Just got a chance to catch the piece on Good Morning America. It was well produced and we enjoyed watching it. It was great to work with the producer, thanks for that.
I will write a longer post later today to discuss the content, and fill in some blanks in the story. I will also try to see if i can post a video of the story for those that would like to watch it, and missed it.
To read the ABC story click on the image.
Joy is doing really great! and i am so happy and thankful for that.
Yesterday we attended a memorial celebration of a friend of ours who died of colon cancer at 30. It was a beautiful ceremony in remembering a very remarkable woman who touch many many peoples lives. That in combination with the requests from Dr. Silber for some medical history has had me on a trip down memory lane of what my experience was like when I was sick. I remember spending night after night in the hospital, feeling so alone because I had no way to relate what that experience was like to anyone else and feeling like I didn’t want to bring anyone else into that place with me. I have this old habit of pretending like the things that have happened to me in my life are not a big deal because it is just the way things are. Listening to people talk about Jen’s struggle with cancer and the things that she went through in her years of dealing with the disease reminded me of what it was like for me and what I went through and although I even try to tell myself that it wasn’t a big deal, it was, it is. It was something I wish no one would ever have to go through in their life. It was an extrememly intence expirience, and although I learned so much about myself and what I am capable of it takes its toll. I am reminded again of how precious every person and every moment is. How life needs to be lived, out loud, passionately in everything that we do. Because it is far to common for us as people to just spend our days in routine, living through the paces of life instead of living the life. there is so much wisdom is sayings like take time to smell the roses. smile,make time, play, love, enjoy life, feel everything. live, every moment is special.
Today marks the 21st day post op.
The past week for me has been a bit of a whirlwind, I had to take some time and slow down. Work has picked up quite a bit, i needed to put in some extra time at that. Slowing down for me is hard sometimes, i just want to keep on going, doing it all and making sure its all 100%.
Taking time last week was good, i got to devote more attention to Joy and her continued healing. Also taking care of some much needed house things. The weekend was fabulous, Joy and i got to spend some much needed alone time together, loving on each other and feeling much more normal. We were talking and she said, “you know you are my best friend”, and as i looked around and let that moment hang there, it was exquisite. She really is my best friend as well, and so much more too. I feel as though we continue to get to know each other even more, and the past 21 days have been a sort of fire to cook us together.
I can see the healing process take shape everyday with Joy. It is fantastic how fast and well she is going through this. Last week was such a night/day change from week 2. She has much more mobility in her body, she can drive again! The pain level seem to have gone down a notch, or at least not happening as often. She measured her incision the other day, it came in at 5.25 inches, that may not sound very large, but she has a little waist, so its quite large on her. The incision looks even better this week, i am sure it will just continue to heal better and better. Overall she is doing amazing, and we are starting to get back into our groove, life is starting to normalize, and that is good!
i don’t if its just a function of my attention or Joy’s hormones kicking up, but i have been noticing children so much the past week. I have been enjoying watching my friends and their children, or other people kids, and saying “whoa that will be us soon”. Its quite exciting.
A few people have asked some questions, that i will answer over the next couple of days, things like, “where did you meet? how long have you known each other? have you picked names for your kids?” if you want to know anything else, contact us.
I guess most people aren’t totally ecstatically happy when they say that but I am . I have been feeling a bit hormonal, hehehe. I have been feeling a bit more emotional, a bit more moody, a bit more like the old me. and I couldn’t be happier about it.
I have noticed how lately Rodrigo has been paying particular attention to children, noticing them, noticing how there parents are being with them. all the cute things that they do. He is going to be such an amazing father.
I was in conversation with another woman who had gone through a lot to get pregnant and we both had said we joked to our husbands about how our children would never be able to say that they were not wanted. Hopefully they will always know what we did to bring then into this world and what other people did to help us. Because we loved them so much even before they were here.
sometimes I imagine myself somewhere in a park perhaps watching them play, worrying but tring to let them venture out on their own. I imagine laughter and playfulness. I can already feel how much love there is inside of me to give to them. what I would teach them, whatI would learn from them. this is definitely an adventure i am ready for. I know there are sleepless nights and more dirty diapers than I could ever imagine, but none of that scares me. I am definitely ready to be a Mom.
it is strange for me to hear other women say “i don’t think my sister would do that for me” referring to the transplant. I always knew my sisters were extraordinary because of the women that they are. i guess i never really looked at our relationship as being something out of the ordinary as well. i just assumed that that is how sisters are. you love each other as little children, you fight as teenagers, and then as you grow up and start to figure out who you are you realize that there are these amazing people that have been there in your life all along the way. no matter what your journey has looked like. my sisters have been there for me. whenever i needed something, a place to come home to, a shoulder to cry on, an ear to vent to. when it was time to test for my bone marrow match i knew that each one of them would gladly do it. when we found out that the cancer treatment would shut down my ovaries i knew that each one of them would gladly give me eggs so i could have children. when we found Dr Silber i knew i could have asked either of them for an ovary and they both would have said yes. Just in the same way that if they ever needed something from me i wouldn’t hesitate to give it to them. I don’t even need to know what it is, what its for, i just would because they are my sisters, they are my friends. I wish every woman in the world could know the strength found in the love between sisters.
As I was thinking about the transplant procedure today, and thought about all the women who have undergone this type of procedure i was hit with a sudden feeling of deep gratitude. I am deeply thankful to each of you for taking the leap and going for it. It has already brought so much to our family, and i know it will continue to do so. Without your courage and will, what happened on the 5th of February would not have been possible. I don’t know all the names of the courageous women who have undergone this ground breaking procedure, i do wish i did so i could thank them by name. From reading the news, and watching the show that steered us to Dr. Silber, I know a few names.
Thank you Melanie Morgan and Stephanie Yarber, the first set of twin sisters that had the courage to trail-blaze along with Dr. Silber and bring so much to other families. Bonny and her twin sister, Crystal, the second set to undergo the procedure thank you.
Those are the only set of names i have found. I hope this finds its way to the rest of the women and their familes, to all of you i say, many many thanks!
Just heard from Dr. Silber’s office. The Learning Channel (TLC) will be airing a show about the 2nd ovary transplant Dr. Silber did.
This is set to air FEB 21 2007 @ 08:00 PM (check local listing for your time)
Here is the information.
Link to show information on TLC website
TLC — Menopause at 22
Menopause at 22For Cordt and Bonny, their only chance of ever having a child lies in an experimental ovary transplant procedure. In order for this procedure to take place, however, Bonny’s twin sister, Crystal, must be willing to donate one of her ovaries to Bonny.
Sister is a very important relationship. It is one of friendship and kinship. My sisters know me better than anyone else in the world. Both of them. I wanted to share a little about what it means to me to have these two incredible women in my life because if it were not for them I would not be.
Becky is my sunrise, she is the excitement of a new day that promises to be filled with beauty. her love is strong, deep and precious. her heart is tender, big and soft. she is the kind of women that makes you smile just by being around her. She cares so much about the people that she loves. she will always help you find the silver lining if you seemed to have lost it. she would do just about anything to help out a friend. she has this amazing capacity to grow and evolve and to create more in her life. Becky oh the places you will go….. I am so lucky to have you as a sister
Maeapple is my sunset, she is the warm soft beauty of a fulfilled day. her love is strong and deep and constant. her heart is strong, big and unwavering. she is the kind of women everyone loves because she puts you at ease and makes you feel safe. She is smart and funny and a wonderful mother. she has the ability to be unconditional and unjudging that is so unique. she is authentic. She can write the most beautiful things, maybe someday she will give the word books to read and then they can all know her gift. Mae the space the you create…. I am so lucky to have you as a sister
You see I could not have my days without my sisters, they are both equally necessary to me. I love them both so much. I know that i could have asked either one of them to give me my bone marrow, to give me eggs, to give me an ovary. and they both would have done it without a second thought. without hesitation, with just love for me.
here is the picture that the news cut off, Mae, me, Becky——Sisters
Just about 10 days since the surgery. Recovery for both Joy and Maeapple has been going well. Joy has been doing better each day, and she gets somewhat restless that she can’t do some of the things she is use to doing, like driving, or picking up things.
Today i cleaned up some sticky tape residue left on her skin from the surgery. So i got really up close and personal with the incision. I am just blown away at how fast the body heals, the actual incision looks great, closed nice and even. I ran my fingers along it a few times and it feels smooth, as i looked really close to Joy’s skin i could see just where the skin has reformed and closed up, just neat. At one end it feels like a stitch is slightly poking up, besides that, its smoooothe.
This week has been really hectic, with Joy recovering and me working, and a new roommate moving in while we were in St. Louis it feels like everything is happening all at once. My head has been foggy from a cold, and i just have not been getting enough sleep. I really should have planned on taking this week off as well, hindsight is 20/20. It jut feels like we have no regular routine right now, i imagine next week will be much better. It was also valentine’s day today, and i just didn’t feel prepared to do a “big thing”. I ended up cooking dinner, which was great, beside the fish being a little too salty.
Happy valentines day Joy!!
I just want to say thank you for all the response. It is so amazing to see our story out in the world touching other people. Everyone has been so supportive and encouraging. People we don’t even know sending their thoughts and wishes. Sending tips on how to heal faster and asking questions. It is really great. I am just so grateful and I feel really lucky. I wish I could respond personally to each one. For now I will just say thank you again and please keep it up I love reading what everyone is contributing to us in their thoughts and questions and blessings.
love
Joy