Well, I have spent one week without Mark. It went pretty quickly as I had a busy week with parent teacher conferences and other events. This past week as I was speaking with Mark I was asking how his training was going. Mark mentioned that his manager from the restaurant here in Phoenix called him to make sure everything was going well in the store and was also asking if his dialysis was working out as well. He wanted to make sure that it was going well. This is the first time anyone has asked about this and even cared...usually the people think he is some type of fungus once they find out he does dialysis. Even the managers at his store in California are asking to make sure that everything is going well with dialysis. First time for everything!
Monday, August 29, 2011
Saturday, August 20, 2011
I'll Love You Through It...
Just last night Mark shared with me a song that Martina McBride sang on "Good Morning America", that focused on cancer and getting through it. It was an amazing song, and in many ways touched us and was so close to our heart. It really is love that will get Mark and I through this all.
Mark will be leaving tomorrow morning for 7 weeks of training in California. I like to think of myself as a pretty independent person, but for the last 6 years of my life Mark and I have not really been apart for that long at a time. I realize other people have dealt with longer times, I have a coworker who has her spouse who has been overseas for almost a year--and here I am complaining about 7 weeks. After all the things we have gone through, its hard to give up time I could be spending with him, but I know it is something great.
I think my life is finally stabilizing - or maybe I am just accepting things. It is rather crazy to think that in a course of a couple years Mark lost his job (and many there after due to health/time constraints), Mark's health took a dramatic decline which eventually ended in kidney failure and starting dialysis, my parents divorced, and on top of that I have had to pick up a couple other jobs to make ends meet. Through all of this though, the love between Mark and I has grown exponentially. I am so lucky to have him in my life.
Mark will be leaving tomorrow morning for 7 weeks of training in California. I like to think of myself as a pretty independent person, but for the last 6 years of my life Mark and I have not really been apart for that long at a time. I realize other people have dealt with longer times, I have a coworker who has her spouse who has been overseas for almost a year--and here I am complaining about 7 weeks. After all the things we have gone through, its hard to give up time I could be spending with him, but I know it is something great.
I think my life is finally stabilizing - or maybe I am just accepting things. It is rather crazy to think that in a course of a couple years Mark lost his job (and many there after due to health/time constraints), Mark's health took a dramatic decline which eventually ended in kidney failure and starting dialysis, my parents divorced, and on top of that I have had to pick up a couple other jobs to make ends meet. Through all of this though, the love between Mark and I has grown exponentially. I am so lucky to have him in my life.
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Running a Marathon...
I happened to stumble upon someone who I work with at JCPenneys who has a lot more in common with us. I have spoke with this woman before, usually the "how are you today" type, but this time we got into a little more. She was born with polycystic kidney disease, where the kidneys become enlarged. Sixteen years ago she underwent a kidney transplant. The kidney was a deceased donor, and she was able to keep this kidney for 8 years. This was all while she was raising 4 children at home and went through the death of her husband. The kidney failed though. She had to undergo dialysis and at that her son donated her one of his kidneys. She has been going strong for 9 years now and her kidneys are still working at 75%. One of the questions I asked her was how she felt after the transplants, because I keep hearing how much more energy a person has after it. She also said that the next day she could have run a marathon (I wonder how many times around a hospital floor would be a marathon???) Simply amazing! Her word of advice for Mark -- "Don't give up!"
I have also been reaching out to organizations that work for kidney research, especially those for Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis. There is still little known about FSGS and effective treatment. I came across a group out of Pennsylvania, and were looking to expand the the group to the Phoenix area. They are wanting to plan a walk, and I am just super excited to be a part of this group.
Mark has a job!!! He just started Corner's Bakery, a small deli type restaurant. A week into his training for a cook position, an assistant manager position opened up and in a week he will be leaving for California for 7 weeks. They also know about his dialysis, and one of the other managers was simpathetic because she has a family member doing dialysis as well. Also, on the good news board, Tori was a blood match for Mark. So she will be going through the testing in the next coming weeks. Things seem to be doing well! Until next time, "don't give up"
I have also been reaching out to organizations that work for kidney research, especially those for Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis. There is still little known about FSGS and effective treatment. I came across a group out of Pennsylvania, and were looking to expand the the group to the Phoenix area. They are wanting to plan a walk, and I am just super excited to be a part of this group.
Mark has a job!!! He just started Corner's Bakery, a small deli type restaurant. A week into his training for a cook position, an assistant manager position opened up and in a week he will be leaving for California for 7 weeks. They also know about his dialysis, and one of the other managers was simpathetic because she has a family member doing dialysis as well. Also, on the good news board, Tori was a blood match for Mark. So she will be going through the testing in the next coming weeks. Things seem to be doing well! Until next time, "don't give up"
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)