Gift of New Life

Today my family is celebrating the Gift of New Life.

5 years ago on this day my Mother was given the gift of new life.

Starting in 1994 at the age of 37, my Mom was diagnosed with stage 3 non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

After many rounds of chemo and a full stem cell transplant, she was cancer free.

This was only the beginning of the battles that she would face in the years to come.

5 years later she would begin to have heart attacks and major strokes.

After numerous Doctors were unable to help figure out what was causing them she returned to the hospital that helped her beat the beast the 1st time.

After 1 appointment it was determined that her heart muscle had been severely damaged by "the red death".

Red death is a term Doctors use when they see patients that have been given too much Adriamycin.

A chemotherapy drug that was given in doses that were too large during my Mothers treatment.

It kills cardiac muscle.

It was decided that a heart transplant was necessary for her to live, period.

But the state of her heart at the time was not compatible with life.

She would need an LVAD (left ventricular assist device).

She needed a machine to pump her heart for her.

She was hospitalized on Feb 10, 2004.

She would remain in a coma from that day until April 26, 2004.

An LVAD device was placed in her chest on March 16th.

The surgery was not as successful as the Doctors thought it would be.

Her heart never had a sinus rhythm after the original surgery.

Our family never left her side, we weren't sure she would make it.

Her cardiothoracic surgeon couldn't suture her chest back together after her surgery because the right side of her heart was ballooning trying to compensate for the left.

Everyday we prayed that he would close her up so we could talk to her.

She was at the top of the National Transplant Recipient List. 1A.

On the morning of the 20th the Dr. said "I'm going to give it one more day to heal and I will close her tomorrow".

We were not happy but obviously someone had their hand in the situation.

At 3:30pm as Joseph and I drove home to Fairfax from Richmond,

we got the call that would change our lives forever.

There was a heart.

It was a perfect match.

The surgery lasted 4hrs. Most last 6+. Her biological heart looked like swiss cheese when they took it out.

The heart instantly started beating in a perfect sinus rhythm.

A gift. The gift of new life.

I am forever grateful for the man who cared enough to donate his organs.

Because of him my children know their grandmother.

Because of him I can continue to be with my Mom in this life.

The 5 years since her heart transplant have not been easy.

She has been diagnosed with breast cancer, salivary gland cancer, 2 degenerative disks in her back, massive hernia from her transplant, broken elbow, broken toes and foot, no feeling in either foot because of the strokes and the list goes on and on.

We are no strangers to the hospital and actually feel right at home, where most people do not.

But you know what?

She doesn't complain. She gives thanks for every day she has here on earth.

She recognizes the blessings she has received and she tries to live everyday happily.

She is brave.

I am happy for the knowledge that families are forever.

Please be an organ donor. You might just save 7 lives.

Happy Heart Birthday Mom!

PS currently my mom is in the hospital with some strange pneumonia. She will be there for 3 more weeks getting IV antibiotics.

It never ends. :)