August 26, 2021

Well, its been another many years since we have added a post.  Things have been pretty crazy and at the same time just the same. During the past 2 years, Marty has had some ongoing and expected transplant health issues, his Drs. at the Cleveland Clinic are on top of things though.  He has also had both knees replaced. The  first one in December 2019.  I am thankful we are not superstitious becaues it was scheduled for Friday the 13th.. All went really well.  He had home PT for a few sessions and then was released to outpatient PT.  He did real well there also.  His knees had been needing to be replaced for about 20 years, putting it off as long as possible,  He had many different treatments;  like gel shots, cortisone shots, ablation on both knees. and Physical Therapy.  Each treatment helped for a short time, but the pain would return.  So after his first TKR ( total knee replacement) he was mostly free from pain for the first time in 20+ years in his right knee.  Well in March of 2020 we all know what happened... COCVID 19.  His second TKR was scheduled for March but was postponed two separate times due to  COVID  and elective surgeries being put on hold at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation.  He was finally able to have the 2nd susrgery on July 24, 2020.  The recovery for this surgery was a bit more involved and the wound took a bit longer to heal.  He was not able to go to the Out Patient PT due to covid, but his home Physical Therapist was amazing and she worked him hard.  She showed us so many things to do here at home with the equipment we have and get almost the same results.  Today, he is mostly pain free in in his knees.  

Because of COVID, this  year has also brought some realizations for us.  You realize, because of being an organ reciepient,  that your life will be totally be changed just so you can have a normal life again.  Health protocals for transplant reciepients are pretty much the same, although not quite as intense as the protocals for COVID. Mask wearing, hand sanitizer, washing hands thoroughly, staying away from sick people,and just plain being cautious. It's not living in fear like some people on social media keep saying, living cautiously is a more applicable term. Some of the things we realized during this pandemic is  many of our friends just don't seem to want to take the time to understand our position with COVID.  Because of an organ donor, Marty has been gifted 13+ years of life.  Thirteen years of being with family and friends, spending time with our Grandkids, traveling, watching our Grandkids play sports, going to Disney World,and experiencing the joys and disapointments that happen in everyday life.  Friendships have been lost due to, what seems like Covid protocol differences, we do not see the protocols as political at all or that any freedoms are being taken away from us. And that is a sad realization that those friendships are gone or on pause.  Another thing we realized is the connections and reconnections to new and long time friends.  Not only in our transplant community, but with friends and family from many years ago.  These friends and family have shown support in so many ways, like doing some shopping for us, asking if we needed anything added to their Instacart order, calling to check on us, helping us with our car (a few different situations and a few different friends, most recently July and August)  when things got crazy with it.  They would brave the cold rainy weather to fix a porch roof that blew off, or the Arizona heat to fix a roof, drive to check on the house, and stand outdoors just to check on us or drop off groceries. We also have an amazing  Church family here in Ohio as well as Arizona. These are amazing people and we love and  thank them.  And our family.... words can NEVER express our love and gratitude for your love and support.  We have family in Ohio, Arizona, and South Carolina.  We have also been able to re-connect with family members we had not seen in years.  So, for now, the end of my Covid realizations.... I think it's funny what people choose to make political, for us COVID is not political, We do not live in fear, we will follow protocols, and we will do our best to live what  Galatians 5:13-14 says, " It is absolutly clear that God has called you to a free life.  Just make sure that you don't use this freedom as an excuse to do what you want to do and destroy your freedom  Rather, use your freedom to serve one another in love; that's how freedom grows.  For everything we know about God's Word is summed up in a single sentence: Love others as you love yourself.  Thats an act of  true freedom."

Thankful for Marty's organ donor and their family, thankful for family, friends...

God has truly blessed us.

So, keep being the amazing people you are, keep healthy, and love your neighbor.