As a child you get excited and look forward to your birthday but as you get older the excitement dies and you actually dread getting older, well it's true in my case. However much i dread getting older I also see it as a blessing because every year that passes is a precious gift from God. Over the past 31 years i have defied many odds through my health and when i was first diagnosed with Biliary Atresia prospects and survival rates were not great in the 80's and many children didn't make it past 2 years old therefore my chances were not great. However it seems like God has other plans for me because I made it into my teens without any major health issues post Kasai at 6 weeks old and it wasn't until i was 14 when i began to show signs of my liver deteriorating and I was placed on the national transplant list at age 18 and had my transplant a year later. My full story can be found in earlier posts.
Last year i spent my 30th birthday in hospital due to complications post hernia surgery. I was on TPN so was not allowed to eat. It wasn't exactly how I planned to celebrate my 30th but that's what life is living with liver disease. My family, friends and the hospital staff all tried to make it as special as possible and loads of people came bringing cakes and food. Although I wasn't allowed to eat any of it it, it was nice to be able to share it with the staff and other patients, also was lovely to have so many visitors which lifted my spirits.
I thank God for helping me get through the past year as it has been tough and there have been times when i wanted to give up but through his guidance and comfort I've managed to see it through and am finally beginning to feel a lot better. I have been home now for 3 months which has been my longest in a year and i'm happy to say that although i'm not 100% better yet I am positive that things can and will only get better from now on and i hope to start re-building my life again.
Lord thank you for 31 years of life and for blessing me with an amazing family especially my one in a million Mum and great friends. Also thanks to the wonderful Liver team @ Kings College Hospital for saving my life numerous times, without them I wouldn't be here today.
