Help Nathan & Tricia

Tricia & Nate are special friends of mine. Tricia has Cystic Fibrosis. Nate is her husband. April 2008, Tricia received a double lung transplant after giving birth to their miracle daughter. Nate is asking for help in raising money for Cystic Fibrosis. Last year I went to the Outer Banks and participated in the walk. I had so much fun.



Here is what Nate wrote on his blog about the special number NINE.
The following post is verbatim Nate's words and you can find the post by clicking this sentence.

Written by Nathan Lawrenson

9 is a very unique number...check this out...

Today is 9.9.9.

Wednesday, September 9, 2009.

Wednesday has 9 letters.

September has 9 letters.

It's the 252 day of the year...2 + 5 + 2 = 9.

The average life expectancy for a child born today with Cystic Fibrosis is 36 years...3 + 6 = 9.

A $9 donation to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation can make a huge difference in the lives of 30,000 children and adults in the US alone suffer from Cystic Fibrosis.

I'm looking for 99 people to donate $9 each by 9pm tonight (EST) to my Personal Great Strides Account. If we can accomplish this, raising $891, I will be sincerely grateful! Every penny goes directly to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and their search for a cure for CF. Please, if you haven't yet, consider Clicking Here and investing in those who are living for that hope.

And, if you would like to help me accomplish today's goal, feel free to link this blog post, or repost it on your twitter, facebook, blog, etc.

Thank you so much for helping to make our future bright!

Nate

BTW, did you know Tricia, a CF patient, and I had our very first date 9 years ago this week?





**** to add to Nate's unique 9 post *****

His last name Lawrenson. It has 9 letters.

Also let's examine the amount of money they want to raise in total .. 891 .. Let's take a moment to add those numbers together so that we can get a single digit number. Do you wanna know what it comes to? For those with Lyme Fog... here ya go:

8 plus 9 plus 1 = 18
1 plus 8 = 9

Nate's "nickname" CF Husband = 9 letters

Go check out Nate's blog and donate 9 dollars to research CF.

Happy Birthday Gwyneth Rose!

I just wanted to make a note that today is Gwyneth Rose's birthday. This is truly an inspiring tale of God's miracles and a couple's dream come true!

I've changed my blog up today just for Gywneth. :)

This post right here changed the Lawrenson's world and everyone that knows them.

Organ Donation

Have you ever thought about life and death?
Have you ever thought about life after death?

There are two ways to live after you have died.
One is in the memory of those that you have left behind (and also through Eternal Life in Heaven, but this isn't that discussion).
The other is through donating your organs to those that need them.

I mean think about it ... you are no longer needing those organs and tissues. Your heart is no longer going to beat in your chest, your lungs will no longer breathe for you, your eyes will no longer see for you and your skin can no longer protect your body. There are many reasons in which people can not donate their organs, but if you don't have one of those reasons ....

Live after death. Give someone else the chance at life. Let your heart beat in their chest, let your lungs breathe in their body, let your corneas allow someone to see, and let your skin help a burn victim.

Here are some stories: One is the story of Jason Ray. Jason was adament that he wanted his organs donated. His parents honored his wish when he was struck by a car and killed. He went on to help over 75 people just by donating his organs and tissues. Jason Ray was bigger than life in his life as Rameses. Jason Ray is bigger than life in his death in the hearts of those that received his organs and tissues.

The next is the story of Tricia. Amazing woman with an amazing family. She has Cystic Fibrosis and after giving birth to a beautiful baby ... she was granted a life dream. She was on the receiving end of a double lung transplant. The link I gave is her husband's blog as he shares their life together as a family and the struggles they face along with the glory they give to God.

Another Cystic Fibrosis story is that of Alice. Alice received her double lung transplant over 9 months ago. She is doing well and even participated in the Transplant Games. She thinks of her donor every day.

Here is a story of a woman who is WAITING. She is waiting for the chance to breathe. She is waiting for a match of someone who is willing to give her life. Bree just wants to breathe and live her life without Oxygen and antibiotics. She just wants a chance to live again.

Please consider life after death. There are people waiting. Consider being an Organ Donor.

Football Friday Fun

I haven't posted about my fun last week until now because I've been focusing on my hand healing, thinking about Tricia and hoping for the best outcome in the Kelly Currin Morris case.

In any case, I had a blast at the football game. Shortly after Dad and I arrived home from the band room, Kellie called. Kellie is one of my friends from the good old band days. Oh what fun we had in the high school days from band camp to band competitions. So when we found each other on facebook, we decided that we had to get up together for a football game. We have not seen each other in 14 years. So shortly after she arrived, we all left to go to the game. We walked into the band room that we had walked into many times. It was bizarre to see the same room with all these youngin's in it. (Here's the picture off of Kellie's camera that was taken by some random person at the game. Ain't half bad for two old fogy's with glasses.)

We "marched" our way up to the football field with the band. We didn't intend to, but once a band geek --- always a band geek. We found ourselves rolling our feet to the beat of the drum, laughing all the way up to the field. We lingered standing, but after the band performed their pre-game show (aka Star Spangled Banner & the Fight Song) ... we had to find a seat.

We watched our team do their best, but lose they did. We got to see, not one, but two half time shows. Our rival high school was there performing their show as well. So that was a blast to be able to see two shows in one shot. We walked over to get something to drink and saw "fashion statements" that should have stayed at home. The most noticeable thing was a pair of neon orange high heel pumps. (and to those that are thinking it: No it wasn't our school colors or the rival schools color ... and I thought to myself SELF would Nathan wear these shoes?)

Glad I didn't get "that" memo on fashion. We stayed on the concession side of the field until the game was over. Then we walked down the "new hall" which had become worn with age. It was brand spanking new when we were there, but it was raggedy looking now.

Our next visit will be in two weeks when we drive to the mountains. I marched for one semester and drooled over for three semesters the Pride of the Mountains Marching Band. It is Western Carolina University's band and they are superb. We can't wait to see them. I go every year for Alumni Band. The very first year, I got to march. However, the years since I was unable with all my physical ailments. I may just have to pick up a flag and spin for a few minutes this year though. I miss marching with the Pride.

Tricia

Since Nathan hasn't posted it on his blog yet, I do not want to say what I've read. But please continue to keep them in your prayers. They will need it as they continue their journey.

Nathan has updated his blog. Tricia's cancer has not gotten any better. In fact, there is a chance it has spread to a lymph node. They are waiting to hear from the biopsy from Duke to find out what they need to do next.

Thanks

Prayers for Tricia

Tricia has been admitted to the hospital on Monday night. She has not been feeling well at least the last week or so. Her history if you don't know is that she's had a double lung transplant. She has Cystic Fibrosis and also has Lymphoma in her new lungs. She's had 4 rounds of the hard chemo (and even more before the hard stuff began) and she was going to find out how the chemo was doing. It is always difficult when Tricia gets a little cold because it can turn into a huge infection. A huge infection in her brand new lungs can be a very bad thing. ICU has already been mentioned.

Please if you read me ... please please please go see Nathan's blog and read about Tricia. Pray for Tricia. Pray for Nathan & Gwyneth and their entire family. I have had the privileged of hanging out with them on more than one occasion and they are great friends of a friend of mine.

October Plans

September was a busy month and was full of joyous occasions. I went to the Outer Banks and climbed two lighthouses. I saw Tricia and Nathan again while walking for Cystic Fibrosis. It was also a weird health month with the yeast rash and the wrist sprain. It was a better Lyme month for regular Lyme symptoms though. I am thankful for that.

What's up with me for October 2008? One Friday night, I think I am going to my former high school Football game. Oh, but it's not for the football. It's for the MARCHING BAND. :) Halloween night, there will be a long drive to my other alma mater Western Carolina University. It's annual Alumni Band time. That is always so exciting and it's the one thing I look forward to every year. The first year I marched. I got on the football field and marched for the first time since 1995. I enjoyed myself so much. I did not realize I was getting sick. The second year, I had really bad arthritis. I could barely climb the bleachers so marching was out of the question. The third year (last year) I also was having a lot of troubles with my joints so I did not march again. This year I had really hoped to march, but I have my doubts with the probable picc line.


Healthwise: I'll have 31 heparin shots, possibly up to 6 saline shots, 4 dressing changes, 1 bone specialist appointment, 1 -- possibly 2 Lyme antimicrobial treatment, 2 Glutathione infusions, 2 home IV's and any other weird thing that always comes up because my life is never just that simple. Not to mention 31 days of supplements including yeast killers and an MSA test somewhere in there along with a blood test that I should have already had completed. The wrist sprain kind of threw that blood work off course ... I really need to set that up.

On top of all of that, there is a professional development day at work and a fall festival and an open house and so much other stuff. It's going to be a busy month. I look forward to every day ... good, bad or the ugly.

Have a great October everybody. :)

Feeling up and down

I have been having these emotional swings the last few days. In all reality, I know it's all hormone related, but it doesn't make the swings any easier. One moment, I feel great. I'm happy and excited for the present and the future. Then the next I am crying and frustrated. The good news is that my hormones should balance out in a few days and I'll be back to my strong stubborn self. I started some new medications a few days ago to get rid of the parasites and the yeast. Either the dying bugs are making me feel bad or the medication itself is doing it. I have about 5 more things to add to my regiment of daily drugs and I am a little leery of doing it when I already feel a bit on the nauseated side.

I remember feeling that way every day. It was awful. I worshiped the porcelain throne almost every night for almost 2 years and I just can not go back to that kind of living. Thank goodness I am only on the parasite drug for 3 more days and then I will go to something a little more homeopathic (which hopefully means a little easier on the stomach). The yeast drug will only be a few more days as well before I begin the homeopathic stuff. I just wanted to give the pharmaceuticals a chance to kill the beasts so that it would allow the homeopathic stuff to work the best.

If someone had told me 3 years ago (even 2 heck even last year) that I would be trying weird stuff to try to kill Lyme, Yeast, and all my blood friends, I would have laughed in their faces. At this point, I'd stand on my head and walk backwards on my hands if it would help. (Okay so I don't think I have that particular skill, but I could spin a mean rifle back in the day)

My doctors told me that I still have a long journey to go. I accept that, but sometimes I just want it to be "right now." This world is such an instantaneous world that they think ... why are you still sick after all this? Why aren't you well yet? Well, Lyme isn't that easy to "fix." Most Lyme literate doctors don't even know if it can be fixed. I want someone to fix me. I really do, but I know my body will be fixed in it's own time. I can't rush it nor would I want to.

Everytime I have a rough day, I go to different blogs. Today was particularly rough and I went to the one blog that makes me smile. More than that, it makes me pray. I've mentioned them before, but this family makes me go wow.

In a years time ... Tricia got placed on the list for possible transplant. Tricia found out she was pregnant. Tricia had a beautiful baby girl (weighing 1 pounds and 6 ounces at birth) in January. Tricia and Gwyneth had to be separated and even after she was born Tricia was in a coma and was probably the last person to even know that her daughter had been born. Tricia was placed on the transplant list and 40 days after being placed on this list received her double lungs from a most gracious family who had their own tragedy (May everyone pray for that family right now .. even though we don't know who they are .. Tricia has been given time with her husband and her daughter because they were selfless and gave life to her). Tricia left the hospital, Gwyneth left the hospital and they went home to the OBX to be a family under the roof of Nathan's parents. Shortly after they arrived home, they found out Tricia had lymphoma in her lungs. She's been on a very difficult chemo treatment and yet every picture posted she looks so uplifted and radiant. Just today, they signed a contract to purchase their own home.

People around the world pray for this family and check on this family every day. Every time I have a bad day, I just think about Tricia and her faith in God. It makes me feel a tiny bit better and realize that my "big problems" are really just rather small problems to God. Nothing is too big for God. If they can do it, I can do it.


P.S. I was even more emotional this afternoon than I have been the last few days. Sheesh. Sometimes it just sucks to be a woman.

The CF Walk

So the first reason that I wanted to go to the Outer Banks the weekend of the 13th was that there was a Great Strides Walk being held at a park in Dare County. This was pretty much the only reason I wanted to go to Nags Head, North Carolina. I have been there before and though I am fond of the beach with my new addition of the PICC line I wasn't sure how it would go over. I convinced myself that I needed to go for a couple reasons. First ... I thought Tricia has had a PICC line before and she lives at the beach. So surely I can go just to vacation for a weekend. Second .. I would be helping a great cause that touches the lives of so many. Thirdly, I needed a break and to put some things into perspective.

My husband and I arrived way early. (45 minutes to be exact) I tried to convince him that we should go help set up, but I just couldn't convince him to go help out people that neither one of us knew so we rode on the swing set for a bit. :) That was fun. ;) Then we drove back out to the main strip and went to the one stop shop for all your beach time needs: WINGS. If you've been to one Wings, you've been to them all. But for some odd reason, we have this fascination of going into all of them (well most of them anyways). So promptly at 9 o'clock, we returned to the park for registration.

I took charge and went right over to the table and filled out a little piece of paper with my name, address, phone number and all that good stuff. Then there was a spot that meant what group was I walking with. I had no idea there were so many groups, but I knew which group I would put down. Team PattySue. :) I was walking for Tricia. I made out my beautiful check and passed it over to one of the many volunteers. My husband and I made our way over to what I figured was the central hang out. I wish I had taken a picture of it, but Nathan's mom made the most beautiful arrangement on a table. It had the ducky and a huge thing of roses with a beautiful picture of Gwyneth Rose. With the picture and roses (and little tubes of water for the roses) was a sign saying that we should buy a rose to take on the walk with us b/c we would be walking for Gwyneth's mommy. It was beautiful.

My husband and I spoke with Nathan & Tricia several times. I even posed for a picture with my new friend. :) My husband and I walked the walk bringing up the rear. Shortly after we returned, I met Megan and Janet. But the biggest thing for me ... I got to meet Gwyneth Rose. It was all I could do not to beg to hold that little precious baby. I just wanted to touch her little baby feet. Rest assured even though it was a hot and sunny day, Tricia covered that baby from head to toe with Sunblock. What a fun crew Tricia has as family. :) That is a day that I will cherish for a long long time. Not only did I get to visit with Nathan and Tricia again, I did something that even shocked me after the Great Strides Walk.

Oh I failed to mention the biggest thing. Last year, they raised 30,000 dollars for CFF. This year, over 46,000 dollars was raised and money is still being counted. :)

Look forward to tomorrow's blog (maybe tomorrow .. maybe a few days from now) when I post pictures that will shock the world. (ok at least those who really know me)

What's up with me?

This month is going to be a very busy month for me. Plans have been made and I am so excited about all that is going to happen in September. I am going to ignore all the medical stuff that is going to happen and just tell you all the fun stuff I have planned. :) My husband and I are going on a mini vacation. Now before you all go and get excited, I said "Mini." It begins Friday afternoon and ends Sunday afternoon. However, I am super thrilled to be staying at a hotel in Nags Head North Carolina. This vacation serves two purposes. The first, which is the least important in the scheme of things, is for me to have a relaxing weekend with my husband. The second, which I am way excited about, is to attend this.

For those of you that don't want to click on that link, this is a charity event that is being hosted by Nathan and Tricia Lawrenson. Nathan and Tricia are amazing people that I have had the privilege of meeting twice. The first was at a Great Strides walk in Cary, NC and the second was at the church I attend C3. The "short" version is that Tricia has Cystic Fibrosis. If memory serves correctly, the day before Tricia was to leave her home to go to Duke Hospital to prepare for a double lung transplant ... she found out she was pregnant. This took them on a journey this last year of many miracles.

In January, Tricia had her miracle baby named Gwyneth Rose (a micropreemie) and on her husband's birthday in April ... she was granted her second miracle of the year. She received her lungs. Last year, Tricia and Nate started a Great Strides walk in the OBX (Outer Banks). So when I heard about this couple in December of 2007, I knew that my life would be changed forever. So, I am going to the Great Strides walk this year in the OBX. So between relaxing with my husband on the beach (sans Hurrican Ike) and the Great Strides walk, I am super thrilled about this upcoming weekend.

There are a bunch of small things that I have planned, but the other huge thing does not happen until the end of the month. The North Carolina Lyme Disease Foundation is presenting this documentary on Lyme Disease called Under Our Skin: The Untold Story of Lyme Disease.

I have purchased two tickets to see this wonderful documentary and prior to the beginning of the movie, there is going to be a rally for patients, doctors, and supporters of those with Lyme Disease and other illnesses (such as Autism) to help support those doctors that treat these illnesses. It's going to be a long day for me so my prayers are that I will be able to stand with the great Lyme Literate Physicians and show my support as they have supported me over the last year and half and countless others over their lifetime. I also get to meet others facing this illness and rumor has it that there is going to be a new website announced at this rally as well.

I'm so psyched. :)