Why has this transplant blog fallen into such disrepair? Have I been so busy that I have forgotten from that which I came? The last 14 years have shown love, pain, joy, fear and the most important thing in the world – hope.
My husband I have celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary just last month. Normally we would make a huge celebration out of it – big presents and a night out. This year was a bit different considering he was laid off from his job back in April 2009 and my small online retail business has been trying to stay afloat given the state of the economy.
It is ironic but our current financial state was a miracle in itself.
After my husband’s double lung (bilateral) organ transplant in 2004, we both seemed to forget the road that had gotten us to that miracle. There was once a time where he was fighting for every breath. Since the day he was born – born with Cystic Fibrosis (CF) – he had been fighting to take a normal breath like all people his age. For what others took no time to enjoy – a single deep breath – he longed for.
In 2002 his health declined until he was on a ventilator. This time he was in for the fight of his life for what was only supposed to be a short time on life support turned into 9 months attached to machines and trying not to pay attention to the doctors when they told him that he would surely die.
All those years we spent waiting for that moment of a miracle. All those years where we turned a deaf ear to the doctors and medical communities and turned our ears to the hope, love and joy that each day on this planet brought us. The days where we longed just to hold each other as the medical equipment acted as a wall to hinder our arms to wrap around each other. It was during those days that we realized what life was truly about.
Then the transplant came and so quickly we allowed ourselves to forget what we were taught during those days without. The strength and security in ourselves was replaced with the thoughts and beliefs of the society we lived in once again. We longed for more things, more money, and more power. No longer did we sit on the couch to watch a movie while holding each other. All we needed in those moments we had – a roof over our heads, food in our bellies, money to pay the bills and, most importantly, each other.
Now that we are once again without that which society proclaims is who we are – money – we find ourselves whole again. Without the extravagant items or the materialistic badges of honor, we are free to be ourselves and have once again opened our eyes to the possibilities that are within ourselves.
It has been 10 years since I have proclaimed my love to my beloved and it is with a miracle life saving transplant that our love continues to endure on his Earth – but it is through the miracle of no longer living to societies ideals of success that we truly find ourselves rich and successful.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Melissa – I am so glad to hear you are doing well. It is amazing how quickly health can change. I pray you continue to gain your strength and are around for your son’s 50th birthday!
God bless and please feel free to stop by often!
Hi, I was just doing a search on green ribbon awareness and came accross your blog. This spring I nearly died of liver failure. My liver failed so quickly, and the doctors said that I only had a few days to live. I was immediately put on the transplant list, and received a new liver just 2 days later. Though I am still recovering from the surgery, I really feel quite good, and healthy again! I have come to a new appreciation and thankfulness for those who donate their organs and for those who donate blood. It is because of my organ transplant that today I am getting to enjoy my sons first birthday!
Anyway, God bless you and keep you! May we both always be reminded of the important things in life. . . to love and be loved!