TransplantFriends.com

“Everything that is beautiful and noble is the product of reason and calculation.”

~ Charles Baudelaire

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Transplant Nurses Day - 2018

“To wear your heart on your sleeve isn’t a very good plan; you should wear it inside, where it functions best.”

~ Margaret Thatcher

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“Courageously choose the harder, loving way. Even if no one notices or appreciates it, God is applauding.”

~ Pat McDaniel

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“You connect your soul to the soul of others through story.”

~ Sarah Victory

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“In fair weather prepare for foul.”

~ Thomas Fuller

https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2018/03/fair-weather.jpeg?w=150&h=112 150w, https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2018/03/fair-weather.jpeg?w=300&h=224 300w" alt="Fair Weather" width="640" height="478" data-attachment-id="19563" data-permalink="https://my2ndheartbeat.wordpress.com/2018/04/15/fair-weather/fair-weather/" data-orig-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2018/03/fair-weather.jpeg?w=640&h=478" data-orig-size="640,478" 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="Fair Weather" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2018/03/fair-weather.jpeg?w=640&h=478?w=300" data-large-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2018/03/fair-weather.jpeg?w=640&h=478?w=640" />

Hi, so I had 2 days infusion of IVIG and today I feel so sick! I have a runny nose, feels like I can't breath, some cough, and my eyes are watery. I also had a sore throat. This happened right after receiving the IVIG. What can a transplant patient take for common colds or allergies? I feel so down today.　

“Silence is the mother of truth.”

~ Benjamin Disraeli

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“The best way to keep your friends is not to give them away.”

~ Wilson Mizner

https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2018/03/keeping-friends.jpg?w=129 129w, https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2018/03/keeping-friends.jpg?w=257 257w" alt="Keeping Friends" data-attachment-id="19557" data-permalink="https://my2ndheartbeat.wordpress.com/2018/04/13/keeping-friends/keeping-friends/" data-orig-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2018/03/keeping-friends.jpg?w=640" data-orig-size="549,640" 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="Keeping Friends" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2018/03/keeping-friends.jpg?w=640?w=257" data-large-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2018/03/keeping-friends.jpg?w=640?w=549" />

The event is Ignite DFW, and the the tagline is "Enlighten us (but make it quick)."

I accepted the challenge: share your story in five minutes, synchronized with 20 slides on a 15-second auto-advance.

This is the story of my transplant kid.

Three Life or Death Lessons

“In prayer it is better to have a heart without words, than words without a heart.”

~ John Bunyan

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Of Front Bumpers and Rear-View Mirrors

by David L. Owen

I became the proud holder of a California State Drivers permit when I turned 16 years old. My dad had been out of touch for 5 years so my uncle took it upon himself to teach me how to drive. My uncle was an even-tempered man but I’m sure he came close to losing his mind a time or two as the “Passenger” in his own, new, Mercury Marquis. After an hour of thrashing with sudden neck-snapping stops, forward thrusts rivaling escape velocity, and near misses of open car doors, my uncle said, “Park the car, Chief.” Once parked and the engine off, He calmly spoke, “The only way you and I are going to survive this is if you stop doing two things. Stop looking at the front of the car; all the action is ahead of you beyond the front bumper. Raise your line of sight and look forward. The other thing is to stop spending so much time in the rear-view mirror and keep looking forward. You do that, you’ll get to where you’re going in one piece.”

“Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things that are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead. I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14 NKJV). In our walk of faith, we can’t afford to look down watching our feet. We wouldn’t see the road ahead nor could we tell when we’re drifting off the road. Also if you look behind too much toward your past, you can get derailed. The “upward call of God in Christ Jesus” is our destination. Stay alert! Satan will fling open some car doors in our way. Be confident! Use the G.P.S (God’s Positioning System). Quit covering the brake pedal with your foot. Look forward, scanning for those things ahead – rest stops and potholes. Move forward! Glance back at the past only to learn from it. Keep that spiritual automatic transmission in “drive”. You do that, you’ll get to where you’re going in one piece.

“Speak only the most positive statements regarding any situation. Speak ill of no one, lest the energy be mirrored back upon you.”

~ Rhonda Byrne

https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2018/03/positivity.jpg?w=150&h=54 150w, https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2018/03/positivity.jpg?w=300&h=107 300w" alt="Positivity" width="640" height="229" data-attachment-id="19547" data-permalink="https://my2ndheartbeat.wordpress.com/2018/04/11/positivity-2/positivity-2/" data-orig-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2018/03/positivity.jpg?w=640&h=229" data-orig-size="640,229" 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="Positivity" data-image-description="" data-medium-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2018/03/positivity.jpg?w=640&h=229?w=300" data-large-file="https://my2ndheartbeat.files.wordpress.com/2018/03/positivity.jpg?w=640&h=229?w=640" />

At the Olive Garden

by David Owen

But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength;

they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run

and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31 NKJV

There are many scriptures throughout the Bible that speak about waiting on the Lord. The above verse in Isaiah is strong. The word “wait” is defined as “1. To remain inactive in readiness or expectation; 2. To delay serving; 3. To act as an attendant or servant; 4. To attend as a waiter.” Which definition(s) apply to the verse above? Waiting on the Lord isn’t about folding our arms, tapping our foot, or casting our eyes toward heaven and sighing. If you apply definitions 1 and 2 to waiting on the Lord, all you’ll be doing is burning daylight. In Isaiah 40:31, those who wait on the Lord mount up, run, and walk.

My oldest son used to work in our local Olive Garden restaurant. He was one of their top waiters. Waiters serve the restaurant’s patrons. Jason put all of himself into his job. He attended to his customers with enthusiasm, friendliness, helpfulness, and patience. He was on his feet most of the shift, hustling from one table to the next. He took their orders and made suggestions so customers could make an informed meal-choice (AKA “sell-ups”). The end result was sore feet, personal satisfaction, and some huge tips on his tables.

When we wait on the Lord, let’s serve Him! Let’s be “Kingdom focused” waiters and waitresses. Serve Him with enthusiasm by being friendly and helpful to others. Be patient when it comes to unanswered prayers, sore feet, difficult tasks, or difficult people. Help them make informed spiritual choices. The end result? Our Heavenly Father’s satisfaction, our contentment, and the work will be rewarded with many crowns at His table in Heaven.

I Want to Love You to Life

By David L. Owen

I'd been lost for many years.

shed a lot of hard, hot tears.

My heart was barren. I didn't know how to love.

Saved by Jesus in 0-seven,

received inheritance to Heaven.

Testimony I want to share from up above.

At the chapel, while in prison,

long after making that decision.

The man of God stood up and said inspired words,

"Arise from your demise, sleeper! See Jesus through new eyes."

There was power in everything I heard.

He paused, he smiled, he said,

words that stuck inside my head.

I couldn't shake it and I sure didn't want to try.

As I listened to him preach,

And my heart began to reach.

I felt a joyful teardrop falling from my eye

when he said....

"I don't want to love you to death.

I want to love you to life!

Every time you take a breath,

when you go through trials and strife,

With the good times and the bad,

Christ's the best love you ever had.

Now that's good preachin'! I want to love you to life."

It's been a few years back today,

and I'm well on my way.

Down the path of Christ-like living, Praise the Lord!

I've changed a lot, it's true.

See, He's making all things new.

I'm so very glad because of God's own Word.

He's answered all my prayers.

Taken to Him all my cares.

His love for us is always next to none.

I've submitted and I've won.

I rest, assured in all He's done.

Another prayer was answered, I got a visit from my son.

I looked into his eyes,

and it came as no surprise.

He had missed me; his hug was mighty tight.

We laughed and talked for hours,

I spoke of God's grace and awesome powers.

A day that was amazingly just right.

It came time for him to go,

When he stood up kind of slow.

I could see, to him, all of this was very strange.

As we shared a last goodbye,

and he turned back and with a sigh

he said, "Dad, I love you to death. I know you've changed."

I said....

"I don't want to love you to death.

I want to love you to life!

Every time you take a breath,

When you go through trials and strife,

with the good times and the bad,

Christ's the best love you ever had.

Listen when I say, I want to love you to life."

With the trip home down the road,

his mind carried such a load,

but it lifted as the long miles drifted by.

"For our sins, we've been redeemed."

He understood my words, it seemed.

"It took a man named Jesus, on the cross to die.

When he walked into his place,

he saw his sweet wife's lovely face.

When she kissed him, she asked, "How did it go?"

He smiled and laughed a bit.

He said, "Hon, you better sit.

There's much I have to say that you should know."

As the two sat in their chairs,

both his sons charged down the stairs

yelling, "Daddy! Daddy!" they sounded out of breath.

Mom said, "Let's calm down, okay?

Dad's got things he wants to say.

First, give dad some hugs and love him to death."

My son said...

"I don't want to love you to death.

I want to love you to life!

Every time you take a breath.

When you go through trials and strife,

With the good times and the bad,

Christ's the best love we've ever had.

Darlings, I mean it. I want to love you to life."

Hi guys... 

I am 8 months post kidney/liver transplant and I will be receiving IVIG therapy for two days every month for six months. 

My doctor prescribed 40 mg prednisone to take 30 minutes before infusion. The treatment will take 5 hours. (April 6th and April 8th) Will this make me gain weight , raise glucose levels, and give me a moon face?? 

‘But I, being poor, have only my dreams; I have spread my dreams under your feet; Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.’

~  W.B. Yeats.

I was given a second chance at life by receiving a pancreas transplant. This was important because four family members died from being Inslulin resistent. While I have only one issue with the transplant, not drining enough water, overall everyting is improving. I did have some scar tissue and I have been bothered by this since the transplant until two weeks ago when it was all removed and the doctors gave me a clean start. I believe that as I recovered this time i will take it slow and dont rust back into full workout. I have more to say and look forward to joining in with the forum. Blake Johnson

“Think where man’s glory most begins and ends, and say my glory was I had such friends.”

~ William Butler Yeats

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