Sean and Dee Halog chat at Trinity Christian School in Oakley.
Photo courtesy of Austin Miles
Photo courtesy of Austin Miles
Sean and Dee have demonstrated a deep, devoted unconditional love and sacrifice that has touched everyone involved in Mountain View Christian Center and Trinity Christian School. Theirs is the ultimate love story.
Sean had reached a point in time where he longed to turn his life around so he began attending Mountain View Christian Center (MVCC). Dee worked at MVCC and couldn’t help but notice him when he began coming. He noticed her too. Indeed, the first glance unveiled the deepest of feelings that startled them both. It was instant. They really didn’t know what to do with those feelings, but did become good friends and managed to talk every day and texted each other so much that their thumbs developed calluses. This went on for two years until Dee finally told her sister Lorie, who also works at MVCC, that her feelings were growing for Sean.
Then, a crisis. Sean’s health began to fail. He had begun working with the youth of the church and she would go to help him with that ministry which drew them closer and lifted the veil between them. They both felt that the other was who they were created for. They had a coffee date at Starbucks, and discussed Sean’s worsening health challenges.
Not only did Sean have diabetes and heart problems, but he also desperately needed a kidney transplant or he would die. One kidney was shot and the other one operated at only 8 percent. He had dialysis four times a week, each session lasting three-and-a-half hours.
Meanwhile, Sean had been accepted in the minister’s intern class and, as ill as he was, attended faithfully. He was on the list for a transplant for about seven years. His blood made him a difficult match; His future did not look bright.
Still, the miraculous power of love took center stage. Sean proposed to Dee who, fully knowing he was very ill, said “yes.” On July 17, 2009 at the magnificent Hanoum Estate in Oakley, Sean and Dee were married by Pastor Tyrone Holmes of MVCC. The church staff provided their honeymoon stay in Monterey.
Because a donor for Sean had still not been found Dee decided to have herself tested. To the astonishment of everyone, Dee was a (another) perfect match.
On June 17, 2010, Sean and Dee were lying in beds next to each other at UCSF Medical Center. As the anesthesiologist began his work, they looked over at each other and with a smile whispered, “I love you.” Then the surgeons took their places as they dozed off.
In the Trinity Christian School library at MVCC, the teachers had gathered for an orientation meeting regarding the upcoming new semester. One of the teachers kept her phone in front of her, checking update texts from a friend at the hospital; “They’re in surgery;” then later, “They have successfully removed Dee’s kidney.” The teachers cheered and praised God as each new text came in. “They have just put her kidney in Sean.” Then the best of all, “They are closing them up.” Finally came the word everyone longed to hear: “The transplant is a success! Everything is working!” which provoked another cheer from the library.
When they were introduced at the next church service, there were more cheers and tears. They both looked wonderful, and Sean looked better than anyone had ever seen him. When asked how he’s doing, Dee proudly said, “Great ... he’s peeing all the time!” Sean would never again have to rely on dialysis. Everything would happen naturally.
Dee and Sean are more in love than ever. With a part of Dee inside Sean, they have truly become one flesh. They have and continue to set a very positive example of the power of love, commitment, devotion, sacrifice and trust. God’s plans and timing are always perfect. He has everything under control, even those things that make little sense at the moment. And through it all Dee and Sean have given all of us a perfect example of what unconditional love is all about.
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