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.
I've missed your inspiring posts! So glad to see you back! Though the future is always uncertain, I truly feel your spirit and faith are where they need to be. In a place of gratitude. We all are unaware of the amount of time we have been allotted here on earth. You have a unique perspective that many of us miss...joy in just living each and every moment. You inspire me, as always, to trust in our Father in Heaven more, to live each moment with joy, and to teach my children to do the same. You're in my prayers.
ReplyDeleteI have a son who is leaving on his mission in 45 days. He has had 5 open heart surgeries and has a pace maker/defibrillator and I am so afraid that a heart transplant is in his future. YOur blog gives me hope that if that happens things will be okay.
ReplyDeleteHello sir! I LOVE YOU AND YOUR MUSIC!! hope everything goes well! I will pray and do my best!
ReplyDeleteHave a great day
Jaidev
Time does indeed speed up with an altered perspective on life. It seemed that the 9 months that I was waiting on the transplant list took forever as my family and I watched my time grow short. It was 9 months on December 26 since I received my precious heart. This has been the fastest 9 months of my life. I live each day like it is time borrowed; borrowed from my donor and his family. My LDS faith gave me strength before my transplant in knowing that there is a place after this life for me. After my transplant it has given me the knowledge that I have something to share with this world. I admire you greatly for all you have done in bringing about awareness of CHD and the lives of those waiting for a transplant.
ReplyDeleteHello, I am a first time reader of your blog but I love your music and my sweet sil has been reading your blog for quite some time. Today I was having a trying day and she sent me the link to your post "A tragedy and organ donor funeral" You made a lot of points in that post that I needed to be reminded of. Thank You. Then I read this post and again I want to thank you for expressing your love for your donor and donor heart. My 17 month old son passed away 18 months ago and he is a heart donor. We have a good relationship with our donor recipient family and are always thankful that their son Jack who received Gabriel's heart is doing very well. I hope my son is ever watching over Jack and Jack will one day be able to feel Gabriel's closeness as you have said you have felt of your own donor. Thank you again for your encouraging words and testimony. I know now I will be following your story more often.
ReplyDeleteGabriel's Mom