Give A Kidney & Part Of A Liver
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Eileen & Jim stopped by today to refill my oatmeal chocolate chip prescription. They also brought over birthday presents for me for last month. They also included some ‘Welcome To The Family’ items. THANK YOU!!!

Jim told me that today is Eileen birthday and asked if I could stop by this evening for some cake. By the time Kate got home, she was too tired to go with me so I went alone.

In attendance were other family members and neighbors. Everyone was so grateful for what I had done. I felt the attention was being taken away from Eileen.

Jim’s father, upon leaving, couldn’t thank me enough. He said they were very fond of Eileen since day ‘one’ and are very grateful to have her back. I told him it was my honor to be able to do this and if I could do it again, I would.

It is very nice to see a whole family alive and happy.

Today, Saturday, will be 11 days pain free and with no drugs! Everything is coming together, finally. I can eat and drink anything I want, but I’m trying to be sensible… most of the time.

Katie and I stopped by Jim and Eileen’s home Wednesday for about an hour or so. Jim’s mother made us a real Italian pizza and apple pie. The pizza was just too good and also too easy to eat so that didn’t last long. I just cut into the apple pie today and, of course, that’s very tasty also.

The medicinal oatmeal chocolate chip cookies worked their wonders, but the dosage did not last long enough. I wonder if there is a refill prescription available.

I saw some friends this weekend and they all said: “You look great!” I wonder how horrible I must have appeared earlier for them to have that reaction.

Well, I’m going to try to make entries every week or two, but it’s getting hard to be creative and not boring.

So if you don’t hear from me for a little time just remember: “Every now and then I know it’s kind of hard to tell… but I’m still alive and well!”

Tuesday was a bad day & evening but since then, every other day has been fine. The swelling around the incision is going down and I can feel a very slight discomfort around it, as the healing process continues. I can really feel the energy drain if I don’t get a nap in.

Eileen and Jim stopped by today with oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. Of course they are very healthy and will aid in my recovery. After much experimentation, I have discovered that microwaving a single cookie for 17 seconds (not 16 and not 18) is perfect for texture and taste. In my research, I am also finding that 2-3 doses of this medicinal delight, spread out though the day, is the correct dosage.

Jim and Eileen stayed a couple of hours and we just talked while sitting by the pool. I’m glad I have that area since the house is in such disarray that there is literally no place, besides the kitchen table, for people to sit and talk. And even that is a small area. I am looking forward to having more energy so I can straighten this place out.

Jim is a locksmith in Cromwell so it was nice of him to repair a broken door lock I had.

Eileen appears to have more energy than I, and I hope it continues for her.

They are a neat couple and I enjoy seeing people who really like being with each other.

This morning, I had a follow-up visit with the transplant office. I was sitting there just reading the paper when I heard in two different voices at two different times, “Harry” “Harry?”. The first voice was the nurse calling me in from the waiting room. But the second voice, I knew I recognized it but just couldn’t think quick enough to figure out who it was,

Yes, it was Eileen. She was coming out of her appointment and I was going into mine. It was great, we hugged and she looked so happy. I am so glad she is doing well. She went off, and I went in.

My exam was nothing exciting, just a few more pokes and prods. When I went to get blood drawn, the people there were saying there was a lady who just left, saying “I just met my donor! I just met my donor!”. It wasn’t long before the figured out it was me.

After I returned home, I call Eileen to make sure she was ok after our brief meeting. She was happy we finally met and we’ll all try to get together soon.

Well, so far I’ve managed to stay home two whole weeks!

Not much changed over the past week. I’m still home, and each day is like a rollercoaster. Some days are just great and some are just alright. But last night… ?! Friday afternoon and night were tough. I couldn’t do anything except lay there and try to control the pain with breathing. I think the pain was more intestinal than incisional. I do get slight incisional discomfort, but no real pain to speak of. I don’t think the pain pills I’m not taking would even help with intestinal pain. That just had to work its way through. I woke up this morning, Saturday, feeling pretty good considering I didn’t get much sleep.

I talked to Eileen this week also, and she appears to be progressing right along.