She's goin back to Guthrie, Guthrie....

That's right we sold the house. Now the hard part moving. Two more goals left for the year and about six months to do them. This is going to be a short post, I mainly wanted to get that title out. For those of you not in my head, think of LL Cool J and Brooklyn.

PSA

Long time no post.

I received a letter a few days ago about a change in the UNOS (United Network for Organ Sharing) rules for distribution of donated livers. Currently the rules state that when an liver becomes available, it goes to the closest local sickest person. For example, if a liver is available in Tulsa, Ok and there is a really sick person in OKC, but a sicker person in Austin, TX; the person in OKC gets the liver. The proposed rule (proposal #3) will change this so that it is the sickest person in a region who gets first choice. Thus the liver in Tulsa would go to the person in Austin.

Why is this bad! Well, if this was in pace say ten years ago I wouldn't be writing this blog. I wasn't on deaths door before my transplant, in fact if I had been I would not have been eligible to receive one. My liver decease put me at high risk for liver cancer, so I needed a transplant before I got cancer. They don't transplant the livers into people with liver cancer.


Currently some state have higher populations of transplant patients then other states, and some states have higher donation rates. The only reason to propose this rule is to attempt to equalize the liver transplant list. But it does not equalize all organ transplant lists.

Some questions I have: Why isn't this for all organ transplantation and is it right to try and create an affirmative action like policy when dealing with saving of life?

The proposal is open for comment until Friday the 24th, follow the link above to read it and comment on it.

Consider this a Public Service Announcement.

Two Sides to Every Story.

Driving home from a church thing tonight, my wife told me of a family friend who died over the weekend. The friend who entered in to the big sleep, had the same cancer I had at the same time. I had actually met him while awaiting chemo once. At saying this she started to (not) cry. And I was struck at how I did not know her story of survival.

I realize that this blog only tells my side of things. How I survived. But it cannot tell her side. It cannot convey her fears or hopes. It can only show me how much stronger she is than I. I now understand that it is much easier to be the one going through it, than the one watching it.

Spot On Product Placement!

Even if you're not a BSG (Battlestar Galatica) fan you'll find this funny. Unless you're not evil like me.

Warning It's a bit gruesome.

The Fog Is Rolling In

It's been a while since the last real post. Mainly because with the final surgery so far off the direction of the blog needs to change. But to what?

Well people always say write what you're passionate about. Currently I'm all about the goals I have for 09'. Now that I have beat death again, the wife and I are focusing on the finances to get a bigger house so that toward the end of the year we can start a family. But not before the surgery in July. So that's like four big things this year. Bills, House, Surgery, Baby! What do they say, "Go Big."

What this all means is that the blog could get really mundane with the day to day of these goals, and the posts may get further and further apart. I still plan on posting, but how often and what direction is still foggy.

Dear Sweet Baby Jesus....

Tis the season!

Organ Wars: Episode VI Return of the Colon

I went to the colon doctor this week to inquire about reconnection surgery. With all the chemo and hospital drugs I had forgotten the specifics of that surgery. She was delighted to see me and was amazed at how good I looked. It's a funny feeling to shock a doctor in a good way. After we talked Jen and I started the discussion about when to do what. On the list is surgery, vacation, baby, and new house all next year (Dan I'm beginning to understand grad school). And while we haven't set every thing in stone yet, it looks like I'll be haveing the final surgery in July.

I Never Take My Health into Consideration.

A friend asked me today, "Do you ever take your health into consideration? I mean with what you have gone through, this should be number one."

We were talking about my plans for the next few years and how unfocused they seemed to her. I was stunned by this comment in that I didn't know how to answer her question in a way she would understand. So I'm writing this post to explain.

My faith, my relationship with God, is my number one. It has to be! I couldn't have gotten here without my faith. There are many examples of people putting God above themselves in the Bible and coming out pretty good in the end. Job, he lost everything and his health, but kept God first and ended up with twice as much as before (Job 42:10). And what about those guys in the fiery furnace, they were willing to give there lives for God and he saved them.

I know that fear and doubt are the enemies of Faith (that's somewhere in the new testament). And I know that I only have the ability to think negatively when I think about certain things like statistics of my health. I am not refusing to thinking about the reality of the situation. No, I am choosing my faith over my fear or doubt. I know what the odds are and I know that I have beaten all those odds because He is with me, not because I was cautious or chose the right doctors.

Remember, reality is not what you see, touch or smell. Reality is what understand, or "As a man thinketh, So is he."

Thanksgiving!!!

Well Thanksgiving is over and there are no bodies to dispose of. For those who don't know, this year was the year the family travels to Knoxville, Tn. My aunt and uncle were wonderful and I enjoyed them a lot. And I had forgotten how much I missed my cousins.

About half way home I decided to not be negative anymore, or try not to be negative anymore. Over the past 3 or 4 years I have managed to teach my mouth not to curse. And thought it would be a good thing to teach my mind not to think negatively.

This new goal will mean less funny stuff until I get use to it.

OH! Happy Day, Happy Day!!!

Well the PET scan I had on Monday is clear. I am once again cancer free! Prayer works!