2013 A DIFFERENT KIND OF JOURNEY
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AUSTRALIA
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PANAMA CANAL
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SOUTH AMERICA
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ALASKA
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AFRICA
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AFRICA
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AFRICA
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SEYCHELLES ISLANDS
Because Len faced serious health challenges this year we relinquished the idea of any far-flung travel adventures and embarked instead on a journey to do everything possible to ensure that he recapture his health and wellbeing. We did not walk this path alone. We received fantastic support from our families: each of Len’s children hoped to be “the donor” of his new kidney. His son, Scott, proved to be a perfect match! We were blessed by a team of quality physicians, and gifted by bounteous thoughts and prayers from family and friends around the world – many of whom faced, or are facing, comparable trials and have demonstrated steadfast courage and faith in their endeavors. We were heartened by your prayers each step of the way. It has been a transformational journey; one that prompted us to stop and enjoy the view wherever we stood and to savor the time we are blessed with - we learned anew that family and friends are one of nature’s greatest masterpieces.
A hundred million miracles are happening every day, and those who say they don't agree are those who do not hear or see, A hundred million miracles are happening every day
A hundred million miracles are happening every day, and those who say they don't agree are those who do not hear or see, A hundred million miracles are happening every day
My Dear Friends,
As you are aware, I am the recent recipient of a new kidney. It has been an amazing process. It has been three weeks since my son, Scott, and I underwent the separate simultaneous surgeries required to make this miracle happen. I am pleased to report that Scott is starting to feel somewhat back to normal although he still experiences intervals of low energy; and a need to rest; which is far from his usual MO. His doctor indicates that his complete healing period will most likely take several months.
I am feeling 100% better because my new kidney is cleansing me of toxins that have built up over the many years that I have been living with kidney disease. I am also healing well from the operation, with only a few setbacks so far. I am told it will take 3 to 6 months of lab work and results in order to get the anti-rejection drugs leveled out. I will continue to require these meds for the reminder of my life. We were pleased to hear from both teams of doctors (donor/recipient) that Scott and I are one of the best kidney matches they have seen so far this year!
On behalf of Scott and myself, I want to thank you all for the many kind words; thoughts; cards; and prayers that you sent our way! I want to direct a special thank you to all those friends, (and even some folks I have never met) who stepped up and volunteered to donate a kidney to me. Your empathy and compassion far exceeds anything that I could have possibly imagined. It touches my heart daily.
Just to fill you in on a bit of the our journey - when my doctor first began talking about a possible transplant two years ago, I hoped to receive a kidney from an unknown donor via the transplant center at Swedish. Unfortunately after being on the recipient’s list for over a year, my health had deteriorated to the point that Sharon, hoping to be qualified as my donor, stepped in to begin testing as a potential donor. Early on in the process it was determined that she was not a match. At this point, the transplant team encouraged me to explore the possibility of receiving a kidney from my family.
Scott, aware of the day-to-day deterioration of my kidney, stepped in immediately to begin the arduous testing process; while Mike, Dave, Jeff and Kristi waited in the wings, wanting to be “the” donor. It took six months of some pretty invasive tests to determine that Scott was a very good potential donor. By this time, my condition had worsened to the point that the team of kidney specialists at Swedish Hospital set the day of June 13, 2013 for the transplant operation.
As you might imagine, It was difficult for me to come to terms with accepting the significant gift of a kidney from Scott. It was a difficult and emotionally challenging issue. However, Scott’s genuine, unabated optimism and enthusiasm for “getting it done”; combined with the 100% support he received from his wife, Mo, and their two children, Taylor and Dylan, convinced me to move forward with the operation.
I want to take this opportunity to publically thank Scott from the bottom of my heart, and deeper . . . he has been tested and has proven to be a brave man. Beyond that - he has opened his heart and given a real tangible part of himself to me - offering me the opportunity to enjoy many more years ahead: to live a quality life - rather than existing week to week on a dialysis machine. It is the gift of a lifetime and one that humbles me. I thank you son in many more way than mere words can possibly convey.
With Warmest Regards,
Len
As you are aware, I am the recent recipient of a new kidney. It has been an amazing process. It has been three weeks since my son, Scott, and I underwent the separate simultaneous surgeries required to make this miracle happen. I am pleased to report that Scott is starting to feel somewhat back to normal although he still experiences intervals of low energy; and a need to rest; which is far from his usual MO. His doctor indicates that his complete healing period will most likely take several months.
I am feeling 100% better because my new kidney is cleansing me of toxins that have built up over the many years that I have been living with kidney disease. I am also healing well from the operation, with only a few setbacks so far. I am told it will take 3 to 6 months of lab work and results in order to get the anti-rejection drugs leveled out. I will continue to require these meds for the reminder of my life. We were pleased to hear from both teams of doctors (donor/recipient) that Scott and I are one of the best kidney matches they have seen so far this year!
On behalf of Scott and myself, I want to thank you all for the many kind words; thoughts; cards; and prayers that you sent our way! I want to direct a special thank you to all those friends, (and even some folks I have never met) who stepped up and volunteered to donate a kidney to me. Your empathy and compassion far exceeds anything that I could have possibly imagined. It touches my heart daily.
Just to fill you in on a bit of the our journey - when my doctor first began talking about a possible transplant two years ago, I hoped to receive a kidney from an unknown donor via the transplant center at Swedish. Unfortunately after being on the recipient’s list for over a year, my health had deteriorated to the point that Sharon, hoping to be qualified as my donor, stepped in to begin testing as a potential donor. Early on in the process it was determined that she was not a match. At this point, the transplant team encouraged me to explore the possibility of receiving a kidney from my family.
Scott, aware of the day-to-day deterioration of my kidney, stepped in immediately to begin the arduous testing process; while Mike, Dave, Jeff and Kristi waited in the wings, wanting to be “the” donor. It took six months of some pretty invasive tests to determine that Scott was a very good potential donor. By this time, my condition had worsened to the point that the team of kidney specialists at Swedish Hospital set the day of June 13, 2013 for the transplant operation.
As you might imagine, It was difficult for me to come to terms with accepting the significant gift of a kidney from Scott. It was a difficult and emotionally challenging issue. However, Scott’s genuine, unabated optimism and enthusiasm for “getting it done”; combined with the 100% support he received from his wife, Mo, and their two children, Taylor and Dylan, convinced me to move forward with the operation.
I want to take this opportunity to publically thank Scott from the bottom of my heart, and deeper . . . he has been tested and has proven to be a brave man. Beyond that - he has opened his heart and given a real tangible part of himself to me - offering me the opportunity to enjoy many more years ahead: to live a quality life - rather than existing week to week on a dialysis machine. It is the gift of a lifetime and one that humbles me. I thank you son in many more way than mere words can possibly convey.
With Warmest Regards,
Len
