My blog is 4 years old

 

When I started this blog four years ago, on May 2, 2004, I never could have imagined what lay ahead for me.  I have experienced so many blessings, so many benefits.

 

I suppose the first blessing was that writing began to draw me out of myself.  You see, I used to be very, very shy.  That's right, me!  I almost never shared anything of myself with anybody, not even my family.  I was so closed up.  My Dad still asks me how I blog the way I do, and I tell him I don't know!

 

I guess the next benefit I obtained was that I received a little confidence from learning a few computer skills.  Imagine, I had never used a PC up until that point in my life!  When I saw I could do it, it felt good! 

 

Next came meeting other bloggers online.  Some giving, some funny, some fabulous, some intelligent.  Some all of the above.  Wow.  I became fast friends with a lot of new people.  Really special people.

 

I wanted to stop for a minute and mention a pet peeve of mine.  I hate it when people say, "I have my real friends, and then I have my online friends.  I love my online friends as much as I love my real friends."

 

Well, that's nonsense!  Online friends ARE real.  What do these people think online friends are?  Fake?  Not real people?  They are people!  Just because you can't see them everyday, doesn't make them any less real!  They are flesh and blood people, LOL.

 

These are bloggers I spend my time with.  We read each other's blogs and leave comments.  We email.  Sometimes we IM.  Some I have even talked with on the phone or exchanged snail mail with.  But that doesn't matter, whether I have talked with you on the phone, or not.  Each of you are very real, and you know you are!  And each of you is SO precious!  Okay, enough of the rant!

 

Okay, I need to rap it up soon, but I want to say that the most special thing about you all is what I have received from you.  I have received friendship, comfort, and support. 

 

I won't ever forget about the two or so years when John was going through the bone marrow transplant, and the complications afterwards.  I won't forget about the cards and letters that came in for him and me.  EVER.  For those of you who sent, you know who you are.  John and I will NEVER forget.  He will never forget the presents you sent him, so that he could have a good stay in the hospital and make it through his bone marrow transplant.  Items poured in.  He was so humbled.  He had what he needed.  He took it all with him.  Some of the things were practical, some were sentimental.  Each thing, and each card meant more to him than you will ever know. 

 

And still, even after the bone marrow transplant was over the cards came for a couple of years, from all over the world, while John was recuperating in the hospital.  All I can say is, you all are the best.  

 

There is so much more I can say, so much I left out.  But for now I'll just end with this ~~~

 

Thank you all for being part of my blogging experience.  And that includes you also, my dear new readers.

 

Love you all,

 

Krissy :)

Tags: blog, blogging, anniversary, online friends, friendship, comfort, support, cards, letters, bone marrow transplant, thank you, blogplugs

dedicated to those who have gone on before us

Overcoming Survivor's Guilt

 

I found this beautiful message in an email newsletter I receive, called The Cancer Crusade.  It encourages us, who are trapped in Survivor's Guilt, to celebrate the lives of those who have passed on in a very special way:  

 

I encourage you to celebrate the ones you have lost and to keep the flames of their lives burning brightly by giving something good and beautiful to the world with your own life. It doesn't have to be big, but it has to come from a big place in your heart. It doesn't have to be expensive, but it must be generous of spirit.  

I won't even begin to list the possibilities here because they would be my ideas and not yours. You start. You think. You dream. You imagine.  You leave a legacy.

Do it in memory of the loved ones you have lost.

 

And do it so that, when you are gone, the world will be twice blessed for your having been a part of it.

Dear God, please help me remember that we are all in this together. Not one of us is immortal, and eventually we will all come into Your presence. Remind me often, Lord, to celebrate and give thanks in every moment I am alive on this earth and with every breath I take. Help me find ways to celebrate, too, the lives of those I love who make their way to You before I do. And while we're here together, help me to be the kind of friend
others can be sure of.
Amen

 

***This entry is dedicated to, well in your heart, each of you knows who you want to dedicate it to... ***

 

Krissy  

Tags: Survivor's Guilt, Survivors Guilt, cancer, in memory of, giving, legacy, blogplugs

Remembering our First Anniversary

 

Today I want to share with you John's and my  first wedding anniversary.    

 

I hope you'll enjoy this love story!

 

May 7, 2006, started out like any other day.  Well, a regular day for my husband John and me, anyway.  John was in the hospital being treated for complications from his bone marrow transplant.  Healing from a bone marrow transplant takes a long time.  So this was a regular day for us.  John in his hospital bed, me by his side.

 

Today was different though.  It was our first wedding anniversary!  I was feeling slightly down, but was determined to make this a special day.  I slipped down to the hospital gift shop to pick up a card for John.  Then I chose one for him to give to me.

 

I sat down in my chair.  John was getting prepped to get blood.  His blood was administered through an IV pump.  He had named the pump Baxter.  Baxter had become one of his closest friends.  John says Baxter went with him everywhere, even to the bathroom, LOL.

 

We sat back and relaxed because it was a Sunday afternoon.  John got in the frame of mind to receive his two blood transfusions.  We waited for the blood to arrive. 

 

Suddenly a group of medical personnel busted through the door.  First, in came Marie, John's nurse for the day.  She bore a fake red rose.  She was followed by lots of nurses and doctors.

 

They sang "Happy Anniversary" to John and me!  They were determined to make our day special even if we were trapped in the hospital!  

 

Marie, John's nurse, gave him a plastic red rose.  "Well give it to Krissy," she said.  "It's for her anniversary."  The reason why the rose was plastic is because bone marrow transplant recipients often can't be around live plants, especially when their immunities are low.  John gave me the rose.

 

Next came a beautiful, shiny red heart balloon weighted down by a bag of Hershey's Kisses. 

 

But the most thoughtful thing of all was when we were presented with a cake top. 

 

I was stunned.  Cake tops are not just made in a few minutes.  And nobody had known that it was our anniversary since a few hours before.  That meant that this was not a newly made cake top.  It meant that somebody had gone home, taken out their own cake top from their freezer and brought it to us, so we could have an anniversary.

 

Who would do such a thing?  Who sacrificed their cake top?  

 

We will never know, but later on, Marie asked us if it was special.  I replied, "It was excellent and very special."

 

After singing Happy Anniversary the group decided we should have privacy and closed the door.  They made a big deal about us having privacy! 

 

We ate the cake top, pretending it was ours.  Then John and I exchanged cards.  "You have good taste!"  I told him.  "How did you know what I'd like?"  "Oh I just knew," he laughed.  

 

John and I had a few more precious moments celebrating together quietly, but soon the door was opened and in walked Marie to take John's vitals (temperature, blood pressure, etc.) and give him blood.

 

What a precious gift the staff had given John and me.  We had a really nice anniversary despite the fact that John was in the hospital.  I lovethat staff. 

 

But most of all I love John.  

 

To read the original account:  John and my first Anniversary! 

 

             
                   Anniversary card John bought me

 

            
                     John receiving a blood transfusion

Tags: Wedding Anniversary, anniversary, surprise, celebration, cake top, rose, blood transfusion, bone marrow transplant, stem cell transplant, blogplugs