Veterans Day Reflections

Welcome to the weekly blog of a Donate Life Northwest volunteer who has graciously offered to tell the story of her journey through the organ transplant process. She posts to this blog every Wednesday so you can ride this interesting, bumpy road with her.

11/11/11. Interesting numbers, interesting day, interesting reflections for me especially.

One year ago today on this date, Veterans Day 2010, I received a call about a heart for me. An experience we now affectionately refer to as the “trial run.” But what memories we have of that day! Fred, Kathryn and I had to discuss how we would handle this day going forward. Were we to remember it – and this was my vote – as Veterans Day every year?  That would just make it so much easier.  We have so many things to remember, and I am on so many brain-numbing drugs, and it’s a good day to honor it all, be it veterans or donors. I am not sure I ever got a conclusion from Fred, just lots of memories. But oh, from Kathryn!!  This day is no longer important. It’s the real deal that matters, the day that really trumped it by far. She made me laugh. Always a good thing.

The author is a heart failure patient going through the post-transplant process. She also is a nurse and former hospital administrator. She would like to thank Donate Life Northwest for permitting her to post her observations on the Donate Life Northwest website. She also wants to emphasize that all opinions and views stated in the posts are her own and not those of Donate Life Northwest.

Tags: heart transplant, Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, organ donation