Catching up
My world started spinning three times faster a few weeks ago, and I haven't been thrown off yet but I did have to take a little blog hiatus. In the meantime I've heard from many of you, with good news and bad, and am eager to catch up. (Note how many times I use the word "inspire" or a variation thereof in the next few paragraphs. I love this community -- you people are awesome!)
* Brent, who's been in touch with me for a while now, wrote to say that he learned he was declined as a donor for his father-in-law due to medical reasons. He's the first person I've corresponded with during pre-donation testing who was rejected, so I'm taking his disappointment surprisingly personally. But he continues to inspire -- he's launching a photo project where every day next year he'll take a photo of one stranger on the street and ask that person about whether they are an organ donor, etc., and he'll be posting his results online. The purpose, besides being quite interesting in its own right, is to spread the word about the importance of organ donation. I love it! He's also keeping us up to date on his own life and the ongoing search for a donor at his blog, CausalEffect. His father-in-law has taken a turn for the worse, so join me in hoping for the best for the whole family.
* Colleen, a mom from Florida, wrote to introduce me to her inspiring group, 3-Day Mom, a group of moms from all over the country who walked the Breast Cancer 3-Day this year (and, from the sounds of it, plan to keep on walking). The group's blog fills you in on the race and what you can do to help, even now that the event is over and the countdown to October 2007's event has just begun. Way to walk, ladies!
* Mike, our happy and healthy source of inspiration from Canada who donated to little infant Kailey Simmons, says with excitement that he's very close to getting to meet Kailey and her family for the first time. I'm beginning to think Mike may be a living guardian angel to me. It seems his enthusiastic and optimistic emails always arrive on the days I need them most.
* One reader asked how my scar looks now that I'm nearing the one-year anniversary date of the transplant. I'm begging Mom and Dad for a digital camera for Christmas this year, and if they come through, I'll take a pic and show you that way. But to describe it in a word, the scar is "MINIMAL." Seriously, it is smooth, not very puffy, and not very red. I have 100% feeling in the area -- I heard reports that it could be numb or tingle from time to time, but haven't experienced that a bit. In fact, it's nearly flattering.... the scar runs perfectly vertical down the middle of my torso, so from a distance it just makes me look like my abs are a little more ripped! And of course, when I look at it, or feel it, I remember Joe and the whole experience, and I swell with pride and faith in miracles, so it's a part of me I wouldn't give up for the world.
More soon... I've got lots of news to post in the coming days!
* Brent, who's been in touch with me for a while now, wrote to say that he learned he was declined as a donor for his father-in-law due to medical reasons. He's the first person I've corresponded with during pre-donation testing who was rejected, so I'm taking his disappointment surprisingly personally. But he continues to inspire -- he's launching a photo project where every day next year he'll take a photo of one stranger on the street and ask that person about whether they are an organ donor, etc., and he'll be posting his results online. The purpose, besides being quite interesting in its own right, is to spread the word about the importance of organ donation. I love it! He's also keeping us up to date on his own life and the ongoing search for a donor at his blog, CausalEffect. His father-in-law has taken a turn for the worse, so join me in hoping for the best for the whole family.
* Colleen, a mom from Florida, wrote to introduce me to her inspiring group, 3-Day Mom, a group of moms from all over the country who walked the Breast Cancer 3-Day this year (and, from the sounds of it, plan to keep on walking). The group's blog fills you in on the race and what you can do to help, even now that the event is over and the countdown to October 2007's event has just begun. Way to walk, ladies!
* Mike, our happy and healthy source of inspiration from Canada who donated to little infant Kailey Simmons, says with excitement that he's very close to getting to meet Kailey and her family for the first time. I'm beginning to think Mike may be a living guardian angel to me. It seems his enthusiastic and optimistic emails always arrive on the days I need them most.
* One reader asked how my scar looks now that I'm nearing the one-year anniversary date of the transplant. I'm begging Mom and Dad for a digital camera for Christmas this year, and if they come through, I'll take a pic and show you that way. But to describe it in a word, the scar is "MINIMAL." Seriously, it is smooth, not very puffy, and not very red. I have 100% feeling in the area -- I heard reports that it could be numb or tingle from time to time, but haven't experienced that a bit. In fact, it's nearly flattering.... the scar runs perfectly vertical down the middle of my torso, so from a distance it just makes me look like my abs are a little more ripped! And of course, when I look at it, or feel it, I remember Joe and the whole experience, and I swell with pride and faith in miracles, so it's a part of me I wouldn't give up for the world.
More soon... I've got lots of news to post in the coming days!
posted by Becky at
9:26 PM
6 Comments:
Becky,
You brought tears to my eyes this morning. Thank you for the kind words and constant motivation.
for an update, my FIL is doing better. It may have been a winter blah that hit him. We did go shopping and it could have tired him out more than I expected.
By
Anonymous, at 3:03 PM
Becky and Joe Happy New Year :)
It's been just about a year and I hope things are going smoothly for you both. I have gained weight (self indulgence) I will be loosing it soon I hope. My incision looks good.
Om shanti Terry D.
By
Anonymous, at 11:37 PM
No post about Jingle Jangle??
By
m, at 4:18 PM
I just found your blog. It's fantastic. I am a kidney recipient (May 2006) and my donor was a friend that I had since age two. Keep up the good blogging.
By
othurme, at 12:28 PM
Just to let you know. I have started my One-A-Day-2007 project to bring about more organ donation awareness.
Check the blog out http://causaleffect.blogspot.com or go over to the pictures at http://www.flickr.com/photos/oneaday2007.
It’s been a labor of love and has become an incredibly difficult project to fulfill.
Basically, I am trying to take a photo portrait of someone I meet everyday. It needs to be a total stranger and I have to get them to agree to a photo, sign a photo release form and give me a quote that I can use with their picture.
I am not identifying them by anything but an initial, usually the initial of their first name. Most have people been supportive, a few have not. I have been run out of one restaurant and one gas station. Not bad for my first week. Only 51 more to go.
Brent
By
causaleffect, at 3:42 PM
Commenters, you all made my day! Othurme, welcome to Chopped Liver -- please keep reading and I'll keep writing. Mindy, I was too self-absorbed (er, um, hungover?) to gab about the Jingle Jangle, but I will, especially because I just got the coolest letter back from the ALF thanking us for the $$$ we raised. And Brent, I can't WAIT to see the results! Keep getting kicked out of places in the name of this awesome project -- it's so worth it and fun to be on the periphery of it!
Warm heart tonight -- love to all of you....
By
Becky, at 10:55 PM
Post a Comment
<< Home