Hard to believe, but true......this is the final day of 2011! I must admit, that in spite of the many changes that occurred, it was truly a wonderful year! So much so, in fact, that I really want to hold on to it another day, another week, etc. When I look back and compare it to the ending of 2009 and 2010, I am reminded how difficult those years were with Lee's illness and subsequent lung transplant. We were both grateful to close those years and looked forward to the new ones approaching.
20ll has been kind to us. Sure, we have a few more wrinkles, and we sometimes have a few more aches and pains. The usually easy tasks have become a bit more time-consuming, and the strength and endurances are waning. Even though there have been the unwelcome frailities of aging, we have had a very good year. We have seen Lee's strength returning and it has indeed been a joy to return to some of the old familiar routines of our lives. What a joy to have been able to celebrate another Christmas with our families! We were blessed with our children and grandchildren for both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. In addition, we had some celebrations with other family members and with our friends. We felt as though we had stepped back in time to that period in our lives when all was well.
How priviledged we are to live in the twenty-first century that has advanced in medical care to the point of providing second chances at life. Lee and I realize that had we been living in the late twentieth century, our lives would be quite different. There would have been no chance for a lung transplant. He would have been diagnosed as terminal and that would have been the end of his life as he knew it.
We welcome this New Year with renewed spirit and a determined fortitude to keep Lee strong and healthy. We will do everthing in our power to make his lung transplant a success. Along with that, Lee has a "bucket list", and most of this is centered around being with his family and friends. He has made a committment to "Lifeshares of the Carolinas". He wants to volunteer to speak publicly on behalf of organ donors. It was his wish this Christmas to forego gifts from his family and accept donations to the Lifeshares program. He was delighted to find that all his children and others honored his request.
May each of you have the Happiest of New Year's for 2012!
More Later....................Brenda
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Days before Christmas
Three days before Christmas
and all through this house,
The only sound stirring is Lee,
asleep on the couch.
Casseroles in the freezer,
the coconut cake too,
I'm enjoying catch-up on the
computer with you.
The gifts are all wrapped in
silver and white,
Hidden downstairs
til Christmas Eve night.
Eve of the 25th, we will
celebrate the night before.
Then they will leave
for their own night of yore.
Christmas day brings more,
as we open the doors,
fling open the ovens for
Lasagne galore.
The children will play
shooting pool downstairs,
while parents and we
celebrate as adults
upstairs.
All will be merry, and
gratefully so
For this is Christmas!
From Christ whom we know.
and all through this house,
The only sound stirring is Lee,
asleep on the couch.
Casseroles in the freezer,
the coconut cake too,
I'm enjoying catch-up on the
computer with you.
The gifts are all wrapped in
silver and white,
Hidden downstairs
til Christmas Eve night.
Eve of the 25th, we will
celebrate the night before.
Then they will leave
for their own night of yore.
Christmas day brings more,
as we open the doors,
fling open the ovens for
Lasagne galore.
The children will play
shooting pool downstairs,
while parents and we
celebrate as adults
upstairs.
All will be merry, and
gratefully so
For this is Christmas!
From Christ whom we know.
Monday, December 19, 2011
Christmas 2011
Greetings!
It is with joy and peace that we welcome this wonderful season of the year!
Our spirit of hope continues to be our beacon of light as we face each day. We have become accustomed to the dictates of Lee's schedule. It now feels comfortable, and we are grateful for the closeness of Duke as we travel to Durham for those necessary clinic visits regularly. There have been some extras for Lee this past year. He had cataract surgery in the Spring and prostate surgery in July. Unfortunately, in August he did get the dreaded report of rejection. After four days in the hospital with special treatment, we returned home and he was rejection-free until recently. A mild stage of rejection has been treated here at home and we are optimistic that it has been controlled.
On a bright note, he is feeling quite well, and is gaining his strength. He is very independent, and now finds time to do some work that he enjoys. He is loyal to his work-out sessions at the rehab center and is reaping the rewards of his hard work.
I completed my book in July, and it was published late last Summer through Publish America. I consider it one of my greatest achievements as a tribute to Lee. It is my desire that it may help someone along the way who may be facing either an organ transplant or the decision to become an organ donor. I named it "Now We Have Hope", because that is what we have.
In February, we welcomed our great grandchild, Easton Lee Spencer, to our family. He is the son of grand-daughter, Laura (Kanipe) Spencer. All of our grandchildren range in ages from six to twenty-five. Two of the older ones are married. We now have two college graduates, one in college, one employed,, and the others are in elementary, midfdle, and high school. Two of our adult children and one grandchild are actively pursuing their post-graduate degrees.
Lee and I continue to be amazed at his good fortune to have received his gift of life. We know, that because of his gift, we will be allowed yet another Christmas with our families, friends, and others. Please join us as we once again lift up our voices in praise for the blessings of Christ, and the promise of hope for all.
Blessings to all of you this Christmas,
Brenda and Lee
It is with joy and peace that we welcome this wonderful season of the year!
Our spirit of hope continues to be our beacon of light as we face each day. We have become accustomed to the dictates of Lee's schedule. It now feels comfortable, and we are grateful for the closeness of Duke as we travel to Durham for those necessary clinic visits regularly. There have been some extras for Lee this past year. He had cataract surgery in the Spring and prostate surgery in July. Unfortunately, in August he did get the dreaded report of rejection. After four days in the hospital with special treatment, we returned home and he was rejection-free until recently. A mild stage of rejection has been treated here at home and we are optimistic that it has been controlled.
On a bright note, he is feeling quite well, and is gaining his strength. He is very independent, and now finds time to do some work that he enjoys. He is loyal to his work-out sessions at the rehab center and is reaping the rewards of his hard work.
I completed my book in July, and it was published late last Summer through Publish America. I consider it one of my greatest achievements as a tribute to Lee. It is my desire that it may help someone along the way who may be facing either an organ transplant or the decision to become an organ donor. I named it "Now We Have Hope", because that is what we have.
In February, we welcomed our great grandchild, Easton Lee Spencer, to our family. He is the son of grand-daughter, Laura (Kanipe) Spencer. All of our grandchildren range in ages from six to twenty-five. Two of the older ones are married. We now have two college graduates, one in college, one employed,, and the others are in elementary, midfdle, and high school. Two of our adult children and one grandchild are actively pursuing their post-graduate degrees.
Lee and I continue to be amazed at his good fortune to have received his gift of life. We know, that because of his gift, we will be allowed yet another Christmas with our families, friends, and others. Please join us as we once again lift up our voices in praise for the blessings of Christ, and the promise of hope for all.
Blessings to all of you this Christmas,
Brenda and Lee
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Heavy Hearts
It was yesterday that we attended the funeral of our dear friend, Robert Morrell. His passing was filled with ambivilent feelings for Lee and me. We were saddened to lose him, but relieved, that he is finally freed from the very sick body that had become his prison since last Spring. The celebration of his life, in his church that he loved, was filled to capacity with the multitude of friends who loved him. Even though he had written a request for a simple ceremony, it was a grand tribute to our friend. He had asked for a choir, and said he would understand if they could not get enough on a week-day because of working responsibilities. Therefore, he said, let the congregation sing one song.....his favorite...."It is well with my soul." Not to be.....the choir was filled...no empty seats there! And did they sing!.......It was the most beautiful rendition of his song ever to be sung in that church! A choir of angels sang yesterday for Robert. Grandaughter, Sarah Ann, sang for her grandfather, and her brother, Chris, read "taps". Emotionally, it was a challenge, but these two brave children wanted to give this last gift to their grandfather whom they loved so much.
Robert had made his final wishes known in regards to funeral, etc. and he had listed the names of pallbearers. Lee was humbled to be one of those honored.
Yes, Robert is no longer with us, but as we were reminded yesterday, in the sharing of many memorable stories during our time with him, his legacy will not be forgotten. His quiet spirit with strong determination for giving his very best in everything he did, will remain a shining example for all who knew him. He and his wife, Carole, will always be our dear friends, and we will never forget those wonderful Sundays with our "Sunday Lunch Buddies."
As we go about our busy days in preparation for the holidays, we will remember the Morrell family and their first Christmas without their beloved Robert. We will cherish the time we have with each other and try very hard to forget the fatigue that comes with all the activity that somehow manages to alter the true meaning of this time of the year. We will see each event as an opportunity to share a little time with those we love, and will be reminded that we only hold that time for a moment.
More Later...............................Brenda
Robert had made his final wishes known in regards to funeral, etc. and he had listed the names of pallbearers. Lee was humbled to be one of those honored.
Yes, Robert is no longer with us, but as we were reminded yesterday, in the sharing of many memorable stories during our time with him, his legacy will not be forgotten. His quiet spirit with strong determination for giving his very best in everything he did, will remain a shining example for all who knew him. He and his wife, Carole, will always be our dear friends, and we will never forget those wonderful Sundays with our "Sunday Lunch Buddies."
As we go about our busy days in preparation for the holidays, we will remember the Morrell family and their first Christmas without their beloved Robert. We will cherish the time we have with each other and try very hard to forget the fatigue that comes with all the activity that somehow manages to alter the true meaning of this time of the year. We will see each event as an opportunity to share a little time with those we love, and will be reminded that we only hold that time for a moment.
More Later...............................Brenda
Sunday, December 4, 2011
An Old New Look
I hope you enjoy the new photo on the blog.......My daughter, Julia and I decided on a Winter scene. We will post some more updated photos as we go along.
This picture was made on a snowy day in the Winter of 2008. Grandaddy Lee is taking nine year old grandaughter ,Lillie, through the pasture to search for a good sledding area. Grandson John joined them shortly after this photo was taken by Lillie's older sister, Michaela. I love this picture so much that I asked my daughter to paint it. It now adorns one of the walls in a bedroom. Lee was so strong and healthy at that time. He was also young enough at heart to enjoy sledding with some of his grandchildren. The older grandchildren and his sons have many fond memories of days of sledding down the hill in front of our house.
More Later......................Brenda
This picture was made on a snowy day in the Winter of 2008. Grandaddy Lee is taking nine year old grandaughter ,Lillie, through the pasture to search for a good sledding area. Grandson John joined them shortly after this photo was taken by Lillie's older sister, Michaela. I love this picture so much that I asked my daughter to paint it. It now adorns one of the walls in a bedroom. Lee was so strong and healthy at that time. He was also young enough at heart to enjoy sledding with some of his grandchildren. The older grandchildren and his sons have many fond memories of days of sledding down the hill in front of our house.
More Later......................Brenda
Test Results
Sunday Morning.....December 4th! So much to do and so little time to do it before Christmas. I love this time of the year, and Lee and I always look forward to seeing our families, and sharing the many joys during this special season of our Christian celebration of the birthday of Christ. Unfortunately, we have to try very hard to arrange time for extra activities; I suppose, because we are burdoned with so many other committments.
Even though the clinic day last week was one of the better ones, we were given the bad news on Friday. Lee is in rejection again. His type of rejection involves the smaller respiratory pathways, which is apparently the most difficult type to control. There is also the suspicion from the doctors that Lee may be having non-symptomatic reflux. They are desperately trying to find the reason for the repeated rejection and the on and off again repeated infections. So it is, that we will begin on Monday of next week a regime with Home Health for some more Solu -medrol I.V's, Step down prednisone from high doses, and double his anti-rejection pills ( prednisone and myfortic ) on a continuing basis. In addition to this, we must schedule another two-day visit to Durham ASAP for another reflux test. We will know this date on Monday. It will be sometime between the 12, 14, or after Christmas, such as 26, 27, or 28. He is also to return to Duke for another bronchoscopy on January 30. In between all of this........if his reflux test is positive, he will be scheduled for a stomach wrap ASAP. That will require 5-7 days in the hospital!
There, you have it. Now you understand why time is of the essence for us right now. Unfortunately, I am having to rest my knee. I suspect another torn meniscus, since I have done this twice before. I do not have time for orthopedic visit, nor MRI, nor whatever.....so am treating it with rest (no stairs), ice, and Ibupropen. From past experience, this will work as long as I avoid stairs and too much standing, lifting, etc. Right now, we are just planning on taking this holiday season a day at a time, and not trying to include all that we usually do. We have become accustomed to our lives quickly changing within a 24-hour period.
Good news is that Lee feels good. The only noticeable symptom he has of rejection is a persistant, dry cough. That is what makes rejection so difficult to deal with. The symptoms are silent, however, they are serious and deadly when the rejection causes pneumonia. Even with that, the clues are only obvious when they are seriously ill. We have learned not to look for the "normal" signs and symptoms of an illness ( fever, chills, aches), because these only happen during the more chronic or desperately ill phase.
I will keep you posted on how things are going......we ask for you prayers for our patience, perserverance and renewed health and strength.
More Later.........................................Brenda
Even though the clinic day last week was one of the better ones, we were given the bad news on Friday. Lee is in rejection again. His type of rejection involves the smaller respiratory pathways, which is apparently the most difficult type to control. There is also the suspicion from the doctors that Lee may be having non-symptomatic reflux. They are desperately trying to find the reason for the repeated rejection and the on and off again repeated infections. So it is, that we will begin on Monday of next week a regime with Home Health for some more Solu -medrol I.V's, Step down prednisone from high doses, and double his anti-rejection pills ( prednisone and myfortic ) on a continuing basis. In addition to this, we must schedule another two-day visit to Durham ASAP for another reflux test. We will know this date on Monday. It will be sometime between the 12, 14, or after Christmas, such as 26, 27, or 28. He is also to return to Duke for another bronchoscopy on January 30. In between all of this........if his reflux test is positive, he will be scheduled for a stomach wrap ASAP. That will require 5-7 days in the hospital!
There, you have it. Now you understand why time is of the essence for us right now. Unfortunately, I am having to rest my knee. I suspect another torn meniscus, since I have done this twice before. I do not have time for orthopedic visit, nor MRI, nor whatever.....so am treating it with rest (no stairs), ice, and Ibupropen. From past experience, this will work as long as I avoid stairs and too much standing, lifting, etc. Right now, we are just planning on taking this holiday season a day at a time, and not trying to include all that we usually do. We have become accustomed to our lives quickly changing within a 24-hour period.
Good news is that Lee feels good. The only noticeable symptom he has of rejection is a persistant, dry cough. That is what makes rejection so difficult to deal with. The symptoms are silent, however, they are serious and deadly when the rejection causes pneumonia. Even with that, the clues are only obvious when they are seriously ill. We have learned not to look for the "normal" signs and symptoms of an illness ( fever, chills, aches), because these only happen during the more chronic or desperately ill phase.
I will keep you posted on how things are going......we ask for you prayers for our patience, perserverance and renewed health and strength.
More Later.........................................Brenda
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