What A Week

Were should I start. I think I will start on Friday October 12, 2007. I had the honor and privilege of participating in the first Clergy Appreciation Luncheon, that’s a lot to say for a country boy. For all you other country folks, I helped with a dinner where we had a whole bunch of preachers all in the same room. I had such a God filled day and an inspiring intermingling day with fellow Christians. I am privileged to be a part of an organization that has such a staff who loves God, is straight forward thinking, mission statement minded and individual focused. This staff along with some help from DLSC volunteers were able to not just feed the preacher’s bellies but filled their souls with inspiring song and words of wisdom from inspiring people and then followed up with a key note speaker everyone should hear because he is a God fearing man and a servant of God, Mr. Truett Cathy – Founder of Chick-fil-A. Mr. Cathy will tell you real quick that the success of Chick-fil-A came from God, because God was in it.
Our hope through all these efforts, the Clergy will be able to help achieve the goal, that being more people being organ & tissue donors. Remember that at the end of any day for us, 18 people will have died waiting on a lifesaving transplant. Are You A Christian? Get Jesus in your heart and then agree to be a donor once God has called you home, and remember to tell your family. Tell them Yes your a Born Again Christian and yes you want to be an organ & tissue donor.

On Sunday October 14, 2007 the journey to Charleston was once again traveled. As the waiting room fills, the event of who will be next began as the wait began to see Dr. Willner. I am greeted by the nurse as she points to the dreaded scales. I began my stripping act right there in the waiting room, with the heads around the room turned in embarrassment. I look at these things this way, if they are going to fuss about what I weigh and they don’t want this behavior to occur then they need to put these scales in a closet or just throw them out the door. I however cowardly stepped on this dreaded monster and immediately started spitting out excesses about why my weight was not my fault. I gathered my hat and other belongings and down the hall I go with my head lowered and hoping the walk would not be long because I just could not walk muck more. The nurses came in and of course they had to find something to fuss about so they decided to pick on my blood pressure. Let me tell you once they decide your blood pressure is up, you sure do get a lot of attention, after all of those excuses. The room grew quite as I sat there waiting on the next round to start, I knew that some one was going to find something to fuss about and of course Claire is going to chime in her two cents worth, that usually don’t help. Her chiming usually get me stuck some how some where. This time I was proud of myself, I did not sir up any hate and discontent. Dr. Willner then walks through the door and gleams down at me and ask how I am doing. I know this could be a tricky question so I am not sure how to answer it, but I try. I replied by saying fine, and then drawing up. Dr. Willner smiled and said all my liver numbers looked great, blood pressure was up and he was not pleased that my leg was swelling, so he increased my blood pressure medication and started me on Lasix, but you know it did not stop there, I have not been stuck yet then there she is with the needle, yelp right there in the arm she gigged me and gave me my flu shot. He then said he was going to send Dr. Sahn a letter that he agreed to the nuclear medicine test. He said that Dr. Sahn was going to have to figure out what was going on with my plural effusion. He said that he was cutting my blood work to once a month and I did not have to come back and see him until January, that’s my year anniversary month.
Now talking about that plural effusion, just to bring you up to date. When they put this tube in me they said they would not consider removing it until I got down to about 50ml at every drainage, that’s also 50cc. I started with the drainage numbers being about 325ml and as of today I removed 1000ml, I know the number are going the wrong way. Just don’t get all excited and start fussing at me, because me & you know God is in control and he knows what he is doing.
Now to this weekend, we arrived in Charleston just a couple of hours ago and Justin just came in, now we are ready to start a weekend. That’s right we are in town this time just for fun. We are here for the MUSC Transplant Center’s 2007 Celebration Of Life. This is were the donor and or family and recipient and family come together. I am not sure what all is going to happen but they did say we were eating dinner (lunch) so you know me I am here the night before. Once this big dinner is over, Claire Justin and Abigail will be headed home and I must make a stop at Myrtle Beach for the NC/SC IAAI convention. I sure am looking forward to the entire array of events.

God Bless You,
Put a smile on your face,
God Loves you and me,

Lightning