A new and challenging future.

The week we returned from South Dakota, in July, we had returned earlier than we had planned, to be able to make a meeting at Church to find out how our Ward would be split. We are in the same Ward as before, it is just smaller now. At that meeting, however, everyone was released from their callings. So, other than the Bishopric and the EQP, everyone has been waiting for a new calling. I didn't have to wait long, as I recieved my calling within the week of the split. I am now the new Sunday School President for our Ward. I have submitted many names, to the Bishopric, to be my counselors. It has been 3 weeks and we are getting close. I hope to hear this Sunday who my counselors are, not only am I waiting for counselors, I am also trying to place people for each Sunday School class and the library. Needless to say, I am running out of names, since it is a smaller Ward now. All I can do is to continue to pray for guidance.

South Dakota

We made our second trip to South Dakota last week, it was sure nice to get away from the Texas heat. The second night we were there, there was a terrible storm, tennis ball sized hail was reported, close to my brothers ranch. Corn fields and soybean fields were leveled. My brother was very lucky, only a quarter of his crops were damaged. At one location, a neighbor's corn was shredded, across the road, my brothers corn not damaged. Other than that, everyone had a good time. I missed a few days with dialysis, but it was well worth the trip. In Sioux Falls, at dialysis, I ran into the nurse who dialized me the first few times, when Iwas 13 yrs old. That was pretty neat, to see somene from that long ago. To let all of you know, that year was 1977.

Not afraid of the water

Saturday night marked the first time I have been able to go swimming in Two years. It was also the first time I was able to go swimming with Theron, last year I went to the pool, but having a tube in my stomach, I was not able to go. Theron seems to love the water, evident by him showing me how he can put his head in the water and try to swim under. But, at this pool, he can wear a life jacket. It is so cute watching him put his head under, then try his hardest to get his whole body under as well. It was a lot of fun to be able to swim again.

How would you react?

Last week I had a co-worker, whose daughter had to have surgery on her neck. This girl was born with multiple birth defects, this surgery was something to repair her neck and back. She had to have a bone graft done, to strengthen part of her neck. She is nine years old and has a fantastic outlook on life. The whole school system, where she lives, treats her great. My thoughts on this are, kids with a great outlook, like hers, make it that much easier on the imediate family. Being a parent, I cannot imagine having to go through something like this with a child. Being a long time patient, I consider myself a great patient, but I have never been good, when the tables are turned, ask my wife about that. I must say, I do get somewhat grumpy when someone is not feeling good, but will not find out why. Even Becca has said, she would never be able to stick needles in one of the children as she does for me. Is that because she knows I have been through it before and for a child it would be new for both?? How would you react?? I know you would do what you needed to, but how would you react, when you got the news you were gonna have to do something, or you child was gonna have to go through so much??

My wife

I just wanted to say how Great my wife is. She cooks, she cleans, she raises children, she works 2 jobs, she is my nurse. She is caring, she is considerate, she has fixed all our major appliances. She loves and cares about her family. She cracks me up with her humor, she likes to stay physically fit. I find I miss her, especially when I don't get a chance to talk on the phone to her, during our busy days.

Not uncommon, but still a pain

So over the weekend, actually late in the week, last week. I noticed another spot on my hand, growing at quite a fast pace. The problem is, it is growing on the edge of a spot they just removed. So it is quickly becoming painful, as it continues to grow. My saving grace is that my Dermatologist has told his staff, if I call in, they are to get me to see him ASAP. So I called them this morning, my Doctor is out till tomorrow, I now am going to see him at 3:oo pm tomorrow. More doctors need to be that way, to bad these types are far and few between.

Woohoo, I am not typical....

I went in yesterday for my annual testing to be on the Transplant List. Originally, a year ago, they told me this testing would take up to 6 weeks to complete. It took me not even a day. Anyhow I learned many things yesterday that somewhat gave me a brighter look on things. I already try to look at the bright side of it, but this made it even brighter. Because I have had two transplants and multiple blood transfusions, I have a high Antibody count which makes me a very difficult match. But because of this, I am tested more frequently than someone on there first. Which means I am at the top of the list. The RN at the transplant center told me she knew of at least 6 times I was tested, but there were even more times that she said, she would not be aware of. To me that really shows a light at the end of the tunnel.
The other things we talked of, which really had nothing to do with the list. She told me I didn't look or act like a typical dialysis patient. I thanked her for that, but made me start thinking of what she thought was typical. Most patients just look sick, usually from underlying illness, such as diabetes, lupus and others. Most people when they are told they have to go on dialysis, or that they have some disease, give up. They quit their jobs and live off the government. Since I do not have any underlying and I grew up like this, I really couldn't fathom the idea of giving up my job. I think the more time you have to think about something like this, the worse off you will be. It is a medical fact, the brighter outlook you have, the better the chances you will have at overcoming your medical condition. I know it is probably hard to do for many people, but I have seen people with brighter outlooks do much better than those who don't. How would you react? I hope and pray no one ever has to find out, but don't you think it is better to be somewhat prepared in your thinking before something does happen??