One Year Later

Well, today is the day.

One year - how INSANE IS THAT?

Today I spent a lot of time going over this day one year ago. I've been reading over my posts from this moment and through my initial hospitalization and subsequent discharge. The transformation in the life that took place at that time and is chronicled through those posts is INSANITY. The 180 degree shift was over and done so quick that if I hadn't committed to this blog, I think I'd hardly remember anything at all from it a year later!

So many beautiful notes and texts, calls and messages have been sent my way today. I realized quickly that Im not the only one celebrating this day - which honestly floors me. My support system through this has been like none other, and nothing like I ever anticipated.

Let's be honest - I've never been the easiest person to get along with, much less LIKE, so the fact that so many people care is just nuts to me.

But man am I grateful. More than you'll ever know - more than I'll ever be able to express.

I'm a little emotionally drained for today. Turns out this much love is exhausting :)

This wont be a long post for those reasons, but I do want to say this::

God is amazing. He truly is. If you don't believe so, take sometime and re-read this blog from start to finish. If you don't truly come away in complete awe of my Jesus than, well Im not sure what to say. Sorry, but its true. This blog started as a way to keep friends and family in the loop. Something I honestly did out of laziness - I didn't want to have to repeat myself to everyone. How pathetic is that? But it has become so much more than a blog about ME and what I have gone through. Cause lets be clear - none of this was EVER ABOUT ME. It was always - always - about Him. About showing the world that He is faithful to those who put their faith in Him. That He will show up BIG and BEAUTIFUL in the most epic and perfect way, EVERY TIME. You don't have to be perfect - cause man, He KNOWS how incredibly UNPERFECT I am - always have been. I have always been a far cry from someone you would refer to as a "good example". But that right there proves my point. He doesn't pick and choose based on deeds, or money, or who YOU THINK you are. He is faithful because of LOVE. An unconditional, die-for-you, all about you kinda LOVE. And if HE IS FOR US WHO CAN BE AGAINST US? Nobody and nothing. Not pain or disease - He will deliver you from that in the most precious and intense way possible. Cause He is who He is. The great I AM.

BOOM BABY. I freakin love this mess.

Its a hard thing to get your mind wrapped around. One person dies, one lives because he died. Joy and pain. You can't have one without the other it seems. But in the great, big, beautiful, eternal story - it all comes out Joy. For me and for my donor. For my family and his. He may not know it - his family may not know it yet - but this story, these choices, these lives...they have both been gearing up for is moment. To be able to use us both, that our lives are intertwined forever and both point directly to Him.

Aren't the parallels here crazy? There are tons of parallels in the Bible that point to someone's sacrifice for someone else out of love. Never in such an eternal way as Jesus' sacrifice for us but you can see it can't you? This man died - not FOR ME necessarily. I mean we don't know each other. He would have never been able to guess who was saved because of him. But because he chose organ donation, one selfless choice - he saved my life. My life here in Earth has been given a second chance because of the person he was and what he knew to be the right thing. Because he wanted to be a change for someone. He was certainly a change for me. He saved my human life. And because he did, I can tell you know that he also saved my eternal life. Cause there is no better way to figure out where your heart really lies than to give your self and your life over to Jesus and let him take over the arrangements. He used this man and his kind heart to change mine. And to both - ill never be more grateful.

A story like ours can only be possible because of a God like Him. It's too perfect, even through the pain and the heartache, to be conceived by anyone but Jesus. Man isn't that smart or creative to construct such an overwhelming story. We just aren't. We are frivolous, silly humans barely capable of doing more than eating, sleeping, and wanting more than we deserve. None of us have the capacity to create in LOVE like this. And my donor and I are no one special. There have been thousands - MILLIONS - of stories like ours through history. Jesus does WORK. With even the least of us. Believe me.

Well, that's prolly gonna hafta be it for now. One year down - here's to many more to come. Thank you Jesus. Take care of my friend up there.

BIG LOVE XOXO

E

5k Speed, almost

Wow. Been a crazy eight months. Yep you heard that right -- 8 months.
8 months since a young man in Miami passed away, and by his selfless gift he saved my life. It still is almost unbelievable some times. The idea that my lungs are not my lungs. That part of me is not ME. And that my body works better without ME in it. Weird. Does that make sense?

I dunno. Don't guess it really needs to.

More news on my bionic body :: she dragged her ever-growing ass across the finish line of her very first 5k post transplant this past weekend - The Gr8 to Don8 Organ Donation 8k/5k. Well, it was really the first in about 11 years, so lets just say it wasn't the most exciting run, nor the prettiest, but it was 3.1 miles and I ran (almost) all of it. I crossed the finish line with a mildly embarrassing 48min (pretty sure it was somewhere between 45-48, I didn't look until i had already crossed and remembered they had a big clock posted for time) 5k speed. A far cry from the 20min 5ks from high school, but what can you do.


Organ Recipient 5k run number - 64! (Square root? = 8!)


Official run tshirt!


Runnin the track during the last .1 of the race

I realized half way through the run why I felt so sluggish opposed to the memories of how it used to feel when I ran. Aside from the obvious lack of muscle tone (its a work in progress people), I am enormous. Yup, officially hit the 152lb mark. Through the run I was VIVIDLY aware of the constant jiggle coming from a mysterious place behind me, one that I have never been aware of before. It was my ass. Its finally happened. I have an ass. Don't get too excited, we aren't talkin about a JLo booty...just one that fills in the seat of my jeans. No more frog/old man butt for me! But it has been quite an adjustment. There is just so MUCH of me. I mean, Im not FAT - but it definitely feels that way! I am OVER 30lbs heavier than I was the day of my transplant, and I have NEVER been this heavy in all my life. Learning how to maneuver this weighty body has been a strange, but welcome sensation. Except when I learned that it was partly to blame for the slow go through the neighborhood during the race...

At any rate. I ran. And it was pretty stellar. My donor lungs and my body worked pretty well together. I wasn't breathless at all, so that was pretty fantastic...and thinkin about my donor during that run made me more thankful than ever that he decided to donate his organs and that I was the lucky one to receive them. These bad boys are the real deal!

April is organ donation awareness month. By choosing to donate your organs when you pass you can potentially save the lives of eight people, not to mention the healing of many more through tissue and tendon donation. Be someone's hero and sign up to donate your organs! Learn more at www.donatelife.net or by reading the organ donation/transplantation section of this blog. Even if you don't think your organs would be accepted for one reason or the other - sign up anyway! You never know what can be used. Id love to hear from those who are donors - new donors and previous donors!



8 months, 8 lives that can saved through one organ donor, race number 64 (8x8), today is April 8.... I like 8s. 8 is a good number.... :)

Thanks again for all the continuous support! Remember to recycle your parts! :)

Much love...
Erin

Holidays, Lexington BBQ, and Bike Rides

Whew. I am exhausted. The last week as been possibly the most amazing in recent memory. I'll back track a little and fill you all in incase you somehow missed my daily FB updates.

The Christmas "weekend" I guess you could say started off with a veerrrryyy long drive -alone- all the way from Orlando to Albemarle, NC starting on Thursday and finally arriving on Friday. I cannot begin to tell you how awesome it was to get back to NC - despite the cold weather, which I generally LOATHE. This year though, thanks to a little extra padding (up another 2 lbs this week to an whopping 144 lbs) and lungs that aren't in complete AGONY, I actually *almost* enjoyed the cold. It was so nice to be able to be in the cold and still be able to enjoy myself. Thankfully it wasn't a "wet" cold or I doubt I would be feelin the same love.

That weekend started with a Christmas party with the best group of women I know. We have been talkin about this party for well over two months now and we had hyped that crap up so high that most people wouldn't even be able to come close to fulfilling the expectations.

We aren't most people.

Our Christmas party was an evening of food, dirty Santa (sometimes a little toooo dirty lol) and wine and incredible You Tube videos. Oh and wine. And ridiculous stories. And did I mention wine? Yeah there was wine. For some, too much wine ;)

Late into the week our Christmas party somehow transformed into a "onesie" party or an adult footed pajama party is that helps you envisions this spectacle. Think 7 grown women sittin around in full sized onesies. It was a pretty amazing sight. My husband isn't the biggest fan of the onesie but honestly that's just too bad. That thing is amazing, and I love it. I tried to wear it to church that Sunday but he sorta put the kabash on that one.




Yup. That's happening




Gangster onesies




Things starting to digress...




Foxy ladies








"She Ratchet"

Have I mentioned how much I freakin LOVE these women!? Gah, I have missed them.

The next day was FamJam time. Each year my entire family (Phillips side) gets together for Christmas at Uwharrie Point/Old North State Country Club for our Christmas get together. This year my parents, sisters, and their husbands/babies got out there earlier than usual to get family pictures made. It was the first time we had ALL been together since our latest member - Miss Shelby - had arrived and it was the first time we were all together since my transplant. We haven't seen the pics yet, but big thanks to Joseph Sides and Andrea Harris from Connection Photography for comin all the way out and dealing with our CRA-ZY family. It was such a special thing for us to be able to do and I know there are some awesome pics in there! We can't wait to see them!

Once the rest of the family arrived it was the usual - football, tons of food, catching up and presents. It was so good to see everyone and watch my babies play together. The only ones missing were my cousin Braxton and his wife Katherine. She *was* pregnant and was unable to be that far away from her Dr. Turns out it was the right thing! Mr. Holden Sherwood Wall was born just a few days later -- Christmas Day!! So we welcomed another "Santa Baby" into the fam. He is so precious and I HATE SO MUCH the he decided to make his debut literally like 2 hours after Chris and I headed home!!




Mylee & Mabree




Nap time!




Momma and Shelby




Playin Santa's sleigh...yeah I was Rudolph.




Outside - bravin the cold weather.




Me and Monkee




Dr Mylee




Sweet girls...




Holden Sherwood Wall born Dec 25, 2012 -- so handsome!

The rest of the weekend was spent with friends and more family. Christmas Eve we traveled the hour to Lexington for my **favorite** LEXINGTON BBQ! People, this is serious. I know everyone has their idea of what constitutes BBQ - even more so GOOD BBQ. But let me just tell you. This is the real deal folks. Lexington BBQ is famous and rightly so. It's the best - vinegar based, super moist and I mean man - Just freakin amazing. And don't forget about the hush puppies. Ohhhh the hush puppies. So, so good. You know how hush puppies got their name? Apparently some lady had a yappy dog and she made a batch of these little babies. She would say "hush puppy!" and to reward him she would give him one. Or atleast I heard that somewhere. Not sure it's true but let's pretend it is.




Oh yes.




Pig skin love people...it's. beautiful thing.




Family friends (the "kids") -all grown up- at the Spencer's house Sunday evening.

Christmas morning rolled around and it was so awesome to be able to see BOTH our families on Christmas Day. Something that we haven't done in about 5 years. We opened presents and had breakfast at my parents house, then headed to Charleston, SC to spend the rest of the day with Chris' family. I wish we had had another couple days off to spend more time in Charleston, but atleast ALL of Chris' family was able to meet in Charleston. It's been years since that's happened too! My two oldest nieces, Elizabeth and Abigail, have gotten WAY to big. I mean its seriously stressing me. Elizabeth (EJ) is in HIGH SCHOOL and is as big as me. I remember when she was barely a year old (when Chris and I first started dating). I can't believe how old she is. It's makin Chris and I feel really old. And sweet Abigail is such a cutie and is SEVEN. It's killin me. I was there the day she was born. *sigh*



Cannot remember what was so funny, but does it matter? This picture is hilarious!




Sister in law Ashley and her new FIANCÉ Josh! :)




Our first baby Abby, the boarder collie/pit bull mix. She is not a puppy anymore lol!

Getting back home to Orlando was sad at first, but I am glad to be home. Visited with my sister and her in laws yesterday which is always entertaining (lol) and was able to spend a little time with my girl Mabree which is always a good time :)




Live music at Ella's in Tampa...




To more live music (and some dancing haha) at O'Briens...




To interesting gift card purchases at Pier 1 the next morning haha

Cut to today. Sunday Funday at its finest. Chris and I spent the morning at the Lake Eola farmers market in downtown Orlando, then headed over to Wall Street Cantina to watch our beloved Panthers beat the Saints (albeit still making us slightly bonkers with their inconsistency). After that we stopped by Orange Trail in Oakland a few minutes from our house. We rented bikes and took an hour long bike ride - my first true bike ride in FIFTEEN years (maybe longer honestly). It was awesome. My legs are killin me, but my lungs? AHH-MAZING. I mean it was crazy! One full hour of biking, up hills and a little off roading (not my idea to say the least) and I was barely breathing hard! I think I'm gonna hafta buy a bike. I'm sorta hooked I think. :)




Relieving stress with an odd photo shoot while watchin the Carolina Panthers.




And again...




Bike:30




I think he thinks its cold out...

Well. There ya go. All caught up. I can't believe 2012 is all but over. I'm tellin you, this has been a crazy year. An incredible year, but awesome. This has been the BEST holiday I have had in so long I can't even remember one ever being this good. Friends, family, new babies, havin the ENERGY to enjoy it all, NO IVS, and NO HOSPITAL. I can't barely believe this is my life now. Absolutely a miracle. I am so thankful I have been able to celebrate this new life - this amazing miracle of rebirth and faith and grace - at the same time we are celebrating the GREATEST MIRACLE - the birth of the One who gives us this grace, who provides for us in our faith in Him. Jesus is the reason for the season and lemme tell you, this has NEVER been clearer, or more significant, to me as it has been this year. He has absolutely delivered me and my family from the Hell we were in and I could not be more grateful. God is so good people.

With this amazing sense of thankfulness comes an immense sense of sadness - I guess that's the right word. It's hard to completely reconcile the feelings that come along with transplant sometimes. Most of the time I'm so happy, so overwhelmed and literally shocked by what I am physically capable of, that I don't dwell on EXACTLY what had to transpire to get me to where I am today. But atleast once a day, even if its just for a brief moment, I remember. Sometimes I am just grateful, sometimes I have a twinge of guilt. Sometimes - like at the holidays - I'm overwhelmed with a sadness and guilt I can barely explain. Its not constant thankfully, usually something I think of late at night when Im layin in bed or by myself in my car. When things are quiet and calm and I dont have the benefit of any great distractions. I don't know why God spared my life at, what sometimes feels like, the expense of another. How is it fair that I have spent the last five months feeling so amazing and getting to experience such an amazing new life, while someone else had to die for that to happen? I realize that (hopefully) the young man who died to give me life is celebrating in a way COMPLETELY UNFATHOMABLE to me in Heaven this year. I don't know where his heart was on that front, but I pray that someone who could give this gift to someone would have Jesus in his heart. I don't worry about that for the most part. Nothing can be done now if that wasn't the case. But I do worry for his family. Who had to spend this first Christmas without someone they loved. Who was acutely aware of his absence on Christmas morning when his empty stocking hung by the others filled with all kinds of things and who's seat remained empty at Christmas dinner. I pray that while there was sadness and loss this year, that there was also a sense of peace that could only be given to them by Jesus and the promise we celebrate this season - the coming of our Savior.

I hafta write a letter to the family of my donor soon. I've honestly been putting it off because, well I haven't had the words. What do you say to a donor family to explain the significance of what their loved one has done for you? How are there ever the right words to give them the peace, closure and assurance that what was done with their loved one's body was the right choice? Organ donation isn't for everyone. I know that. I can only hope the family was ok with his decision. And if they weren't, that whatever words I can find to express what his decision has meant to me will help them find a peace with it. I'd hate to think that there were people out there who regretted that decision, who felt some sort of animosity towards organ donation - or to me as the recipient - because of what happened. I have put it off for as long as I can. I wanted to do it sooner, but like I said - no words. Now I regret I didn't do it earlier. I can't help feeling like my letter may have been a source of peace for them at the holidays. Then again, maybe not. Maybe it would have been too much. I just hope that my procrastination on the letter was the right move. And that when I do write it that my words are Heaven sent and are what they need to hear, whatever it is. So throw up a couple prayers for me on that one if you don't mind. I hope to get it written and sent in the next few weeks.

Again, and as always, thanks for indulging me tonight. I know this was a long one, so thanks for hanging in there! I hope you all have had an amazing holiday season so far. The New Year is literally hours away. I can't wait to see what 2013 has in store! Love to you all -- thanks for being a part if Chris and I's life. You all have had such a huge impact in our life and each one of you has helped us in so many ways. We pray for you all everyday and thank God for everything and everyone he has put in our path. You have all made such a difference to us.

xoxoxo and Much love...
Erin

Another set of lungs...

#recycleyourparts #donatelife #cfawareness #breatheeasy

Today's post isn't really bout me. But it is about a lung transplant.

Most of you know I work with a non-profit here in Orlando called the Breathe Easy Foundation. This organization provides financial assistance to improve the quality of life for patients with cystic fibrosis and to help lift some of the financial burden they face. Anyone familiar with living with a chronic, terminal disease is well aware of the obstacles they face daily - the inability to work full time because of poor health, the possibility of no insurance because of pre-existing conditions, difficulty paying regular bills due to lack of income, difficulty affording many "special" needs many require because of their financial and physical limitation. So much goes into PAYING to live. It can get overwhelming QUICKLY. I have been very lucky all my life that my parents were able to provide a quality of life that many with cystic fibrosis don't have, and even luckier that Chris and I have been able to bring in enough money to keep us in that same lifestyle. Until recently, with this whole transplant thing, I never had to worry about how I am going to afford treatment or meds, much less how the power bill was gonna be paid or food put on the table. So many of you stepped up and helped us through this time. As I have said before -- and will continue to -- we are eternally grateful we have so many amazingly generous people in our lives. You guys have made all the difference.

A few years back, when Chris and I moved to FL, I was introduced to the founder of the Breathe Easy Foundation, Kevin Przybyl. Kevin also has cystic fibrosis. He was the first person I had met with CF that I had any sort of true contact/friendship with. Many with CF develop friends with other CF patients and they become each other's support system. I never had that. Not that I was missing it tho. I never liked to dwell on my disease. I knew I had it, didn't hide it, but just wanted to live as normal a life as possible. Meeting and speaking about CF constantly with other CF patients just didn't align with that "live like your normal" lifestyle I was committed to. But I digress.
Because of my limited exposure to others with my disease, my exposure to the problems and struggles they face was also limited. Between my own family situation and my lack of acquaintances with CF, I was pretty if ignorant of most issues these patients were fighting.

It wasn't until I moved to FL and began working at the Cystic Fibrosis Pharmacy of Orlando and with the Breathe Easy Foundation that I began to get my first glimpse into the struggles so many face. Things most of us take for granted - being able to put enough gas in the car to get to our specialists office for a check-up. Having enough money to afford the life saving medications and treatments that are absolutely essential to maintaining even a SEMBLANCE of a healthy life. Being able to buy enough food to maintain a 4000-5000 calorie a day diet because of our inability to absorb enough nutrients to maintain a healthy weight. And the list goes on as one's health begins to decline.

Workin with these two organizations have been very eye opening experiences. I've met some amazing people who go above and beyond to make a difference for their patients. Lois Adams and Bev Donelson at the CF Pharmacy have been serving the needs of CF patients around the world, literally since I was born. (More about that in a different post!) The BEF has only been in existence for a few years, but already it's making a difference in the lives of patients around the country. From assisting individuals by providing gas cards so they can get to clinic, gift cards to grocery stores so they can stock up on high calorie items, providing financial assistance to lung transplant patients for their transplant expenses, to remodeling patient rooms at Winter Park Memorial Hospital here in Florida for the expressed use of its CF patients. As most of you know, CF patients often go into the hospital for a week to two weeks (or longer) for what's commonly referred to as a "tune up," which consists of lots of tests, blood draws, IV antibiotics, chest physio therapy - and who knows what else! The BEF provided funds through its Community Based Projects initiative to purchase new, large and comfy recliners for the patient's or their caregiver's use in two rooms. We also purchased large flat screen TVs, installed new laminate hardwood floors and new paint. Making these rooms clean, bright and with some upgrades have made them into the "healing spaces" patients admitted for long term care need.


Plaque on the wall inside on of the remodeled rooms indicating the donation to WPMH.




New TV, paint,etc...we did the floor and the recliner we provided is not the one shown in this picture.


I have been seriously lucky to meet many people in the Central Florida healthcare/medical industry, as well as some amazing and dedicated people in this community. One of our board members is a CF Mom, Cassie Snyder. Her son, Brent, has CF and is in his mid twenties (he's just a few years younger than me). It was determined earlier this year that Brent needed a lung transplant, not unlike myself. He actually was going through the transplant evaluation up at Mayo in Jax when I was there for my actual transplant! Brent went on to be listed locally here in Orlando at Florida Hospital's new lung transplant program.

Wednesday night around 10pm, Brent finally received his call for lungs! The initial call was just "we might have lungs" that had changed to "yup! We've got lungs" by 1am. So off to FH to start the "possible" transplant. Remember, it could all get called off at the very last minute (called a dry-run) because the lungs are not viable. Luckily for Brent, his lungs were a GO! By yesterday (Thursday) at 2pm, his surgery was complete and they began closing him up. The doctor informed Cassie that everything went great, and that the lungs were working "Beautifully!" How awesome! I was beside myself all day waiting for this news!! I have no idea how my family and friends got thru my surgery. I was consumed by it all day! Bless you people...I can tell you, I didn't get thru it alone. Thanks to the good folks at Pfizer and their little anxiety pill, I was able to not lose it completely until Cassie called me with the news. By 8pm Thursday night Brent was completely off the vent!! THAT is some craziness.




Brent and his mom Cassie before getting wheeled back to the OR for transplant!

Brent was the first CF patient to undergo a double lung transplant at Florida Hospital's new lung transplant program. The news media was there and recorded the event - even getting some video footage the moment the lungs arrived from Georgia. I can't wait to see this! I'm not sure when/how/where it will be shown, but I'll try to figure it out and if I can share it somehow I will.

Man. It seems like lung transplant is everywhere lately. It continues to floor me, this incredible miracle God keeps allowing me to be apart of. It has changed my life in so many was. And now with Brent joinin the ranks of us CF patients who are suddenly breathing with O2 stats at 100, up from low 90s at best - this just keeps changing my life in ways I never expected. It's just freakin incredible.

I know I've mentioned before how important organ donation is - but truly I can't say it enough. The miracle you all witnessed with me and now have been able to see with Brent, none of it would have been possible if it weren't for the incredible generosity of our donors and their families. The people who chose to donate their organs when they passed are truly the Heroes of these stories. The most incredible thing you can do for another human-being is to save a life. It is truly to be Christ-like, as He is the ultimate lifesaver. It is a debt those of us on the receiving end will never be able to repay. But that won't keep us from living everyday for the miracle and blessing that it is, and to carry these selfless people with us in our hearts and in every deep breathe we take.

If you haven't considered becoming an organ donor, or if you have, but are still unclear in your choice, I encourage you to learn more about making this life saving and life changing decision. Click on the section here in my blog about organ donation and transplantation to learn more and to find links to become a registered donor. *Remember! Just expressing your wishes to your family members may not guarantee your donation. It is much easier on your family at such a difficult time if the decision is already made and its not something they have to decide on. Make sure you register by checking out the links I provide in this blog to make sure your wishes are fulfilled. As a lung transplant recipient - I appreciate your willingness to consider being a life saver!!

Congratulations Brent and Cassie! It's been a long time coming and I couldn't be more excited for you. I am so glad Brent will be enjoying this second chance. Please keep this awesome guy and his family in your prayers through his recovery for healing, no infection and no rejection!

Much love...


Erin


**To learn more about the Breathe Easy Foundation or the Cystic Fibrosis Pharmacy of Orlando visit them online at:
www.breathe-easy.org
www.cfpharmacy.com

You can also like them on Facebook (Kevin A Przybyl Breathe Easy Foundation & Cystic Fibrosis Pharmacy) or on Twitter (@BreatheEasyUSA & @cfpharmacy)

Profound explanation of organ donation...

While I have much more to share about whats been happen here at Mayo/Jax the last week or so, I wanted to post this for now while I finish up an update. This was posted on FB by a friend/fellow CF patient & double lung transplant recipient. She is a huge advocate for organ donation and travels around the world discussing the importance of donation/transplantation with different cultures (specifically ones with cultural/religious apprehensions towards organ donation). The following quotes are amazing explanations of why organ donation is such an incredible thing and should be viewed as such, not something that devalues human life or has any religious ramifications. Please check out the organ donation and transplantation page to learn more about how u can help save a life! :)

ENJOY!


The following posts are geared toward the Japanese culture's fear regarding reincarnation and the afterlife...

"If you are worried that you will miss out on a resurrection or limp around in heaven if you don't have all of your parts, let's consider for a moment the power of God to create you from two individual cells that combined to from one complete set of DNA, which then duplicated and differentiated itself into a living, breathing, thinking, feeling, human being. If God can create you once from two microscopic cells, then God can certainly account for the lack of a liver, kidney, heart, lungs, corneas and some skin and bones. In addition, Jewish tradition considers saving a life to be the epitome of religious obligations. When you agree to be a donor, you can save the lives of up to eight people, and help numerous others with cornea transplants and bone and skin grafts." -- Rabbi David Krishef

"Have you had your tonsils out? Maybe an appendix? We have shed hair and nails and skin all our lives. In death the unraveling of the flesh is expected. One could say that to die is to come apart. Your discomfort with donating organs is at least partly the discomfort of losing your body and life in general. That is natural. Likewise, when we honor the bodies of the dead we show our reluctance to let go, our respect for the mystery of life, our respect for ourselves. Giving organs to those in need of them does not violate the rule of nature, which claims all flesh in time. It does not violate the life of the deceased, as the body is now lifeless. It does not violate the respect we have for life in general, as it helps preserve and enhance the lives of those around us. To be able to give life is a virtue all faiths extol. Life was a gift in the first place; to be able to hand it on is to make us partners with the Giver of Life. Win-win." -- Rev. Fred Wooden, senior minister of Fountain Street Church in Grand Rapids


Thank you goes out to Isabel Stenzel Barnes for these incredible posts and for all her and her sister Anabel Stenzel's hard work in promoting organ donation and bringing awareness to CF. To learn more about these incredible sisters, check out their website www.thepoweroftwomovie.com





Much love...xoxo



Erin