My life the last three years has been more than I could have ever expected. Before my transplant, I was always optimistic but my expectations have far been surpassed.
The most important event of this third year was when I received a letter from my donor family.
I now know who my donor was and a lot about him. His mother wrote the letter and she wished to meet all the people that Phillip helped by his organ donations. I responded and told her that I would be more than honored to meet her anytime, anyplace.
I await her reply with great anticipation.
I have been doing very well. I am still working full time from home as a computer support technician. I can still do so many things that I could not do before. My wife and I make regular trips to Oklahoma to our Bed and Breakfast in Madill and to the lake cabin at Lake Texhoma where my mother and father live. I am almost always working on projects at one place or the other. Something I could not do before.
I very much enjoy working in my garage/shop and doing yard work. I do wear a mask when mowing or working around any fertilizers or chemicals.
We have plans now that we did not have before. My wife and I will be going to Mt Rushmore the first week of June on a vacation. We will be staying in a really nice Bed and Breakfast in Custer, S.D.
Also, this year is a first. I will be participating in the Transplant Olympic Games in Minneapolis-StPaul, Minnesota the last of July. I am extremely excited to be able to do this.
Next year we already are making plans for going to Hawaii for our vacation.
I have seen many of my friends on the support lists I belong to pass away and it saddens me greatly. The only consolation I have is they are now breathing freely and struggling no more. This is even more a reason for me to realize just how blessed I am.
My family is my life. We gather quite often at the Bed and Breakfast just for a get together. It is wonderful. I now have 5 grandchildren and enjoy them immensely.
My dear, dear friend Jan MacDonald who is mostly responsible for this site design has been more that just a help for me. She is also an inspiration for me. I only supply the words. She does the rest. God Bless you Jan and I will forever be grateful to you for all you have done for me and for the so many more whom have been touched by this web site.
I will talk to you all next year.
God Bless and take care of one another.
We are all we have.
Keep on Keepin' On
Tony in Dallas