Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Happy Thanksgiving!!





Kidney Walk 2013




Addie and Sophie
This past Sunday Ken and I participated in our third annual Kidney Walk.  We were joined by our daughter Stefanie with her husband Danny and our three beautiful granddaughters, Addie, Sophie and Jillie. Ken's sister, Sheila, his brother, David, and his wife Tammy and their two children, Gabby and Joel came out again this year to walk with us.  It was a cold windy day but the spirit of the event warmed us all.  Ken and I reflected back on the walk last year - two months post Kidney transplant.  WOW! What a difference a year has made.  It was heartwarming to see the nurses that took care of Ken when he was on dialysis for 15 months, Blanca and Heather with their families.  It was great seeing Erin, one of our angels on the kidney transplant floor at Ochsner who took such great care of Ken during the many hospital visits after his transplant. As we walked through beautiful Audubon Park watching the many families and friends participating in the event we were reminded again of the dire need for organ donors.  We thank God each and every day for the gift that Alex gave to Ken and we hope that others will consider becoming a donor.  Ken and I feel like this is the mission God has given us.

Ken and I want to wish all of you a Happy and Healthy Thanksgiving!  Each and every day we thank God for all of you. We thank you for your prayers, love and support. I wanted to share with you words from "Jesus Calling" - "As you go through this day, look for tiny treasures strategically placed along the way.  I lovingly go before you and plant little pleasures to brighten your day.  Look carefully for them and pluck them one by one.  When you reach the end of the day, you will have gathered a lovely bouquet. Offer it up to Me with a grateful heart.  Receive My Peace as you lie down to sleep, with thankful thoughts playing a lullaby in your mind."
Our Whole Kidney Walk team 2013

May each and everyone of you hear that lullaby in your mind!

Until the next time may the Lord carry us
on our journey,
Pat


Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Living The Gift One Day At A Time

Central Park
Since the first anniversary of Ken's kidney transplant on September 10, we have been very busy.  Ken is feeling good and enjoying the "normal" routines of life again.   He still has to get his blood work tested every two weeks.  Waiting for results on those Tuesdays is still difficult but Ken's levels in his kidney seem to be getting better.  As one doctor told us the levels can fluctuate like blood pressure during the course of the day.  His kidney functioning is better but there is still a problem with protein spillage.  Ken and I have adopted the philosophy "to live each day that God blesses us with."

Before Ken's kidney started failing, he and our son Greg would choose an out of town destination to attend a Saints' game.  This year they decided to start the tradition again and picked New York for the Jets game.  Ken had never been to New York and I had been when I was 15 years old.  Greg and his wife Camille were the planners and tour guides.  We saw a Broadway show and a comedy club show, walked in Central Park, rode the subway three times, walked through Little Italy, China Town, and Greenwich Village. We went to the Empire State Building, Wall Street, Times Square and the 9/11 Memorial.  One day Ken and I walked 6.5 miles around the streets of New York.  He was doing things he could never have done last year.  We are living "the gifts that God blesses us with each day."


Addie, Sophie, Jillie
Our grandchildren fill our lives with joy each and every day.  We missed so many important events in their lives last year but this year is totally different.  We have already attended their plays at school and will be going to Grandparents' Day soon.  We can have our "slumber parties" again - even though there is not much slumbering on those nights :)  And the best of all is the time together playing games, singing silly songs, dance parties (now that is a sight to behold), reading stories, making up stories and snuggling close watching movies. You don't realize how much you miss these everyday happenings until they are taken away.  We are enjoying "the gifts that God blesses us with each day."

Pa and Gus
Kelly, Alex and Gus, our grandson, all live out of town.  Ken and I could not travel at all last year.  It was so hard not seeing them more often.  Now Ken is able to travel so we can visit and they can come visit us too.  Ken "Pa" is the "baby whisperer."  When our children were babies, he would sway and bounce simultaneously.  This magical move would calm them down and put them to sleep.  He still has that gift and now has the chance to use it on Gus.  We are enjoying "the gifts that God blesses us with each day."


Linda and Frank
A few weeks ago we got together with our "old" friends.  I met these three "girls" in Kindergarten and we have been friends since and have been through so much together over the years.  We don't get to see each other very often but when it happens it is like we were never apart.  Our husbands have all been through some difficult times with physical ailments.  I think of them as the "four miracles."  I think of Denise, Charlotte, and Linda as the sisters I never had.  We had such a good time and they are "our gifts that God blesses us with each day."                                                     
Rick and Charlotte
Denise and Tom











In two weeks Ken and I will be walking in our 3rd Kidney Walk.  It is on Sunday, November 24th at Audubon Park, Shelter #10.  The walk begins at 9:30 but check in starts at 8:00.  We would love you to come walk with us.  We will be in gray shirts this year with A Kidney For Ken on the front and Living The Gift One Day At A Time on the back. We are walking to encourage others to become  organ donors and to honor organ donors like our son-in-law,  Alex.  You can make a donation or join  our team, Renal Roigs, by clicking on  www.kidneywalk.org  Choose the state first.  Click on the Walk on November 24 next.  You can join our team and or make a donation by selecting the buttons at the top of the page and following the directions.

We thank all of you for the prayers, love and support you have given us.  We ask you to continue to pray for Ken and other transplant recipients.  Pray that more people will make the choice to become a donor and save a life.

Until next time may the Lord carry us on our journey,
Pat