| 6/19/2013 9:44:32 AM |
One year ago yesterday... |
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volleyballguy73
Hartland, MI
41, joined Feb. 2009
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Many of you know about my health struggles in the past. Yesterday was one year since my donor passed. One year ago tonight I got the call from U of M to come in for the transplant, the 21st is the anniversary of my transplant. I'm feeling fantastic, but that is not what this post is about.
Yesterday, the family held a memorial service of sorts. There is a large "brick" in the town where she lived, that everyone paints. The family decided to paint a memorial on it and have her family and friends sign it. I contacted my donor's best friend and asked her to come get me, so I could surprise the family by being there and meeting them for the first time. I met her mom first, at the store where we all got balloons to release. Tina, my donor's friend who picked me up, and I were walking out of the store with a dozen balloons. She said, "There's Blanche", who is my donor's mom. I kind of hid behind the balloons until we got to the car where Blanche was. I stepped out from behind the balloons, and Blanche immediately started crying after she saw me. Her brother and disabled sister were there, as well as one of her cousins was there, too, and a young man she had helped get through school and back on the "right track". I met my donor's grandma next. She didn't seem like she wanted to let me go. I met her other sister and step-dad (who raised her), uncle, aunt and a couple of cousins, one niece and nephew, and friends later. There were a ton of people there to sign the "brick". Later, 9 of us went to dinner and just talked. It was such an honor to be there, to share in this with the family.
Her mom and me....
Her mom (left), Dad (far right), brother, sisters and me....
Her siblings (in the front), cousin (like sisters) in the back, and me....
Almost ALL of her family have become donors now, because of what Shawntel was able to do for me, and 4 others.
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| 6/19/2013 11:57:35 AM |
One year ago yesterday... |
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timetogolf
Chesaning, MI
61, joined Dec. 2007
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VBG.....congrats on your anniversary......and it is so awesome that you truly appreciate the gift of life your donor gave........
she lives on in many ways, and one of those ways is through you.......what a blessing!
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| 6/19/2013 1:05:38 PM |
One year ago yesterday... |
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greeneyedwench
Roseville, MI
42, joined Jun. 2013
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Wow congrats.. Have wondered about how things were going for you during my dh absence  glad to see you are doing so well
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| 6/19/2013 1:54:27 PM |
One year ago yesterday... |
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volleyballguy73
Hartland, MI
41, joined Feb. 2009
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Thanks. It was an amazing experience surprising and meeting the family and friends. From everything I've heard, Shawntel was an amazing person and no one was surprised that she was a donor. Yesterday was the first time I had met any of them, family or friends, and almost every person I met hugged me and cried while doing it. I understand that I was a physical reminder that she wasn't there, but these weren't tears of sorrow. They were all tears of joy due to meeting one of the people that she was able to help. "Amazing experience" doesn't even begin to cover it.
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| 6/19/2013 10:56:28 PM |
One year ago yesterday... |
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volleyballguy73
Hartland, MI
41, joined Feb. 2009
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Thank you. One year ago, at this time, I was sitting at U of M, waiting for surgery, which actually happened early on the 21st.
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| 6/20/2013 7:42:49 AM |
One year ago yesterday... |
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k_u_n_t
Mountmellick
Ireland
38, joined Jun. 2013
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This is the sweetest ever
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| 6/20/2013 3:34:03 PM |
One year ago yesterday... |
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volleyballguy73
Hartland, MI
41, joined Feb. 2009
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This is the sweetest ever
Thank you.
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| 6/20/2013 10:50:26 PM |
One year ago yesterday... |
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pretensea
Kalamazoo, MI
49, joined Mar. 2010
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You look handsome! MWAH! 
Loved reading this.
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| 6/20/2013 11:15:30 PM |
One year ago yesterday... |
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volleyballguy73
Hartland, MI
41, joined Feb. 2009
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You look handsome! MWAH!
Loved reading this.
LOL. Thanks.
At this time, a year ago, I was getting prepped for surgery. I didn't actually go "under" until almost 3 am, though.
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| 6/21/2013 10:54:08 PM |
One year ago yesterday... |
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pretensea
Kalamazoo, MI
49, joined Mar. 2010
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After reading this I was looking on the back of my license. I had checked it before as a donor. I didn't see it on the back of this one. Hrmmm. I would love it that when I pass I can be recycled...heh...prolly won't want to use my liver tho. 
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| 6/22/2013 2:25:29 AM |
One year ago yesterday... |
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volleyballguy73
Hartland, MI
41, joined Feb. 2009
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Now, when you get your license renewed, tell them you want to be a donor and there is a little red heart and the word "donor" that goes on the front of your license. Then you can specify on the back, which tissues and organs, or "all".
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| 6/22/2013 10:40:23 PM |
One year ago yesterday... |
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pretensea
Kalamazoo, MI
49, joined Mar. 2010
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Will do! Not too long before I hafta have that done either.
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| 6/23/2013 2:46:30 PM |
One year ago yesterday... |
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motorcity4570
Marysville, MI
64, joined Jun. 2009
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Hi Volley;
~ What a wonderful story that will live on and on, And touch many more people as time goes by.
~ I'm so glad you met the girls family. I'm sure that it helped them with " clossure, Hope, and faith " Things we all need in our life.
~ I feel it has helped you also.
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| 6/23/2013 11:53:08 PM |
One year ago yesterday... |
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volleyballguy73
Hartland, MI
41, joined Feb. 2009
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Hi Volley;
~ What a wonderful story that will live on and on, And touch many more people as time goes by.
~ I'm so glad you met the girls family. I'm sure that it helped them with " clossure, Hope, and faith " Things we all need in our life.
~ I feel it has helped you also.
I have heard from multiple family members and friends of my donor. They have all said how happy they were that I was there. I don't know that it was so much "closure" as it was that a part of her was there, at the memorial. It has, also, helped me, tremendously. Until I had the transplant I had only ever told 2 people the following "story". As a kid, growing up, I did many reports on diabetes through school. Mostly because I had friends who didn't really understand it (one girl, who grew up just down the street, wouldn't hold my hand when we were learning to square dance for 5th grade camp, because she was afraid she'd catch diabetes). In the process of doing research for the reports, I read about the varying complications, when they typically started, and what the life expectancy was for someone with type 1 diabetes. I never thought I would live much past 40 because of this. Well, I was 39 and almost 2 months when I received my transplant. My thought is that my "old" self died the day I got the transplant and I started a new life. Now, I am a person of strong faith and my belief, looking back now, is that "someone" (God) was telling me something and I just didn't understand what He was telling me. 
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| 6/29/2013 6:00:33 PM |
One year ago yesterday... |
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lorilou54
Mount Pleasant, MI
60, joined Dec. 2008
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So very glad for your continued health. And glad you were finally able to meet your donor's family. Hugs
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| 6/30/2013 3:53:32 AM |
One year ago yesterday... |
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newworldman4
Trenton, MI
50, joined Jan. 2012
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Wow.along time ago.what did i have for breakfast.omg got to go
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