Friday, December 26, 2008

A Long Weekend

I don't have to go back to the hospital until Monday! And then, I am there Monday and Tuesday, and I get Wednesday and Thursday off! So, after a truly awful Christmas schedule, I get a nice New Year's schedule. It all balances out.

Yesterday was a rough day. I kept reminding myself that at least five people are getting a brand new life, thanks to the generosity of a family whose life is in shambles. Things like this give me a great deal of faith in the basic goodness of people in general.

And, if you've never known someone with heart failure, or kidney failure, or severe liver disease it's hard to imagine that level of illness. Imagine the worst illness of your life, and then imagine that it doesn't go away. You don't get better - you feel that sick all the time. That's what it's like living with organ failure. A transplant literally gives someone their life back - as you can see here: http://www.organtransplants.org/journey/.

Thank you to all of you who added your prayers to mine, and please continue to pray that the family will find the strength to rebuild their lives. And I am going to rest this weekend - I am more tired than I think I have ever been and I need to recharge my batteries. Have a great weekend, everybody!

Terri

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi Terri, I hope you can get some well-deserved rest after such a sad day. As with the murder of my hospice chaplain, it's hard to make sense of but we trust the Lord and learn valuable lessons from every event in our lives and as you say five other people have had their prayers answered by the generosity of a family so distraught. God bless each of you. You are a very special person to do what you do.

simple~needs said...

glad to see you on. the realness of healthcare never is easy, sometimes its a fragile line. you feel happy for the family who is given a new chance but the sadness and grief of the donor family is immense.
i wish everyone could be happy, i wish we could have organs without losing life... it makes me sad.
many hugs to you!!
kim

Connie said...

Such a sad story, Terri. I hope you will get some rest this weekend. I feel very sad for the family of the child, but as you point out, great joy and relief from illness and pain will come for the organ recipients. I'm sure they will be very grateful for the generosity of the family who cared enough to donate much-needed organs for transplant. Sending you a hug.

Susie said...

After catching up on your blog I'm glad you will be getting some nice rest over the New Year holiday.

I'll be praying for the family in Tennessee.

DayPhoto said...

You are one of life's angels! I THANK GOD for people like you daily.

Please rest, dear soul, you need it.

Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com/

Terri said...

You guys are the best. :) It racharges my batteries just "surfing" to your blogs and catching up, and then reading your comments here. Thanks to all of you for the kind words!

Terri