at the cafeteria next door.

She selected cookie dough ice cream and Cheetos. Divine intervention has never tasted so good.

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