11 Months

      Today is 11 months!I feel good and I am able to do most anything I want. Weather here has been suckey, so that limits my ability to do things. However, I am blessed in so many ways. To have a second chance like this is truly amazing. I hope I can live up to my and your expectations and make a difference in this world. It is easy to get down, especially with the state of the economy. Not just the US or World economy, but for each of our personal economys. The media and the access to news doesn't help. Remember that we live in a world of sensationalism. The more spectacular the story, the more it is reported.
       My biggest and best blessing is my Loving and Devoted wife Linda. What a treasure! She has been my rock and my caregiver and my sounding board. But most of all she is my Best Friend. We have been through some wonderful times and some very trying times, but she has hung in there. I wish that each and everyone of you, if you haven't already, find your true soul mate that make your lives complete and satisfying. I have! Thank you, Linda, my true "Better Half".
      Next month I go in for my annual check-up. It will be 2 days of extreme testing, biopsies and blood work. I am sure it will all be good. Then, hopefully, I will be on an "annual only" exam schedule. I hope to then be able to do more and not be tied so much to proximity to Doctors. and Hospitals.
       I know that I previously talked of a profound blog that I was going to do. I just haven't gotten the spark needed to write it. Hopefully soon.
  Take care and Love to all.

Reflections

      Approaching the 11 month mark, (January 26), a lot has happened over the last couple of years. I went from a care free, healthy person to a very sick individual, to a healthy upbeat person. I have many people to thank, many that have given me the emotional support to get through this miraculous time in my life. I won't name names, but each of you have been very instrumental in my road to recovery. I approached this disease as a glancing blow, and I would get better with a little time. Little did I know how serious it was. You know, we always feel invincible and we think that we are the exception to the rule. Well, my advice is, don't do as I did. Get answers and act!
     I know a guy in his 70's that has been having breathing troubles for months now. His condition is rapidly deteriorating, but he won't consider a Transplant and doesn't even want to talk about it. I hope that he doesn't wait too long, where he hits the point where he is too sick for the Transplant. It's very sad to watch. It brings back a lot of memories. I can't express enough, DON'T BE A TOUGH GUY and tough it out. Get help.
     A friend of mine's brother needed a Liver Transplant, and he waited too long to finally consider the Transplant. When he finally said he would consider it, he was too sick and didn't qualify for the operation.
     I don't want to preach to anyone, but this has been my experience and I hope that it is a wake-up call for some. Thank you all for listening and offering your encouragement.

Just a little housekeeping

    December 26, 2010 will be 10 months since my miracle. I will expand on that thought in my next blog. I have a lot to be thankful for. One of the things I am thankful for is the support that has been shown by friends, family and some that I don't even know. I hate to mention this, but the end of the year is fast approaching. Many of you need to check with your tax people and see if you need some write-offs. If you do, it would be greatly appreciated if you could donate to NFT, The National Foundation for Transplants, in my name. The money will be used only for medical expenses and money not used for my medical bills will go to a needy person on the NFT roster. This person may have had a transplant already, or is on the waiting list. You can donate through the link on the right side of this blog. Thank You!
   Did you know that over 40,000 people die each year from Pulmonary Fibrosis! This is approximately the number we lose to Breast Cancer each year. Yet many have never heard of this deadly disease.  There is no cure for Pulmonary Fibrosis, the only chance for survival is a transplant. Less than 1 percent of those diagnosed qualify or get a transplant. How blessed am I?
  Again, thanks for your support, both monetarily and emotionally.
  I plan to fight back tears and bend your ears, or in this case your eyes, in the near future with a heartfelt blog. I have a lot to say and I have been preoccupied  with setting up our new abode. I think it's time to get back to it.

 Enjoy your families and loved ones over the Christmas Holiday.

See ya!

Soo Sorry!!!

I am truly sorry for the delay in updating this blog. We moved and for 10 weeks lived with my Mother-in-law Agnes, Thank you Agnes. Since, we have been unpacking and setting up house. Health has been fine. Fungus appears to be gone. Can't do the things I used to do, a bit slower and I get fatigued rapidly. They say that has to do with aging. Oh well. Hope everyone has a marvelous Holiday. I will update this and give more details later. Just wanted to let everyone know that I am doing fine. Thank you all for caring.