6 Year Eval

I finally had a chance to get to clinic today.  My original appointment was the day of Oklahoma's "Snow-maggedon of '11" so they asked to move me back to my Spring Break since I appeared to be doing well.  All my bloodwork came back in great shape except for triglycerides which were high so I have to watch my carbs.  I got scolded for not working out as much as I should but for the most part, Doc E. was very pleased with how I've progressed. 

I had hoped to avoid having the heart cath but alas, that is scheduled for Friday.  This will be my 9th one since my initial heart problem diagnosis with each one getting a little more difficult to get over.  The groin can only take so many punctures before it gets sore!

But as I sat in clinic today and watched some of my fellow heart transplant patients stream in, I felt very lucky.  Some of the patients had been in and out of the hospital in recent weeks, some were having to go back and have biopsy tests again, some were not doing well at all.  To some degree I felt very guilty, but I also realize how quickly things can change and how fast I could be in their place.

Life is fickle.  I've watched the newscasts of the earthquake and tsumani in Japan and have seen video of people who were just living their normal day be washed away by the waters as they tried to move to higher ground.  When they woke up that morning they had no idea it would be their last on this Earth.  I relate this to organ donors who often are victims of car or shooting accidents.  They didn't know when they awoke one morning that their day might end with their family making the decision to donate their organs.  It just goes to show that all of us need to live our lives the best we can, doing all we can to make the world better for others.  One morning, it might be our last day.  How would we be remembered?