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Donor Family Gift - June 3, 2011
Good Morning,
I am so anxious to correspond with all of you this morning. Yesterday I received a wonderful letter from my donor family, and as I sat and read the words with my children the tears of joy were overwhelming. With Memorial Day just behind us, I know the family has so much heaviness in their hearts. It is such a wonderful letter, I want to share it with all of you. I will also have lovely Whitney post it to the blog. As for my health, my CMV counts came back down, and I have been feeling great. I will now only have labs once a month, which is a good thing, because by the look of my calendar I don't have time to have them more often than that. My next follow-up CT will be in August. I hope you all enjoy the letter as much as I did, it was such a blessing to me, and I am so thrilled to have received it. Once you read this letter, you will know why it will be my honor to take very good care of this liver.
Dear Trisha,
Thank you for your kind letter. I received it shortly after the holidays. It was comforting to hear your amazing story and know that you are doing well.
My mother Ruby just celebrated her 80th birthday a few months prior to her brain aneurysm on November 8th. She moved to Iowa to live near us after my 3 year old son was born. My mother lived her life giving to others. If I had to describe her with one word it would be "devoted". She was the oldest of nine kids, and helped raise many of her younger siblings. She dated my father and waited 17 years, through World War ll to marry him. She left her job at a university to stay home with my brother and myself. She also cared for my ailing father for many years until he passed away when I was 21. My father was her first and only love. My mother enjoyed cooking, sewing, reading, playing bingo, and completing any kind of puzzle, especially crosswords. She was a dedicated Grandmother to her only grandchild with which she had a close relationship with. She spent countless hours with him doing any activity to put a smile on his face, which put a smile on hers.
When the doctors told me our mother's liver would be donated to a 40 year old mother of two children, my first words were "Oh, it's someone like me". From that moment, our decision felt right. Knowing my mom was helping you made our loss more bearable. I know my mom will live forever in my heart. I pray that her gift blesses you with a long healthy life and you too can be a devoted grandmother someday.
Our family shared a funny story when we found out, to our surprise, that her 80 year old liver was very healthy and could be donated. We joked that it was because she never drank and refused to take any medication!! She was very strong willed and when it came to taking medication.
My husband and I have been married for 5 years. We met later in life and I will be celebrating my 42nd birthday this year. We have only one 3 year old son, and at our age can only pray for more. I stay home with my son after working over 12 years in the market research industry.
I hope we can meet someday. I'd love to exchange pictures with your family and get an update on your progress.
Best Wishes,
Eleni
It would be a dream come true to meet Ruby's daughter Eleni, and her family.
I have to go ride horses with Gracie today, and her friend Camille. They are practicing for the Junior rodeo this weekend. Today is my birthday, and this letter is the best gift I could receive, I will treasure it forever. God bless you Ruby, and your beautiful generous family for the priceless gift of many birthdays to come. You will forever have a place in my heart, and of course my liver. I was getting to serious, and we must have some humor. Thank you all for your continued support, once again, my cup overflows with hope, I sent the fear packing long ago, and peace took its place.
I need to ask for many prayers for my friend Scott Wells who I have mentioned before. He had a stem cell transplant before I had mine. He has been in the hospital for over 5 weeks and has been really sick. Please keep him in your prayers for healing and strength. He is surrounded with love by an amazing woman, Celeste, and she needs our prayers to. Have a wonderful weekend.
Love to you all,
Trish
I am so anxious to correspond with all of you this morning. Yesterday I received a wonderful letter from my donor family, and as I sat and read the words with my children the tears of joy were overwhelming. With Memorial Day just behind us, I know the family has so much heaviness in their hearts. It is such a wonderful letter, I want to share it with all of you. I will also have lovely Whitney post it to the blog. As for my health, my CMV counts came back down, and I have been feeling great. I will now only have labs once a month, which is a good thing, because by the look of my calendar I don't have time to have them more often than that. My next follow-up CT will be in August. I hope you all enjoy the letter as much as I did, it was such a blessing to me, and I am so thrilled to have received it. Once you read this letter, you will know why it will be my honor to take very good care of this liver.
Dear Trisha,
Thank you for your kind letter. I received it shortly after the holidays. It was comforting to hear your amazing story and know that you are doing well.
My mother Ruby just celebrated her 80th birthday a few months prior to her brain aneurysm on November 8th. She moved to Iowa to live near us after my 3 year old son was born. My mother lived her life giving to others. If I had to describe her with one word it would be "devoted". She was the oldest of nine kids, and helped raise many of her younger siblings. She dated my father and waited 17 years, through World War ll to marry him. She left her job at a university to stay home with my brother and myself. She also cared for my ailing father for many years until he passed away when I was 21. My father was her first and only love. My mother enjoyed cooking, sewing, reading, playing bingo, and completing any kind of puzzle, especially crosswords. She was a dedicated Grandmother to her only grandchild with which she had a close relationship with. She spent countless hours with him doing any activity to put a smile on his face, which put a smile on hers.
When the doctors told me our mother's liver would be donated to a 40 year old mother of two children, my first words were "Oh, it's someone like me". From that moment, our decision felt right. Knowing my mom was helping you made our loss more bearable. I know my mom will live forever in my heart. I pray that her gift blesses you with a long healthy life and you too can be a devoted grandmother someday.
Our family shared a funny story when we found out, to our surprise, that her 80 year old liver was very healthy and could be donated. We joked that it was because she never drank and refused to take any medication!! She was very strong willed and when it came to taking medication.
My husband and I have been married for 5 years. We met later in life and I will be celebrating my 42nd birthday this year. We have only one 3 year old son, and at our age can only pray for more. I stay home with my son after working over 12 years in the market research industry.
I hope we can meet someday. I'd love to exchange pictures with your family and get an update on your progress.
Best Wishes,
Eleni
It would be a dream come true to meet Ruby's daughter Eleni, and her family.
I have to go ride horses with Gracie today, and her friend Camille. They are practicing for the Junior rodeo this weekend. Today is my birthday, and this letter is the best gift I could receive, I will treasure it forever. God bless you Ruby, and your beautiful generous family for the priceless gift of many birthdays to come. You will forever have a place in my heart, and of course my liver. I was getting to serious, and we must have some humor. Thank you all for your continued support, once again, my cup overflows with hope, I sent the fear packing long ago, and peace took its place.
I need to ask for many prayers for my friend Scott Wells who I have mentioned before. He had a stem cell transplant before I had mine. He has been in the hospital for over 5 weeks and has been really sick. Please keep him in your prayers for healing and strength. He is surrounded with love by an amazing woman, Celeste, and she needs our prayers to. Have a wonderful weekend.
Love to you all,
Trish
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