23 October 2014

What Would You Do With Twenty Extra Years Of Life





The first five years after my kidney transplant were tumultuous to say the very least. It felt like there were endless obstacles. I faced several complications and tricky situations because of side effects of all the immunosuppression drugs I was on at the time. In addition, I was attempting to navigate it all with an already overly emotional heart and puberty emotions galore. Fun fact I learned by living it! Did you know an abundance of prednisone (a steroid) can push a young girl right into womanhood? True story. It can also cause diabetes in less than 5% of people who take it. Guess who was one of the lucky less than 5%? Yes, that would be me. Luckily, as my dose of prednisone was decreased, the diabetes was cured. Another not so small miracle that is a part of my story! My mom's kidney has always functioned wonderfully since the transplant, all the other detours I've been on have been from side effects of medications. Both a little frustrating and incredible to think about.

I've been writing a lot about my transplant lately. It is how I process things. Therefore, I keep writing as long as the words keep coming. They keep flowing out of my fingertips and somehow continue healing the past when all the letters align.

This milestone anniversary has prompted me to look at twenty year spans of other people's lives as well. My mom, my dad, Rory, and it has even made me wonder where my sister would be today if she had lived 20 years of life. I daydream what Sookie's life will look like in 20 years. It is such a long time. My mom's precious gift has lasted twice as long as my native kidneys. I can't quite wrap my head around that feat!

Last week my mom shared some photos from that week. They made me cry. Up to that point I was approaching the upcoming anniversary as nothing but pure happiness. It was as if seeing those photos reminded me how utterly raw the whole process can be, even when the now is a beautiful triumph. It is hard sometimes to realize how young I was, when really I remember thinking on the operating table, "Well, I've had a good life, it's okay if I don't wake up from this." When in reality my 11 year old self had not yet fallen in love, not yet learned to drive a car, not yet happily slept on the dirty streets of New York to see a band of three blonde brothers, not yet been to Paris, not yet graduated college, not yet experienced the explosive heartache of losing my only sibling, not yet been completely blindsided by the grace of a love story bigger than all the pain, not yet in awe by the power of a little girl who so fiercely wanted to be our daughter, that she broke all the rules to get here.

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I want to hear about 20 years in your life. What you've accomplished, the love you've lived, the dreams you've chased, the houses you've made into homes, the traveling you've done to quest your thirst for wanderlust. What have you done with twenty years of your wild & precious life? Share in the comments!

17 October 2014

Organ Donation From The Perspective Of A 4 Year Old





Earlier this week on the way to preschool:

"Mommy I have two kidneys, right?"
"Yes you do!"
"So when I grow up I can give one to someone who needs one, right?"
"Sure if you want to baby."


Sookie is 4 years old. She knows mommy's kidneys stopped working when mommy was a kid. She knows mommy needed a kidney that worked. She knows my mom (Grrmomma to her) gave me one of her kidneys.

Through her perspective, it is as simple and as beautiful as that.


The vast scope of human experiences continuously baffles me. We all share this earth, but our adventures and struggles are insanely different. If you are outside the realm of a reality in which you or someone you love dearly needs an organ transplant, I can take a step back and imagine how the misinformation out there about organ donation could sway you. However, I also see how simple such a (sometimes) complex issue is when approached from the childlike eyes of a four year old. A four year old who knows she has two of something, and that some people are in need of simply one that works. It is basic math for her. And I love how powerful that turns out to be.

Did you know 123,000 people are currently on the waiting list for a life saving organ? This statistic upsets me. The need is greater than the donors available. Understandably, organ donation awareness and education has always been a huge passion of mine. I'm constantly seeking out stories of hope and perseverance in relation to this unique journey. Several years ago, I came across The Ruby Jane Foundation. Simply put, their mission is to save lives by educating the public about organ donation. They lost their seven month old baby girl, Ruby Jane, while she was waiting for a life saving liver transplant. Their story breaks my heart, yet I am endlessly inspired by what they are choosing to do with their pain and how they are determined to save other lives.

Did you know you can register to be a donor online? Easy as pie.

16 October 2014

Once Upon An October





Dear October,

I love you because you hold dates that make my heart sing. Lots of loved ones birthdays all varying in ages, our 8th anniversary, my Dad's birthday (he turned 59 on Tuesday!) and of course my big 20 year transplant anniversary on Saturday. Halloween might be my favorite holiday too. I mean, come on! All the spooky shenanigans without the stress of presents and family drama. ;)

Fall is such a time of hope for me. Pure, powerful, potent hope. The greatest things have happened in October. It is refreshing to see how to remember things that happen in 24 hours can change the path of your life forever. Yearly I am reminded of the force of believing in something bigger than yourself.

This year specifically? We've been laughing and loving these days away. Sookie was randomly on a local television show when we were frolicking at one of our favorite spots, Gardner Village. I present, Queen Elsa complete with glitter eyes.




She was all ready to go in a darling halloween dress, then came down wearing this. I asked her what happened and she explained that she accidentally smeared toothpaste on her halloween dress. So, when the camera dude came up to me and asked if she wanted to be on T.V. getting glitter eyes painted, I thought sure why not! Therefore, Queen Elsa...with glitter eyes. Makes me laugh!

That photo above at the very first with the pumpkin field and majestic Utah mountains? Is featured on the opening screen of the Rhonna Designs app this week! After knowing each other online for years and years, (plus working together last year on the Cystinosis stack of bracelets) I was finally able to share a hug with Ashley from The Shine Project a few weekends ago! That girl has a heart of gold and her actions back it up. She is the real deal! Other pieces of good; Sookie is cavity free as of last week at the dentist. We've been to the circus, enjoyed breakfast with eccentric witches, and have some phenomenal family photos.

Whew! I say bring on all the fun when I feel this good!

What is your favorite part of October?

02 October 2014

Taking Stock, Currently

I found this prompt on Antlers and Roses and thought it would be fun and different to do for a change! Also linking up with Harvesting Kale and Ot & Et. Feel free to join in on your own blog and leave me a link in the comments so I can check it out! I adore reading lists like this. :)

Making: footprint witches and toilet paper roll mummies with our girl
Cooking: copious amounts of baked donuts around here lately!
Drinking: unsweet tea on lots of ice
Reading: You Are Psychic by Debra Lynne Katz, The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern, Hands Free Mama by Rachel Macy Stafford, and Elements of Style by William Strunk Jr., and E.B. White
Wanting: everything I have
Looking: toward the mountains
Playing: leap frog, hide and seek, and tag with our girl in the backyard  
Wasting: time daydreaming and snuggling
Sewing: eep. nothing!
Wishing: for magic and miracles 
Enjoying: all this rainy Utah weather we've had the past few days. last week I was sweating carrying Sook around the zoo. Ha! 
Waiting: nothing really, working on being present in each moment as it comes 
Liking: being silly and letting go 
Wondering: if I have the guts to go for it   
Loving: this life! 
Hoping: this fall weather lasts for a few weeks 
Marveling: at what a miracle this all is. the things that have to happen 
Needing: more faith in myself and my power 
Smelling: lemon garlic chicken and veggie soup
Wearing: black pants, princeton tiger tee with 
Following: Sookie's endless curiosity, and learning so much about myself in the process
Noticing: how Sook is blossoming and growing these days
Knowing: I'm exactly where I need to be right now.
Thinking: that perhaps a cover and a title are more than half the battle of a memoir ;) 
Feeling: immensely grateful this kidney of my momma's has lasted nearly twenty years
Bookmarking: all sorts of halloween craft fabulousness
Opening: Sook's first Christmas present I ordered! It is so darling I don't know if I can wait to give it to her.
Giggling: late into the night