Sunday, October 11, 2009

Is it Fall is Raining? or Rain is Falling?........by deb

Which ever the case, how ever your own personal optimisum sees it, this has been a very damp past several weeks if not months here in Arkansas. And I for one am viewing it as just maybe Ma Nature will run slick outta moisture before it's cold enough to snow and we'll be blessed with a dry winter. IE: No snow or ice like last year.

Robin and I had a brief visit on Oct 2nd and 3rd, under the fantastic excuse of meeting with several other folks & a rep from the ALF to do our best to see that there's a Walk for Life in Arkansas possibly in 2010. We met some super people & came away quite hopeful, still a lot of fine tuning and prep work to see it thru.

This weekend Robin's off in flight to a HepC meeting with one of her many other buds. I hope her endurance holds so she can fully enjoy the weekend with all the activities that were planned.

I just dropped by our old forum and was amazed at the low activity level there. However, reading back over our old posts as well as the postings of others brings back the memories of the beginnings of life with a new organ aka Liver. It was and is uphoric at times even now. Probably brought on more by having my 4th anniversary of transplant coming up. I see my transplant team for my 4th annual checkup next month! Right now I'm going thru all those "annual tests/exams" & no matter how well one feels, it still leaves me holding my breath to this day as if waiting on the shoe to drop!

Too, the anniversary always manifests the longing to meet my donor family. I've typed in every imaginable search option I can think of to find an article about my heros who so unselfishly gave life back to myself and probably several others on November 23rd, 2005. It's a longing that will never leave my thought process. So, to anyone out there who has even so much as signed their donor card "Thank You", it's truely an inspiring act beyond words.

Be~Poaitive, deb

Friday, August 07, 2009

More Pix..by Deb


Deb L., Robin R. 8/2/09





Robin L., Deb R. 8/1/09


*note Robin's Green Ribbon
Donor Angel to her Right

Be~Positive, deb



Therapy.....by deb


Above is a pix of Robin with her New~Do! It
looks Great on her!


Robin & I had a great visit the first weekend of August. Lots of fun grilling, talking, going out to eat, shopping that was more walking than shopping, I got to hang out with her 2 of her grand daughters. That was fun! Robin got a new fantastic hair cut!!




Here we are prehaircut:





Be nice, I'd been driving all day my hair was pooped! LOL
Be~Positive, deb

Saturday, July 25, 2009

In the Good Old Summer Time..by deb

Robin & I have a goal to get together each year at least once in the Summer. This spring we did have a chance to have a quick 'coffee' when my husband had a doctor appt in Little Rock. But, this weekend July 31st we have a visit planned! We'll have Friday mid-day till Sunday morning to see just how much we can get into. Although some of our best time is spent just sitting and talking. Transplants alone brought us together, but our friendship has grown into that of two women with so much more in common. Robin's friendship is in a round about way yet another gift my donor gave me, yet another gift to give Thanks to my donor and my donor's family. One or both of us will hopefully be posting about our weekend.

An update on our friend in NE Arkansas who had his transplant around Easter '09, he could possibly be facing a 2nd transplant due to complications. Robin and I did our best to help them prepare for his first transplant, funny how life works. Should either Robin or I ever find ourselves facing a 2nd transplant I suppose we'll be turning to he and his wife for guidance?
However, it would be much better if none of the 3 of us have to go thru a 2nd transplant. My thoughts and Prayers are with our friend and his family. They have really had a lot to endure thus far.

So, everyone who might still be keeping up with this blog, do 'Take Care' & remember what ever life throws at you...

Be~Positive, deb

Sunday, June 07, 2009

Thoughts......by deb

Hi.
I'm not really sure why or where I'm going with this post but, felt this most well intended site needed some activity.

Robin & I are still tracking right along with our individual 'life issues', some days are better than others, some well they're down right aggravating.

My husband's health is improving and he's pretty much back to as normal of an activity range as he'd be expected to be.

Robin & I have e-friends in the NE part of Arkansas and the husband finally got his new liver around Easter. Pretty cool Holiday to get a 2nd shot at life! We hear from them thru Caringbridge & he's doing very well after a rough start to his life w/ a new liver. They know who they are, so "HI" & Hope all continues to go well.

When I hear news from them it really takes me back to when I first had my transplant & the new found excitement & appreciation for life that goes with it. Not that as we age with our new livers we are any less appreciative, just that we've learned it's not all rosey sunshine.

Their excitement reminds me to step back from my daily life and recall those first few months post transplant, rediscover the excitement I had for life after my gift of life. Sometimes we get so busy that we forget, if it were not for our 'gift' we'd not be here to be too busy. Still, even with everything going on, not a day passes that my donor isn't thought of. I attended a wedding last night & there I thought of my donor, did he/she ever have a wedding or miss that chance? In ways my donor is a family member that I've lost, but I don't know how to morn for them or what to wish they were here to see & enjoy.

I do so wish I could know more about my donor, it's one of the most frustrating things I've dealt with, the vacant place in my heart that is there with feelings, but not decorated with knowledge of my donor.

SO, I'll close on that, still not knowing where or what I intended to say other than just to say, "Robin & I are fine as life allows". We are hoping to get together this summer for a nice long sit down visit for a couple days. Wish us Luck!

B~positive, deb

Friday, March 27, 2009

A Bit of Honesty

I had a bit of "guilting" by people I know who follow this blog about dropping off the face of the earth but I had some personal "business" to tend to. Now with the benefit of Lexapro (an antidepressant) I am past the tears and trying to find my way "home".

My relationship of 18+ years crumbled. It came as a shock as I thought he was the one and never dreamed that I'd be living in a rental house without furniture other than a chair my daughter loaned me and a bed my mother loaned my daughter. How's that for funny? My youngest grand was very concerned that MeMaw didn't have furniture or even food in her house but she loved the idea that we would "camp" when she visited.

But, I do have all three of my cats and they have adjusted wonderfully. The one I worried about has turned out the most easily adjusted and enjoys lap sitting and attention from your's truly which makes me proud as a peacock.

I am doing treatment for the Hepatitis C...have done shot 3 this week but have had to discontinue the ribavirin as my kidneys are not doing very well at this time. They have decreased my antirejection meds lower than they were before I started rejecting in hopes that my renal function would improve...and it hasn't. Each wednesday when I inject my interferon, I think...OUCH my credit card can't keep handling this $1100 co-pay and then I enjoy my days of shakes, fever and aches. But, it is my POSITIVE in life.

Please keep our Deb in your thoughts as she is having some major life problems with her husband's health right now. I send my love to her as she has a lot on her shoulders.

Thanks for you patience with me and Keep Your Spirits High...robin

Saturday, March 21, 2009

Spring & New beginnings........

Spring has finally arrived, with spring typically comes new things, baby animals, trees budding new leaves, flowers erupt from the earth...rain falls instead of snow..and life continues it's circle.

This winter we've seen great trees fall from the load of heavy ice, yet what remains of them buds out in hopes of spring, new beginnings. I see a bit of Robin & I in these strong old trees that refuse to let what comes at them get the better of them.

Much like the passing of the seasons, both Robin & I are facing spring with our lives changing. We take comfort that we have our firendship, our kindred spirits bound both by sharing the journey of a liver transplant & true friendship. It matters not how our individual lives change, our friendship remains one constant we know in our hearts we will always have.

To the followers of this blog, that are missing Robin's blogs..hang in there. I'll post occasionally in a pale attempt to keep this going in hopes that Robin will soon returrn with new found wisdom.

Be~Positive, deb