Those of you who enjoy this blog I apologize for taking a rather long break from sharing my thoughts on life.Photo: My 2nd annual cardiac catheterization and biopsy test
Ever since I was given a second chance it feels as though time has sped up. I'm not any busier than I was before, but maybe it's that I understand now more than ever how fragile our time here on earth is.
On the downside, I often feel like a walking time bomb with only so many years ahead of me.
Photo: My daughter Eden making a scary Halloween face. She loves the Halloween holiday.Transplanted hearts usually don't last beyond 10-20 years because your body fights the DNA of that heart like a virus. But transplant medicines are strong. Each has some side effects. These side effects are different in each person. The doctors will try to give you medicine that has the fewest side effects for you.
The biggest problem with any of the transplant medicines is that they make it hard for your body to fight off infections. Also, transplant medicines can make you more likely to get some types of cancer, mostly cancer of the lymph glands and skin cancers.
Doctors will try very hard to make sure your body gets enough transplant medicine to keep your new heart healthy. At the same time, they will try to keep you from having infections and getting cancer.
Photo: With Lynnette on Lake Cuomo in Italy during our fall tour.Chances for me of receiving a 2nd donor heart is even more challenging that getting the first one. I hadn’t counted on the possibly until this past week when I received peaceful assurance for my own future.
Seven years ago, my neighbor's son Kenny received a heart transplant. However, over the past several months his donor heart was failing. Only 20% of Kenny's donor heart was functioning. Depressed and discouraged, the family was told there was nothing doctors could do for him. He was too sick to be listed for a heart transplant.
However, this didn't stop the family and the doctors from trying. They’d lost their mother recently and with all the faith the father could muster he put his faith in a loving God and hoped for a good outcome for his son.
Eventually, Kenny began to get some strength. Last Tuesday doctors made the decision to list him. He was approved and less than a week later he received his 2nd donor heart. This is a rather unusual event especially for someone with the most popular form of blood type, O.Photo: At the leaning tower in Italy during our fall tour.
Grateful for Kenny’s new life, I continue to enjoy my own donor heart. I think about my donor every day. I often feel he’s close by. I pray I may live worthy of the miracle I received from my donor and from our Creator. Through the knowledge and wisdom of doctors, the Lord has given me more time.
Every minute of every hour in life, matters. What you do with your time matters. This holiday season; make the moments in the lives of those you love matter.
