The Blessings of Life's Transitions

Kidney Walk 2014

On a beautiful Fall morning this past weekend we participated in our 4th Kidney Walk in Audubon Park.  It is amazing to think back on this journey we began so long ago.  Looking at the pictures throughout the last four years brought back so many memories - some good and some not so good.  There were many medical setbacks that Ken endured but there were always prayers, support and love from those around us.  God has blessed us with an amazing family and awesome friends who continue to support us.  We don't ever walk this journey of life alone - we walk with all of you and we thank all of you.

Kidney Walk 2013

So much has happened since the last blog.  In June, Ken's job at the bank was eliminated.  It was a tough time for him.  He had worked hard all his life and figured he would work for three or four more years.  God had other plans.  I know I say it many times but I will say it again - "When God closes one door He opens another."  Around the same time, my friend and business partner, Joanne,  decided she needed to go back into teaching.  I needed to figure out how I was going to carry on the business by myself.  Could I do it alone?  Would it work without Joanne?  God had the solution.  Ken would be the perfect "Ralph the Roach."  That might seem easier than it really was, as Ken's job now required him to learn to be different characters in our books.  You see, we don't read our stories at schools.  We perform them.  I guess being married for 42 years came in handy though as it has been a successful pairing thus far.  We truly are the married couple - Ralph and Roxanne Roach. 

Kidney Walk 2012

All of this made me think about transitions in our lives.  We all face them as we enter into different stages of life.  It happens to all of us whether we want it or not.  How we approach these changes in our lives can make all the difference in the world.  My mom was such a huge role model in my life.  I remember her telling me that life is filled with changes.  You have two ways to face them because they will happen.  You can get angry and fight it or you can open your arms and welcome your "new life." With lots of prayers and encouragement from our children we are enjoying this "new life."  We see our transitions as blessings!





Kidney Walk 2011



 

 

 

 

 

Sure, Ken still has blood work done every other Tuesday.  And yes, we still await the results anxiously. But now there is a certain peace there that no matter the results we will get through it.  We continue to ask for your prayers.  We are thankful for each day God gives us and we treasure our time together with family and friends. We pray for all of you daily!

 

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

Pat

Happy 2nd Birthday to Ken's Kidney

September 10, 2012 our son-in-law, Alex gave Ken the gift of life - one of his kidneys.  That selfless act gave Ken his life back.  This journey has been a remarkable one.  We have seen first hand the work of God and we are thankful for each and every day.  Yes there were many bumps along the way but Ken is doing well.  We want to thank all of you for your support and prayers and ask you to continue praying.  With the love and support of our family - Stefanie, Greg, Kelly and their spouses Danny, Camille, Alex and our granddaughters Addie, Sophie, Jillie and our grandson Gus we live each day to the fullest and enjoy all our blessings.  We love you all!

Happy 2nd Birthday Ken's Kidney!  

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

Pat

There Are Signs Everywhere!

Kidney Walk in Greenville, SC

Do you ever get caught up in the daily routines of life and before you know it months have gone by?  I certainly do.  Since my last blog a few months back, so much has happened.  Many times I sat down at my computer  to write the blog and became distracted with other things, often the things that matter the least but seem to take up the most of our time. For this I apologize. I know how invested all of you are in knowing how Ken is doing and being part of our journey and message . It actually took a simple sign for me to remember that and re-commit myself to this blog. They say there are signs everywhere, we just need to look for them. I saw mine in Greenville, SC. 

We went to visit Kelly, Alex and Baby Gus for four days in April.  The time was spent playing golf, shopping, eating out, and enjoying family time.  On Sunday we all participated in the Kidney Walk in Greenville, SC.  It was held on the beautiful campus of Furman University.  They were many participants wearing shirts with their family names, business names, or stating they were donors or kidney transplant recipients but one sign in particular caught our attention.  It was simple - written on a plain white piece of paper with a marker and pinned on the back of a young girl.  It said 'I NEED A KIDNEY, PLEASE!" and it was followed by a phone number.  This young girl was about 12 years old.  This was the sign I needed to see.  It brings me back to why I started this blog so long ago.  Yes at the time we wanted to get Ken's story out there and maybe someone would donate a kidney.  But God had already planned Ken's life by bringing Alex into Kelly's life and into our lives.  Now I need to continue this journey to spread the word.  Organ donation can save so many lives.  Ken says each day he would not change one thing of his life.  He has not been connected to a machine and has been able to live his life.  We all have challenges - some are different than others but we all struggle.  How many of us ever have the opportunity to totally change someone's life - to save someone's life?  Think about that young girl and so many others out there that need an Alex to step up and say I will help.  Pass the word on about being a living donor and one day we won't have a waiting list of thousands.  Remember that little girl and pray for all those like her.

Ken and Gus

First Communion

Addie's Piano Recital

Now let me update you on Ken since his last hospital stay in January. His journey continues to be a roller coaster ride.  Ken still has blood work scheduled every two weeks.  We still wait and see and pray for good results every Tuesday afternoon.  Sometimes they are good, sometimes they are not. We try to focus on living in the moment, but let's face it those test results make or break our days. Even when we receive good news, with all the medications and infusions Ken receives, he is always battling side effects.  Lately, his challenge has been with low white blood cell counts which prevents him from being with our granddaughters as much as he wants to. Their colds and stomach viruses can be very serious for Ken.  And then there is the the BK virus which rears its ugly head in his body when his immune system is suppressed. But when his immune system isn't suppressed, he is at risk for rejections and requires infusions. So you see it is up and then it is down.  It is like a balancing act - one medicine helps and then another medicine hurts.  How do the doctors figure out the right balance?  I think it is a work in progress.  But let me be clear: Ken's worst day with his new kidney is still so much better than any day on dialysis. And through everything, faith, family and friends are always there to strengthen and console us.  Life goes on and Ken is one strong man! So much so that I have included just a few pictures of the great family events Ken and I have enjoyed over the past few months.

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

Pat

Happy Birthday??

January 24th was Ken's birthday.  Since we were doing some remodeling at our house, our daughter Stefanie invited us over to celebrate at her home.  Our granddaughters were so excited and started making decorations and cards for the celebration.  Tuesday, the 21st Ken had his fifth kidney biopsy after results from his latest bimonthly blood work indicated problems.  Ken was told the results would be back late Thursday or early Friday morning.  Thursday, the 23th I bought the devil food cake mix, vanilla icing and blue Bell ice cream for the party.  Around noon I got a call from Ken and I knew from his voice something was wrong.  The doctors wanted him to go to the hospital immediately.  They found a mild rejection of the kidney and fibrosis.  He was admitted quickly and as we walked through the doors of the kidney transplant unit the nurses, CNA's, social workers, pharmacists, food service  and cleaning ladies all welcomed Ken and me.  I know I have used this analogy in the past but remember the television show Cheers.  When Ken and I stepped through those doors we knew we were back.......

"Where everybody knows your name
  And they're always glad you came
  You wanna be where you can see
  Our troubles are all the same
  You wanna be where
  Everybody knows your name."

As hard as it is to go back to the hospital this floor truly is our home. And we were back. Ken was given three large doses of steroids for the mild rejection. His original disease was back and was given a chemo drug to put it in remission. Obviously all these medicines have side effects but we again put this all into God's Hands. We pray for good results and for no side effects. We trust in God and know this is His plan.

Best birthday party ever!

So the birthday party came to the transplant floor Friday night.  Addie, Sophie and Stefanie brought TCBY sugar free yogurt and sang Happy Birthday. They made BEAUTIFUL cards for their Pa. We played charades, visited the salt water Aquarium and did some shopping at the vending machine. They counted the bags Pa had hanging from his IV pole and met some of the wonderful nurses. It was a GREAT birthday!  We realized it is not where the party takes place but it is who comes to the party. As my mom used to say, "It's not the food but it's the company!"

Our son Greg, the real writer in this family, read a poem he wrote for Ken over the phone Friday night.  It was so funny that we literally cried. He took all the crazy things happening in our lives and made us laugh and realize what really is important. We ended the day face timing with Kelly, Alex and Gus, our grandson in South Carolina.  Life is great with a family like this, even from a hospital room.

Ken and I have been bombarded with prayers, well wishes, support and love from so many family and friends. We hope you realize what an amazing feeling it is for us knowing so many of you are praying for Ken. You all are in our prayers each and every day. We all have crosses to bear in this lifetime. You never know what journey someone may be on. We wish for all of you that your journeys will be safe, your crosses light to bear, your families and friends surround you with love and you enjoy each and every day God gives you with the ones you love.  I want to share these beautiful words sent to me from my cousin Emily - "I pray for you two to have comfort and encouragement in this hospital stay, that it be short, filled with peace and healing of miraculous magnitude, and that you remember, at all times, how much you are loved and prayed for by all of us at home." Thank you Emily, we do feel all that love.

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