10 years on

The 1st of October marks 10 years since my second transplant and although I am feeling very low at the moment I still feel very blessed to have got this far as yet again doctors didn't think I would make it to the end of the year with this liver let alone reach 10 years. As some of you know I was listed for a third transplant just 3 weeks after my second but then miraculously despite  my thrombosis oxygen and blood where getting to my liver again and so they thought they would take me off the list and see how  long it would last but they said it would probably only be  matter of weeks or months before I have to be re-listed.

I would love to be able to say that the past 10 years has been amazing and that I managed to live a normal and happy life but unfortunately it hasn't been the case and more than anything its been the most challenging, emotional and life changing time of my life and although I am so grateful to my donor and her family for the most precious gift one can give to another human being I often regret the decision to go ahead with the transplant and like I said in my previous post I feel that it could of gone to someone more deserving or could have made a better life with it.

I always said if I got to the 10 year milestone I would celebrate big and do a fundraiser but unfortunately because I got ill earlier in the year I was unable to do all the planning and preparation for it and to be honest with everything going on it even slipped my mind. Anyhow my mum couldn't let the day pass without celebrating it with our nearest and dearest so she decided to organise a get together at her flat and at the same time raise money for Marie Curie as I have benefited from their services a lot this year and I wanted to give something back.

Although I was feeling very low when people started to turn up even people I didn't expect would come came I started to feel very happy to be surrounded with so much love and support and I felt very blessed. I couldn't believe that everyone came for me and help me celebrate. It was a lovely feeling and very emotional as I released the latter and the balloons in memory of my donors. I realised then I have an AMAZING family and friends and although my life didn't turn out the way I had hoped and I have gone through so much I realised that throughout my journey I have been surrounded by such wonderful people.

I know that I will probably will not get to celebrate another 10 years but if I do it will surely be one hell of a celebration!

IN MEMORY OF MY DONOR

IN MEMORY OF BOTH MY DONORS

My lovely Todd Ward nurses who looked after me during my transplant