TransplantFriends.com

“Death is a challenge. It tells us to not waste time. It tells us to tell each other right now, that we love each other.”

I LOVE YOU!!!!

https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/death-is-a-challenge.jpg?w=297 297w" alt="" data-attachment-id="20807" data-permalink="https://my2ndheartbeat.wordpress.com/2019/02/18/death-is-a-challenge/death-is-a-challenge/" data-orig-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/death-is-a-challenge.jpg?w=640" data-orig-size="500,505" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="death is a challenge" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/death-is-a-challenge.jpg?w=640?w=297" data-large-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/death-is-a-challenge.jpg?w=640?w=500" />

“The people who stood by me without flinching while I walked through hell are my family now.”

(Thank the Lord, a lot of my blood family was present. And all those that have been on this journey with me ….. those that “get it” are also very much my family as well.)

https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/family.jpg?w=150&h=108 150w, https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/family.jpg?w=300&h=216 300w" alt="" width="640" height="461" data-attachment-id="20774" data-permalink="https://my2ndheartbeat.wordpress.com/2019/02/17/family-5/family-5/" data-orig-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/family.jpg?w=640&h=461" data-orig-size="640,461" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Family" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/family.jpg?w=640&h=461?w=300" data-large-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/family.jpg?w=640&h=461?w=640" />

“Worry affects the circulation, the heart, the glands, the whole nervous system, and profoundly affects heart action.”

~ Charles H. Mayo, M.D.

https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/worry.jpg?w=150&h=106 150w, https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/worry.jpg?w=300&h=212 300w" alt="" width="640" height="453" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-20768" data-attachment-id="20768" data-permalink="https://my2ndheartbeat.wordpress.com/2019/02/16/worry-5/ekg/" data-orig-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/worry.jpg?w=640&h=453" data-orig-size="640,453" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"Getty Images\/iStockphoto","camera":"","caption":"http:\/\/www.istockphoto.com\/photo\/ekg-electrocardiogram-xxl-2975886?st=ec7bb4d","created_timestamp":"1438864399","copyright":"goir","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"EKG","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="EKG" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/worry.jpg?w=640&h=453?w=300" data-large-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/worry.jpg?w=640&h=453?w=640" />

“Love is not automatic. It takes conscious practice and awareness, just like playing the piano or golf. However, you have ample opportunities to practice. Everyone you meet can be your practice session.”

~ Sara Paddison & Doc Childre

https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/love-is-not-automatic.jpg?w=150&h=100 150w, https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/love-is-not-automatic.jpg?w=300&h=199 300w" alt="" width="640" height="425" data-attachment-id="20765" data-permalink="https://my2ndheartbeat.wordpress.com/2019/02/15/love-is-not-automatic/love-is-not-automatic/" data-orig-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/love-is-not-automatic.jpg?w=640&h=425" data-orig-size="640,425" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="love is not automatic" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/love-is-not-automatic.jpg?w=640&h=425?w=300" data-large-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/love-is-not-automatic.jpg?w=640&h=425?w=640" />

“Gifts of Love linger silently upon our hearts waiting to be shared.”

~ Lee Hiller London

Today is a day of love. (Why not a year or a lifetime of love?)

We spread a lot of love around Valentine’s Day …… to our families, our friends and or our lovers. Sometimes the love lasts forever, and other times it doesn’t.

Almost 12 years ago I received a different type of love. The love given to me by another human being that never met me, didn’t know me and we’ll never meet until I’m (hopefully) in heaven. I was given the amazing gift of life by way of a heart transplant. What an amazing journey it has been and I’ll be forever grateful to God and to my donor, Benny Keith.

So today, I ask you to spread your love to your family and friends and if you register to be an organ donor you could spread a lifetime of love as well.

If you aren’t a registered donor …… you can register HERE.

https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/02/national-donor-day.jpg?w=150 150w, https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/02/national-donor-day.jpg?w=300 300w" alt="" data-attachment-id="20869" data-permalink="https://my2ndheartbeat.wordpress.com/2019/02/14/valentines-national-donor-day/national-donor-day-3/" data-orig-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/02/national-donor-day.jpg?w=640" data-orig-size="630,290" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="National Donor Day" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/02/national-donor-day.jpg?w=640?w=300" data-large-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/02/national-donor-day.jpg?w=640?w=630" />

“Love is fire. But whether it’s gonna warm your heart or burn your house down you can never tell.”

~ Jason Jordan

https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/love-is-fire.jpg?w=150&h=84 150w, https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/love-is-fire.jpg?w=300&h=169 300w" alt="" width="640" height="360" data-attachment-id="20758" data-permalink="https://my2ndheartbeat.wordpress.com/2019/02/13/love-is-fire/love-is-fire/" data-orig-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/love-is-fire.jpg?w=640&h=360" data-orig-size="640,360" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="love is fire" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/love-is-fire.jpg?w=640&h=360?w=300" data-large-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/love-is-fire.jpg?w=640&h=360?w=640" />

“What you love is a sign from your higher self of what you are to do.”

https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/love-is-a-sign.jpg?w=150&h=113 150w, https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/love-is-a-sign.jpg?w=300&h=225 300w" alt="" width="640" height="480" data-attachment-id="20761" data-permalink="https://my2ndheartbeat.wordpress.com/2019/02/12/love-is-a-sign/love-is-a-sign/" data-orig-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/love-is-a-sign.jpg?w=640&h=480" data-orig-size="640,480" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="love is a sign" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/love-is-a-sign.jpg?w=640&h=480?w=300" data-large-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/love-is-a-sign.jpg?w=640&h=480?w=640" />

“Have a heart that never hardens, a temper that never tires, a touch that never hurts.”

~ Charles Dickens

https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/heart-temper-touch.jpg?w=150&h=125 150w, https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/heart-temper-touch.jpg?w=300&h=249 300w" alt="heart-temper-touch" width="640" height="532" data-attachment-id="20755" data-permalink="https://my2ndheartbeat.wordpress.com/2019/02/11/heart-temper-touch/heart-temper-touch-2/" data-orig-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/heart-temper-touch.jpg?w=640&h=532" data-orig-size="640,532" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="heart-temper-touch" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/heart-temper-touch.jpg?w=640&h=532?w=300" data-large-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/heart-temper-touch.jpg?w=640&h=532?w=640" />

“Fake happiness is the worst sadness.”

https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/fake-happiness.jpeg?w=150 150w, https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/fake-happiness.jpeg?w=300 300w" alt="" data-attachment-id="20747" data-permalink="https://my2ndheartbeat.wordpress.com/2019/02/10/fake-happiness/fake-happiness/" data-orig-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/fake-happiness.jpeg?w=640" data-orig-size="600,501" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="fake happiness" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/fake-happiness.jpeg?w=640?w=300" data-large-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/fake-happiness.jpeg?w=640?w=600" />

“Through the nights filled with tears and the days filled with fears, God is ALWAYS there for me.”

https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/nights-filled-with-tears-1.jpg?w=150 150w, https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/nights-filled-with-tears-1.jpg?w=300 300w" alt="" data-attachment-id="20901" data-permalink="https://my2ndheartbeat.wordpress.com/2019/02/09/nights-filled-with-tears/nights-filled-with-tears-2/" data-orig-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/nights-filled-with-tears-1.jpg?w=640" data-orig-size="600,300" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"Shutterstock \/ Chepko Danil Vitalevich","camera":"","caption":"beauty girl cry; Shutterstock ID 98479565; PO: aol; Job: production; Client: drone","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"98479565","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Nights Filled With Tears" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/nights-filled-with-tears-1.jpg?w=640?w=300" data-large-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/nights-filled-with-tears-1.jpg?w=640?w=600" />

“Consult not your fears, but your hopes and your dreams. Think not about your frustrations, but your unfulfilled potential. Concern yourself not with what you tried and failed in, but with what it is still possible for you to do.”

~ Pope John Paul XXIII

https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/consult-not.jpeg?w=150 150w, https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/consult-not.jpeg?w=300 300w" alt="" data-attachment-id="20741" data-permalink="https://my2ndheartbeat.wordpress.com/2019/02/08/what-is-possible/consult-not/" data-orig-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/consult-not.jpeg?w=640" data-orig-size="600,320" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="consult not" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/consult-not.jpeg?w=640?w=300" data-large-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/consult-not.jpeg?w=640?w=600" />

“No matter how fast light travels it finds that darkness has always got there first, and is waiting for it.”

~ Terry Pratchett

https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/darkness.jpg?w=150&h=75 150w, https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/darkness.jpg?w=300&h=150 300w" alt="" width="640" height="320" data-attachment-id="20738" data-permalink="https://my2ndheartbeat.wordpress.com/2019/02/07/darkness-3/darkness-3/" data-orig-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/darkness.jpg?w=640&h=320" data-orig-size="640,320" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="darkness" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/darkness.jpg?w=640&h=320?w=300" data-large-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/darkness.jpg?w=640&h=320?w=640" />

“You don’t realize what you have, until it’s gone.”

https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/until-its-gone.jpg?w=150&h=85 150w, https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/until-its-gone.jpg?w=300&h=170 300w, https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/until-its-gone.jpg 644w" alt="" width="640" height="362" data-attachment-id="20735" data-permalink="https://my2ndheartbeat.wordpress.com/2019/02/06/until-its-gone/until-its-gone/" data-orig-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/until-its-gone.jpg" data-orig-size="644,364" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="until its gone" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/until-its-gone.jpg?w=300" data-large-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/until-its-gone.jpg?w=640&h=362" />

“If youth knew; if age could.”

~ Sigmund Freud

https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/youth-aged.jpg?w=150&h=136 150w, https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/youth-aged.jpg?w=300&h=271 300w" alt="" width="640" height="579" data-attachment-id="20732" data-permalink="https://my2ndheartbeat.wordpress.com/2019/02/05/aged-youth/youth-aged/" data-orig-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/youth-aged.jpg?w=640&h=579" data-orig-size="640,579" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="youth-aged" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/youth-aged.jpg?w=640&h=579?w=300" data-large-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/youth-aged.jpg?w=640&h=579?w=640" />

“People either make things happen, watch things happen, or wonder what happened.”

https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/02/things-happen.jpg?w=150&h=136 150w, https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/02/things-happen.jpg?w=300&h=273 300w" alt="" width="640" height="582" data-attachment-id="20881" data-permalink="https://my2ndheartbeat.wordpress.com/2019/02/04/things-happen/things-happen-2/" data-orig-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/02/things-happen.jpg?w=640&h=582" data-orig-size="640,582" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Things Happen" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/02/things-happen.jpg?w=640&h=582?w=300" data-large-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/02/things-happen.jpg?w=640&h=582?w=640" />

“The less you talk, the more you’re listened to.”

~ Pauline Phillips

https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/Talkless.jpg?w=150&h=80 150w, https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/Talkless.jpg?w=300&h=159 300w" alt="" width="640" height="340" data-attachment-id="20724" data-permalink="https://my2ndheartbeat.wordpress.com/2019/02/03/talk-less/talkless/" data-orig-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/Talkless.jpg?w=640&h=340" data-orig-size="640,340" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"1399392056","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Talkless" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/Talkless.jpg?w=640&h=340?w=300" data-large-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/Talkless.jpg?w=640&h=340?w=640" />

“Your best friends are the ones who stand beside you even when your shadow is hiding.”

(Happy Groundhog Day)

https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/groundhog-day-1.jpg?w=150&h=100 150w, https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/groundhog-day-1.jpg?w=300&h=200 300w" alt="" width="640" height="427" data-attachment-id="20837" data-permalink="https://my2ndheartbeat.wordpress.com/2019/02/02/happy-groundhog-day/shadows-of-people-on-a-bridge-projected-on-snow/" data-orig-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/groundhog-day-1.jpg?w=640&h=427" data-orig-size="640,427" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"The shadows of a group of young people standing on a bridge and taking pictures, projected on the thin layer of snow covering the frozen Herastrau lake.","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"Shadows of people on a bridge projected on snow","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="Best Friends and Ground Hog Day" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/groundhog-day-1.jpg?w=640&h=427?w=300" data-large-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/groundhog-day-1.jpg?w=640&h=427?w=640" />

Why am I wearing RED today? Because heart disease is the #1 cause of death for women. Ladies, know your risks and family history, see your doctor on a regular basis ….. protect yourself! Please!

https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/national-wear-red-day.jpg?w=150&h=94 150w, https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/national-wear-red-day.jpg?w=300&h=188 300w" alt="" width="640" height="400" data-attachment-id="20846" data-permalink="https://my2ndheartbeat.wordpress.com/2019/02/01/wear-red-today/national-wear-red-day/" data-orig-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/national-wear-red-day.jpg?w=640&h=400" data-orig-size="640,400" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="national wear red day" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/national-wear-red-day.jpg?w=640&h=400?w=300" data-large-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/national-wear-red-day.jpg?w=640&h=400?w=640" />

Tomorrow, Friday Feb 1st is …… National Wear Red Day is intended to help raise awareness of heart disease, in particular among women. Heart disease is often generally associated with men, but cardiovascular disease is the number one killer of women.

https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/wear-red-tomorrow-1.png?w=140 140w, https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/wear-red-tomorrow-1.png?w=280 280w" alt="" data-attachment-id="20842" data-permalink="https://my2ndheartbeat.wordpress.com/2019/01/31/wear-red-for-women/wear-red-tomorrow-2/" data-orig-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/wear-red-tomorrow-1.png?w=640" data-orig-size="467,500" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="wear red tomorrow" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/wear-red-tomorrow-1.png?w=640?w=280" data-large-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/wear-red-tomorrow-1.png?w=640?w=467" />