Today was the day... 22 years ago right now, my old liver was being removed, and a new liver, new life, new chance awaited me. I was told my surgery took about 6 hours to complete, and then was put in ICU. I was hooked up to every machine possible, including the one that beeps. Not too many hours later, my blood pressure began to drop dramatically, and I was raced back into surgery to stop bleeding. My brother Bill and his fiance had come to visit me pre transplant, and came into ICU to find me hooked to everything except the bathroom sink. Made poor Bill a little queasy....I couldnt speak because of the breathing tube in my throat and my hands were restrained so I couldnt remove anything on my own, so I waved to him with my toes. I was in the hospital for 10 days (the average in 1992 was 21-26) and to this day have never had an episode of rejection. Carolyn, who was my donor, had given me the perfect gift that day. In her passing, she saved 5 people, I was the only one to write to her family, and almost 8 years later was the only one to meet them also. Andrea, and Amy, Carolyns daughters, are friends here still, and we still talk. I love them both as if they were my own family. I hold Carolyn, her husband Richard (deceased sadly) Amy, and Andrea in the highest regard always. They are not on a pedestal, they are just unsung heroes who did the bravest thing at the worst of times. God Bless my donor Carolyn, and her family. God Bless ALL Donors and their families. Heroes, every one of them.
Posted on: Sat, 01 Nov 2014 13:08:28 +0000
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