A Gift of Life

2010-01-31T20:57:00.003-05:00

2010-01-31T20:57:00.001-05:00

2010-01-31T20:56:00.003-05:00

2010-01-31T20:56:00.001-05:00

2010-01-31T20:55:00.000-05:00

2010-01-31T20:54:00.000-05:00

Reborn

2009-09-29T16:06:00.001-04:00

Blue grass, Red trees,
Black sun shines with ease,
Everything is changing size
What’s wrong with my eyes ?

Silent earth, still space,
Loud sun shines with grace,
Everything is noiseless fears
What’s wrong with my ears ?

Dry water, rough air,
Smooth sun shines with care,
Everything is shifting sands
What’s wrong with my hands ?

Senses right, no mistaking,
New sun shines without faking,
Nothing’s wrong, feel no pain,
Shine on perfect sun.

Christham F.

Jun `80.

Listen

2009-09-29T15:27:00.002-04:00

You came home
At ten past midnight
Drunk again.
You were rude and abusive
And violently sick,
Again.
You have embarrassed me quite enough.
Now,
Is the time for me to teach you a few lessons,
To show you how
Lucky you are to have a nice home
Filled with comfortable furniture,
Lucky you are to have a devoted family,
Lucky to have a well paid job,
Lucky to have ……..
……..Anything
Yes, that’s what I’ll tell him,
If he’ll listen.

Christham F.

Jun `80.

Tower Block

2009-09-29T15:21:00.002-04:00

Imagine an empty tower block,
High on hill, taking stock.
Watching us meandering by
Through each and every uncaring glass eye.
It knows that its usefulness has past
And a higher tower will be cast.
All that`s left is fate worse than death
But wait, could this be new living breath ?
No, just a stay of execution
That alone is no solution.
After this and every fight
They daub their messages clear and bright.
When the demolition proper does begin
There is one hope to which we cling,
When we have reached our three score years and ten
There’ll be no one to degrade us then !

Christham F.

Jun `80.

A Voice Alone

2009-09-29T15:05:00.002-04:00

Where is the answer ?
When will you be told ?
By yourselves you will never solve the problem
You will only increase the problem.
Left to your own devices
Your problem will destroy you.
And after your destruction may come your answer.
Take heed you cynics,
From one, already destroyed by the problem, who had seen,
With blind eyes,
The gravity of the situation.
Individually release your weapons
And collectively you will be shown
That mankind’s greed cannot be conquered
By mankind alone.

Christam F.

( originaly written Feb. 1980 )

2009-02-12T13:55:00.001-05:00

A photo from November 2007

Tortured Aorta

2009-02-12T13:05:00.003-05:00

The only time I was in hospital was wayyyy back in 1963 - to have my tonsils

removed..... until this last November,(2008) when I had 6 stints put on my Aorta, due to an aneurysm. The surgeon said I have a "tortured " aorta - meaning it has sharper turns than most - and now, thanks to modern technology, I have photographic proof. (Jan 2009 )

The area circled by the surgeons pen, indicates a possible leak - and several weeks later bypassed by the surgeon.

I hope to post a photo of this op soon....

Candy's words...

2008-05-31T14:19:00.005-04:00

Let me start by saying our boy is a true hero.
He was a normal teenager, good for everyone, but loved giving his parents a hard time. Wayne loved cooking, the computer, music, cell phone and his ATV (4-wheeler). The one thing he thought was Mom and Dad really had a money tree. The truth of the matter is we just couldn't say no.
Wayne was going through some tough times as a teenager, with behavior problems at home, so we tried the tough love route and put him in JDC (juvenile detention) for 5 days and on Mothers Day May 9 2005, we got our loving son back. He still, of course, wasn't perfect, but he sure was getting close.
Wayne went and took the required drug and alcohol class for his learners permit. He passed with a 100 percent. I agreed to take him for his permit on the 8th of June 2005. The morning of the 7th of June 2005, I picked up Wayne's friend Josh and took both boys to Wayne’s girlfriends house. That afternoon, when they came home, they were out riding the ATV and checked in every 30 minutes . Around 6:00 pm the boys came in and asked my husband if they could have more gas for the ATV. He told them where to get it but, to make sure the gas can was put back on the truck. Wayne Jr then gave me a kiss and twisted my nose as he often did . About 35 minutes later I heard a knock at the door, it was a neighbor telling us Wayne Jr was in an accident....

Those horrible minutes I'll never forget.

When we arrived at the scene of the accident they where lifting him into the ambulance. We couldn't even see him. They had no clue at that point where they were airlifting him to. A few minutes later we were told he was going to Saint Joseph's All Children's Hospital in Tampa. We arrived about 1hour 25 minutes later and we were in a waiting room for what seemed forever, but it was only 10 minutes tops. When I finally got to my boy I let him know we were there and loved him very much, then I asked him to give me some kind of sign so I would know. His legs came up and fell down, and that was the last movement Wayne Jr made. The next three days were very hard. It got to the point where we couldn't touch or speak to him because the swelling on his brain would progress. On Thursday June 9th 2005, we were told Wayne was pronounced brain dead and we then decided to donate his organs as we had spoken about the night before. We then started making calls to the family. About an hour and a half later the nurse came to tell us the doctor needed to see us . When we arrived at the doctor’s room he sat us down and informed us Wayne had started breathing on his own . We then had to stop the organ donation and decide what to do. As a family we always met half way on things, so this was our boy's way of telling us if we made the right choice. We agreed then that if Wayne Jr wanted to donate he would stop breathing on his own, if not then we would stop machines in the morning and wait with him.
Wayne, of course, was a giving person and did so up until he left us on the 10th of June 2005.
Now, because of our loving Boy, we have a bigger "Family" and five very special people have a second chance at life. And our Son lives on .
This is our story and believe me when I say this was the hardest thing I'll ever write .
But please realize how special organ donation is. In a time of grief do not be selfish; the staff at Lifelink are wonderful people and will answer any questions or doubts you may have..
To all Wayne Jr's recipients welcome to our family and live life to the fullest.

sincerely , Wayne Jr's Family. Wayne Sr, Candy, and Sonya (sister)

Donna's words...

2008-05-31T13:48:00.006-04:00

Let me introduce myself. My name is Donna and I have a question for you, How do you say thank you to a hero you will never meet? It's a question I have asked myself a lot over the past year.
You see I'm an organ recipient. On June 11, 2005 I received a left lung from a person I refer to as my hero.
In 1999 I was diagnosed with emphasema. My world fell apart. I had just met my soulmate.I went through the denial phase but deep down inside I knew it was true. I rallied, this thing wasn't going to get me down. It took three tries to finally quit smoking, but I made it.
My soulmate and I married in 2000. Both my daughters got married and things were looking good. I had a good job, my world was bright again.
In February 2001 just a short time before my birthday, my world crashed. I had a bronchial spasm, I stopped breathing and went into cardiac arrest. I was rushed to the hospital where I spent 3 weeks in a coma. It was another week coming round and trying to make sense of where I was and what happened. The mind does a wonderful thing, it blocks memories of tramatic events. Everything is blank from leaving work early because I didn't feel well to waking up in the hospital. I spent 6 weeks in rehab learning how to walk and talk and do all the things people do everyday. My muscles had grown weak. They told me I would bethere at least 3 months. They didn't know me very well, but they learned. I'm stubborn, and I fought back.

When I came home I was on oxygen 24/7. I went to a pulmonogist. (I think I spelled that right.) I was on inhalers and pills to keep me breathing. I had to, of course, quit my job. I soon found myself on Social Security Disablity. I was still driving my car but it got harder and harder to carry my portable oxygen tank around. As my breathing got worse it grew increasingly harder to do a lot of things. There were days when getting up and walking across the room was like climbing Mt Everest. In 2003 I finally sold my little car and had to depend solely on my husband to take me anywhere I needed to go. He went from holding my hand to holding my oxygen tank. I got mildly depressed. I gained weight because I couldn't do even the simplest exercises. I got my head out of the fog and learned to crochet. It became a passion for me. At last there was something I could do that didn't require a lot of breath.
Also in 2003 my doctor spoke to me about an organ transplant. He made it clear that it was what I needed to do, but it was still my choice. I, of course, said yes. He sent letters to the 3 hospitals in the state requesting info on being tested to make the transplant list. All replies were negative. There were no openings. Finally in February of 2004 I got the call that would make my life worth living again. The Dr called and asked if I was still interested in a transplant. I think I broke the record for saying yes.
Tampa General Hospital Transplant Unit contacted me and sent me the papers to fill out. They were family history, medical history and a lot more. I submitted them and an appointment was set up for me to meet with the doctor and his assistant. I took all my papers and a list of questions and bearded the lion in his den. I was nervous to say the least. I have only met a few doctors that I can say I liked and trusted and this is one. He has a sense of humor that will put you at ease... but the seriousness that tells you he means business.

I had to wait for a little bit for the testing to start, which it did in June of 2004. Three days, lots tests, poking and prodding, I survived each one, determined not to fail. When the test results came there was a setback. They found I have osteoporosis. Unless the bones have good density when they do the surgery, the ones they may have to break won't heal right or at all. I was heartbroken. I felt betrayed, not sure where to go or what to do. But I was soon to learn that my worries were unfounded.
In July of 2004 I was put on a medicine called Forteo. It builds up bone mass through shots. So for 6-7 months I was giving myself shots in the stomach. It paid off.... all the little black and blue spots that I joked about and grew a healthy respect for, those that are diabetic, were worth it.
On January 27, 2005 I was placed on the transplant list. I was so happy and scared all at the sametime. I kept the phone with me at all times so I wouldn't miss the call. I went to my clinic appointments and kept up with my breathing treatments. I exercised as much as I could and did manage to loose a few pounds. I felt good about myself for the first time in a long time, actually felt I had a chance. On Mothers Day, May 9, 2005 I received the call I had been waiting for. There was a flurry of activity but we made it to the hospital in plenty of time. We spent 3-4 hours there, getting prepped and getting my head around that it was going to happen. I was ready for it, only to be told that the lung was not viable and to go home. That is called a dry run. Naturally I was disappointed but I knew that it wasn't meant to be that time.
On June 10th I received another call... this time I was told it was good. So the move was on again and hubby and I headed back out. This was the right one and around 12:30 am June 11th I was wheeled into surgery. The next few days were a blur. I met the pain of broken bones and I won. I met all the tests and medicines and a few complications and I won. My family, friends, and the hospital staff were all rooting for me and my mind said don't let them down. So far I haven't. But my biggest hurdle was yet to be met.

In January of 2006 I was asked if I would like to attend the 2006 Transplant Olympic Games being heldin Louisville, KY. I thought about it and talked to hubby about it and we decided to go. I love to bowl and was just getting back into it. So that was the sport I signed up for.

What I didn't know was my hurdle was hurtling its way towards me. At the games, staying at the same hotel, was the family of my donor. I was told they wanted to meet me and had been asking to do so for a while. I had seen my hero's picture and had made my peace with it. I again talked to hubby and it was agreed that it was time. So, on Sunday June 16th I met the people who would become part of my family. Wonderful, warm, caring people who made me feel at ease. It was one of the best things I could have done, not only for them but for me as well. For now I have an even bigger family and I couldn't ask for better people to be in it.

I was recently asked to write a small paragraph about my experience at the games. I will close this out with that paragraph..... it reads.

There are only a few events in my life that I would love to re-experience. The birth of my children, my wedding to my beloved husband and the Transplant Olympic games I recently attended. The games were wonderful, but the people and their spirits were awesome. I met and talked to so many people, each with their own story to tell. I have come to the conclusion that the world is full of two kinds of heroes. Those that give the gift of life and those that hold on long enough to receive it. I can only hope that I can make my hero proud and continue my life with his help. But most of all I wish to attend the games again and againand again.
Thank you for taking the time to read my story. Thank you to those who are making heroes of themselves by becoming donors. Most of all, thank you God for the donors themselves, may they rest in your hands forever.
With love and best wishes to all,
Donna

2008-05-25T11:07:00.001-04:00

This blog is dedicated to the memory of Wayne Jr.

1989 - 2005

A young man who tragically lost his life at 16 yrs and 2 months old, but gave others the ultimate gift

The Gift of Life.

How did he do that ? He donated organs.

Heart, Lung, Liver/Pancreas & Kidneys.

One very lucky recipient was Donna - her story is reflected elsewhere in this blog.
"Junior" had discussed being a donor with his parents and had made provision for that to be reflected in his driving licence. His parents, Wayne Sr & Candy, then had the unenviable task of carrying out Juniors wishes.......

Words are not enough to express our gratitude, actions may say a little more -
To Wayne Sr, Candy, Sonya ...... Thank You.

To Wayne Jr ....... Thank You and know your very spirit lives on.

To Remember Me - I will live forever, by Robert N. Test

The day will come when my body will lie upon a white sheet neatly tucked under four corners of a mattress located in a hospital; busily occupied with the living and the dying.

At a certain moment a doctor will determine that my brain has ceased to function and that, for all intents and purposes, my life has stopped. When that happens, do not attempt to instill artificial life into my body by the use of a machine.

And don't call this my deathbed. Let it be called the bed of life, and let my body be taken from it to help others lead fuller lives.

Give my sight to the man who has never seen a sunrise, a baby's face or love in the eyes of a woman. Give my heart to a person whose own heart has caused nothing but endless days of pain.

Give my blood to the teenager who was pulled from the wreckage of his car, so that he might live to see his grandchildren play.

Give my kidneys to the one who depends on a machine to exist from week to week.
Take my bones, every muscle, every fiber and nerve in my body and find a way to make a crippled child walk.

Explore every corner of my brain.
Take my cells, if necessary, and let them grow so that, someday a speechless boy will shout at the crack of a bat and a deaf girl will hear the sound of rain agianst her window.

Burn what is left of me and scatter the ashes to the winds to help the flowers grow.
If you must bury something, let it be my faults, my weakness and all prejudice against my fellow man.

Give my sins to the devil.
Give my soul to God.

If, by chance, you wish to remember me, do it with a kind deed or word to someone who needs you.

If you do all I have asked, I will live forever.