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As the holiday season comes and everyone gets in the rush of finding the "perfect gift" for those in their family, I'm always reminded that I have already gotten the "perfect gift"...my second heart. As you rush around in your shopping, stop a second and think about having that conversation with your family and make a committment to be an organ donor.
Most donor hearts last 10-20 years, and to keep them that long transplant patients have to take some very strong anti-rejection drugs that have some pretty serious side effects, all of which vary from patient to patient. I'm approaching year 8 this February, but I'm not worried about the future. These extra years have been another gift, and I've tried to find ways to really enjoy them to their fullest.
All who know me also know that I'm a big Oklahoma State fan, so I am really enjoying this football season. Thanks to the generosity of my little brother, who donated to the Tulsa Zoo auction and won 2 suite tickets with parking to Bedlam, my father and I will be attending (weather permitting). The last time I was at an OSU game was about a year before the transplant and I could barely walk into the stadium and was so tired that I slept on the way home. This time will be different...I'm going to enjoy every second of it!
I don't take the future for granted anymore. I may be fortunate enough to have a heart that will last 20 years without a problem...and I may not. I might be fortunate enough to be given a second heart at some point. But, if the worse were to come, I want to know that I took advantage of every extra day by helping someone else, made a difference in someone's life, and tried to be a good example to those around me. A person can't ask for a better life than that!
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Give Thanks
This is the month of Thankfulness, and as it begins I start reflecting about all I should be thankful for and there is a lot. I know time won't allow me to write everyday so I'm going to try to get it all down now.
First, I'm thankful for my family and friends who were there in my darkest days and still there now. My parents, brother and sister-in-law who gave me room to make the biggest decision of my life without judgement and who continue to help and support me in too numerous ways to name. I'm thankful for the friends who were on standby to get me to the hospital, who sat with me the time before the transplant and never let me be scared or worried. Who came to the hospital and sat with my family. Who continue to support me almost 8 years later. To name them individually would take up too many pages.
I'm thankful for the life of Tiffany Mashore Fleehart who, even before she had a driver's license, made the decision to be an organ donor. This month is both her birthday month and her wedding anniversary month. I understand, through conversations her grandmother and my father have recently had, that her little brother is now deployed. I pray for his safety and the safety of many others.
I'm thankful that, to date, I have gotten nothing but good reports on my health with only some minor issues. Each time I go to clinic and I see fewer and fewer of our group there, I'm reminded that it could change easily.
I'm thankful that I continue to be able to work with kids even though the docs weren't sure it was a good idea being around all those "germie kids". At both sites that I've been to after the transplant the kids have been great about doing everything they needed to in order for me to stay healthy.
I'm thankful that I work for a district that has supported me from day one of this adventure. Whether it be shortening my days before the transplant to just get through the day to going for the 30 plus biopsy tests.
I'm thankful that I have a job and insurance during these tough economic times. Without insurance my meds would run $4000 or more a month. Lots of people complain about insurance costs...I never will.
I'm thankful for the memories I have of those no longer with us who were there for me during these years. For Uncle Jim who stayed hours upon hours at the hospital for the trial runs and the actual transplant itself. For Joanne who was there for the "procedure that became the ordeal" at the start and the many days after. For grandparents who had instilled strength and faith that I would fall back on and still do.
I'm thankful for the two school staffs and all the administrators that I have and continue to work with who gave me room to keep my independence but would either offer or just step in when I needed help or rest.
I'm thankful for the soldiers who are away from their families protecting us and others. Katie and Kyle, I am especially thankful for you and your commitment to serve. I know it is a hardship on you and your family but I also know you wouldn't have it any other way.
I'm thankful to be alive, because it so easily could be the other way.
Give Thanks. Often.
First, I'm thankful for my family and friends who were there in my darkest days and still there now. My parents, brother and sister-in-law who gave me room to make the biggest decision of my life without judgement and who continue to help and support me in too numerous ways to name. I'm thankful for the friends who were on standby to get me to the hospital, who sat with me the time before the transplant and never let me be scared or worried. Who came to the hospital and sat with my family. Who continue to support me almost 8 years later. To name them individually would take up too many pages.
I'm thankful for the life of Tiffany Mashore Fleehart who, even before she had a driver's license, made the decision to be an organ donor. This month is both her birthday month and her wedding anniversary month. I understand, through conversations her grandmother and my father have recently had, that her little brother is now deployed. I pray for his safety and the safety of many others.
I'm thankful that, to date, I have gotten nothing but good reports on my health with only some minor issues. Each time I go to clinic and I see fewer and fewer of our group there, I'm reminded that it could change easily.
I'm thankful that I continue to be able to work with kids even though the docs weren't sure it was a good idea being around all those "germie kids". At both sites that I've been to after the transplant the kids have been great about doing everything they needed to in order for me to stay healthy.
I'm thankful that I work for a district that has supported me from day one of this adventure. Whether it be shortening my days before the transplant to just get through the day to going for the 30 plus biopsy tests.
I'm thankful that I have a job and insurance during these tough economic times. Without insurance my meds would run $4000 or more a month. Lots of people complain about insurance costs...I never will.
I'm thankful for the memories I have of those no longer with us who were there for me during these years. For Uncle Jim who stayed hours upon hours at the hospital for the trial runs and the actual transplant itself. For Joanne who was there for the "procedure that became the ordeal" at the start and the many days after. For grandparents who had instilled strength and faith that I would fall back on and still do.
I'm thankful for the two school staffs and all the administrators that I have and continue to work with who gave me room to keep my independence but would either offer or just step in when I needed help or rest.
I'm thankful for the soldiers who are away from their families protecting us and others. Katie and Kyle, I am especially thankful for you and your commitment to serve. I know it is a hardship on you and your family but I also know you wouldn't have it any other way.
I'm thankful to be alive, because it so easily could be the other way.
Give Thanks. Often.
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Welcome To My Box
While I don't always enjoy the entire content, I do enjoy watching Sex In The City because, finally, someone actually understands how it feels to be single in today's world. The issues with relationships with both the opposite and same sex, trying to live an exciting life on your own in today's world, the use of labels when you don't fit the "norm", the writing just nails it all.
This weekend two of my favorite episodes were on. The first involves when Carrie turns 35 and she finds herself without someone special to share it with...except her other 3 soulmates...her friends Miranda, Charlotte, and Samantha...even though they failed in their attempt to give her a fantastic birthday party. Carrie gets a flyer for joining a singles group and they get into a discussion as to whether they are defined by the men in their lives. This is where we discover how old Samantha is when they have to answer one of the questions on the singles survey - which box fits your age. I like this one because all of them finally realize that they don't have to be defined by being involved with anyone to be happy and that they have someone who will always be there to support them, care for them, and have their back. Carrie mentions how sad it made her to turn 35 and have no real man to take her to dinner, to treat her nice, etc. and I can relate to that. But, I too have some very special "soulmates" who have my back and are always there when I need them. Interestingly enough, their husbands often times fall into the "guys we just can have fun with" category as well. I think everyone needs to have these kind of "soulmates" in their lives to get through the days we face. Male or female, married or single, having these soulmates just makes the days easier to get through. I thank God every day that I have the soulmates I do.
The other one involves Carrie becoming a model for a fashion show as one of the New York "normal" people and Samantha deciding to have nude photos of her body (at age 44) taken so that when she is old and wrinkled she can remember what she looked like. I admire Samantha because she has that self confidence in herself that she is willing to do something that most women are scared of doing...putting herself out there for everyone to see. Carrie goes through this period of not knowing if she's good enough to do it to realizing that she's just a "real" person. In fact, one of my favorite lines in the entire series comes from this episode. Carrie has tripped on the runway because of her high heeled shoes and is laying face down across the runway when Heidi Klum steps over her and continues down the runaway. That is the point that Carrie has to decide what she's going to do, be fashion roadkill or get up and go on. The line goes, "when real people fall down in life, they get right back up and keep on walking." And that's just what she did. This episode is great because it show us all the flaws everyone can find in themselves and what they can concentrate on, or they can just not let anything slow them down but to keep on going. I think everyone has those days when they want to slink off but it is more important that we never give up...just get back up and keep on going.
This past week I had to share with some parents news that no parent ever wants to hear. As bad as it was, I could see their courage as a family would get them through. As I watched these shows this weekend I could only hope that they each had a soulmate they could lean on and the courage to get back up from falling down. I hope they do...I really do.
This weekend two of my favorite episodes were on. The first involves when Carrie turns 35 and she finds herself without someone special to share it with...except her other 3 soulmates...her friends Miranda, Charlotte, and Samantha...even though they failed in their attempt to give her a fantastic birthday party. Carrie gets a flyer for joining a singles group and they get into a discussion as to whether they are defined by the men in their lives. This is where we discover how old Samantha is when they have to answer one of the questions on the singles survey - which box fits your age. I like this one because all of them finally realize that they don't have to be defined by being involved with anyone to be happy and that they have someone who will always be there to support them, care for them, and have their back. Carrie mentions how sad it made her to turn 35 and have no real man to take her to dinner, to treat her nice, etc. and I can relate to that. But, I too have some very special "soulmates" who have my back and are always there when I need them. Interestingly enough, their husbands often times fall into the "guys we just can have fun with" category as well. I think everyone needs to have these kind of "soulmates" in their lives to get through the days we face. Male or female, married or single, having these soulmates just makes the days easier to get through. I thank God every day that I have the soulmates I do.
The other one involves Carrie becoming a model for a fashion show as one of the New York "normal" people and Samantha deciding to have nude photos of her body (at age 44) taken so that when she is old and wrinkled she can remember what she looked like. I admire Samantha because she has that self confidence in herself that she is willing to do something that most women are scared of doing...putting herself out there for everyone to see. Carrie goes through this period of not knowing if she's good enough to do it to realizing that she's just a "real" person. In fact, one of my favorite lines in the entire series comes from this episode. Carrie has tripped on the runway because of her high heeled shoes and is laying face down across the runway when Heidi Klum steps over her and continues down the runaway. That is the point that Carrie has to decide what she's going to do, be fashion roadkill or get up and go on. The line goes, "when real people fall down in life, they get right back up and keep on walking." And that's just what she did. This episode is great because it show us all the flaws everyone can find in themselves and what they can concentrate on, or they can just not let anything slow them down but to keep on going. I think everyone has those days when they want to slink off but it is more important that we never give up...just get back up and keep on going.
This past week I had to share with some parents news that no parent ever wants to hear. As bad as it was, I could see their courage as a family would get them through. As I watched these shows this weekend I could only hope that they each had a soulmate they could lean on and the courage to get back up from falling down. I hope they do...I really do.
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