Moving On Up

My wife and I went to the transplant center today, but it had nothing to do with a doctor or blood work. The center offers a liver transplant support group that meets twice a month. The group consists of people who have either had a liver transplant, or are waiting for one, and their support person. I just happen to fall into both categories.

In the six plus years since my first transplant, we have only been able to make it to the group 3 or4 times. They met on Friday's at 11:00, so usually I am working at that time, and even when I was teaching, we travel so much that we were usually out of town when they met. But we thought in light of out current situation, it might be a good thing to do.

The meeting was held in a conference room and we were a little late, so of course all eyes were on us when we walked in. I recognized a few of the people from previous meetings, and quickly noticed that we were the youngest people in the room by at least 15 years. We sat down and they asked us to introduce myself, and so I dove right into our situation.

As I finished, several people quickly spoke up and told me about another member of the group in a very similar situation. He had been transplanted only a year ago, and needed another one. Only he was not at the meeting. He was at the hospital being prepped for his second transplant. I was familiar with this person and his situation because there is a group email that goes out to everyone with updates on people in the group. My first thought was that I was very happy for him and prayed that the surgery would go well and this one would work out better.

Then it occurred to me. With him being transplanted today, that meant that I was one step closer to my transplant. Now, I am not sure what blood type he was and all those details, but if he got his today, that moves me up the list by one person.

And that is a very good thing. I have felt pretty awful the last two days. No fever or anything like that. I've just felt really run down and tired. I think that my body might finally be starting to feel the effects of all this. The transplant happened so fast last time, that my body never really felt the effects of the disease. Now that the wait is beginning to drag out, I am feeling it more and more each day.

I just pray that it will happen soon.