My leukemia's back.

[Suzie]

LG sending you love and prayers...it is awful being awake and feeling pain when you are being operated on....wishing you a speedy recovery!

 

[donrae]

"They" keep telling me I'll have to have cataract surgery done eventually, due to all the steroids. I'm just skimming over your post, LG, going La la la la......I don't want to know. I had Lasik surgery that had to be re-done and it was one of the harder things I've had to do, go back in for that surgery. Knowing more now, I would have taken more drugs

.

I remember years ago my Mom had both her knees replaced at the same time. The surgeon kept asking if she was sure, and she said she was. It actually went well for her, but everyone thought she was insane. She kept saying she doesn't do well with anesthesia and she only wanted to be put under once. Worked for her, but I'm not sure I'd do it.

 

[donrae]

My sister picked up our Dad's ashes today

.

When I was little, this was in the mid-70s, my dad had a grey Morris Minor pickup, pretty much like this....


My Mom dropped the transmission out of it when we lived in Salem. The Morris got hauled down to central CA when we moved there, then back up to Oregon, from one town to another when folks moved. It was given to my eldest sister and she and her husband are finally working on restoring it. It's sitting in their garage with no engine.

She put Dad's ashes in the driver's seat.

He loved that silly truck.

The Morris won't be running in time, but the plan is to set the ashes on the tailgate of a pickup and pole a hole in it. Then the grandkids will drive down some old bumpy forest service roads outside of Sisters, where Dad grew up. Teaching grandkids to drive was his thing, and he started when they were about five. Most of them have their license now, and have good memories of Pop-pop letting them drive down those dirt roads.

 

[LittleLakePhil]

You know I'm praying for you and will be thinking of you all day...in between admiring my new little chick!!  

I got a chick, a rocker and a pip!!  Good morning!!  e

I got a pip on egg #10.....

Well, we're back to rain here in the wonderful PNW  . The last week has been so nice I was hoping it was here to stay. Not so much. 

Lg, how's the eye doing? 

Suzie, how's the recovery? 

Everyone who's been sick, it's time to get over it  . Myself included....

Everyone who's hatching chicks, bring it on! I've got a few rounds in the incubator and have my eye on some hatching eggs. 


I got a call yesterday from the unrelated donor search folks at the University. My donor has contacted them, wanting to be able to contact me. I'd been thinking about this since I've passed the one year mark. I still get all teary and emotional thinking about Sean. How do you thank someone for doing that? And for someone they don't even know? A plate of brownies just seems inadequate, you know? Hey, maybe he'd like some hatching eggs  ?

I got a story for you all later.... About donors..... Also sorry I haven't posted for the last two days
.... Was busy and actually slept last night..... I post a lot at night while you all are sleeping..... Plan to sleep tonight too..... Talk later....

 

[lazy gardener]

"They" keep telling me I'll have to have cataract surgery done eventually, due to all the steroids. I'm just skimming over your post, LG, going La la la la......I don't want to know. I had Lasik surgery that had to be re-done and it was one of the harder things I've had to do, go back in for that surgery. Knowing more now, I would have taken more drugs

.

I remember years ago my Mom had both her knees replaced at the same time. The surgeon kept asking if she was sure, and she said she was. It actually went well for her, but everyone thought she was insane. She kept saying she doesn't do well with anesthesia and she only wanted to be put under once. Worked for her, but I'm not sure I'd do it.

I also have cataracts. I presume it's b/c I spend so much time outside, and don't like to wear sun glasses. I can say that I've had harder things done than the laser to the eye. Shoulder acromioplasty, for one. And several issues related to female anatomy that made child birth at home without medication (which I did first time around, second one was in hospital b/c she was early, but still no meds) look like a walk in the park. As far as your mom having both knees done at the same time, as a therapist I can say... WONDERFUL! I love to work with total knee replacements. And I especially love to see a patient come who's had both knees done at the same time. By getting them both done, the patient avoids a lot of medication (anesthesia only once, and the pain med will cover both knees). Not to mention decreased hospital time, and decreased risk factors associated with hospital time. And, it's not possible to baby that surgical knee when there are two of them! Total knee replacements that get babied don't have good outcomes compared to the ones that get pushed. All that being said, total knee replacement is PAINFUL.

 

[N F C]

My sister picked up our Dad's ashes today

.

When I was little, this was in the mid-70s, my dad had a grey Morris Minor pickup, pretty much like this....


My Mom dropped the transmission out of it when we lived in Salem. The Morris got hauled down to central CA when we moved there, then back up to Oregon, from one town to another when folks moved. It was given to my eldest sister and she and her husband are finally working on restoring it. It's sitting in their garage with no engine.

She put Dad's ashes in the driver's seat.

He loved that silly truck.

The Morris won't be running in time, but the plan is to set the ashes on the tailgate of a pickup and pole a hole in it. Then the grandkids will drive down some old bumpy forest service roads outside of Sisters, where Dad grew up. Teaching grandkids to drive was his thing, and he started when they were about five. Most of them have their license now, and have good memories of Pop-pop letting them drive down those dirt roads.

Rachel, I love the idea of the pick up and ashes. Sounds like your Dad would have liked that just fine.

 

[Outpost JWB]

Agreed. I also think it would be wonderful to meet Sean. Donors are called donors for a reason. They donate because they care. Not because they want or expect you to ever pay them back. Brownies sound good too!

 

[Blooie]

Can't add any more about what a wonderful gift Sean gave to you, your family, and all who know and love you. Because he's part of you, he's now part of us. <RUN, Sean, RUN...this was your only warning!!>

When our Austin was very young he started growing his dark, thick hair out. When he'd get it cut he'd donate it. Then when he got his first driver's license, he checked the box for "organ donor". Daughter Tam had to sign the consent, which she did proudly. None of us knew that only 6 short years later, his heart, liver, lungs, corneas, bones, kidneys and skin would be helping someone else live. I miss my grandson every day.....and I would love to meet those who carry part of him with them, as I carry him in my heart. If you get this opportunity, Rachel, take it!


Someday I'll have to tell you all the story of Austin and the moustache.


Only Austin could lay down and look like a triangle! Tall, tall, tall.....and lanky. The minister at his service said that the first time he saw Austin walking with Joy, his short short short wife-to-be, his first thought was, "Look at that....a leprechaun and a praying mantis!

Austin and Joy.


Austin and his little brother, Evan. Evan was about 5. They adored each other!


Austin and Evan....best buddies.


Austin's last FB post. He died a week after he posted this.


Austin and Evan playing their favorite game.....Austin was killed 5 hours later.

I believe in organ, marrow, and stem cell transplants from both sides of the coin...as a grandmother who is proud of her grandson's choice, as a woman whose sister is awaiting kidney transplant, and as a person who didn't miss out on the chance to meet a wonderful friend and a host of others through her.

 

[donrae]

Blooie, thanks for sharing Austin with us. I've always been a strong proponent of organ donation, and was on the marrow donor registry myself. I was half way afraid they'd match me with myself

. Such a horrible thing to lose someone so young, but what an amazing gift he gave.

I'm not sure Sean and I will meet, we're on opposite coasts. But who knows, maybe he's close to Sour and I could meet two great guys in one trip!

 

[LittleLakePhil]

So today I had to go to the Drs..... Just tired of these spastic lungs... Anyway the Dr I had seen today was the first time I ever Seen her at the VA.....I however remembered her from college.
So as it turns out I had a bone marrow transplant the same time as her mom.
Her mom allways used to talk about me..... And I always talked about her mom...... Even though her mom and I didn't meet till years later..... But we shared a same awesome Dr.... And our stories were intermingled.... Then it also true she was also my wife's old doctor...... In fact after she finished my appointment she ran out into the waiting room to say hi to my wife..... Small towns and great people eh?

Anyway unfortunately her mother passed away last year unrelated to the leukemia..... But her donor drove up from Florida to attend the funeral..
I wrote a letter to my donor..... Never heard back.....:/