Huge Thanks!

New Wings for Kara benefit was a big success last night! There was a great turn out and it was so good to see so many people that I haven't seen in a long time! I don't get out a whole lot...only getting out to go to doctor appointments, church, and some of the kids' sports events...so it was good to get out and enjoy time with friends and family. :) To me, that in itself was worth the event more then anything. I mean, who doesn't love a party??? I do feel bad that I didn't get to talk to some people, or I would be talking to someone and then start talking to someone else and then the first person I was talking to wasn't there anymore! So I hope no one felt like I ditched them! ;) It was a long night for me and I was very tired by the time I got home.

Huge thanks to Katy Linkous, Cherolet Hutcheson, and Jodi Byers. These amazing ladies are the ones who pulled off the benefit for me. They did so much and Doug and I are so very thankful! There are so many others that helped as well...I don't want to leave anyone out. Words just cannot express how thankful we are to have such great friends and family to help us get through this "hiccup" in life! Wild Horse Radio came out to DJ the event and was awesome! Thank you Jeff Zumbrun! Doug and I had to dance together...he was thrilled! :) I wasn't too mobile because of my lovely oxygen tank. First time we had danced in awhile, so that was nice. :) It was a little much because of moving around, but I had him to hold me up.

Here's a few photos from the night:

The wonderful group of ladies that helped pull off the event!

1995 crew...Angie, Kelly, Joe, Nicki, Kara & Vickie

I hope that everyone had a good time! I know that I sure did. I wish that it was under better circumstances that I saw everyone, but it is what it is. I'm taking one day at a time and hoping for the best.

I go back to Cleveland May 7, and will just have the usual battery of tests and appointments. I'll have the usual blood tests, chest xray and lung function tests. We'll see what my numbers for my lung function tests are and go from there. I will see my pulmonary transplant doctor as well as my rheumatologist and also my infectious disease doctor. My blood will be checked for the IGg levels to see what my antibodies are from the infusion I had a few weeks ago. We will come up with a game plan as to if I need more infusions and how much and how often I may need them. I am pretty sure that I will need more. I will update my blog after my appointments and let you all know where everything stands.

Before I sign off this time, I had to share something. The other morning when I woke up I had a song stuck in my head. It was "Breath of Heaven" which I had sang a long (long) time ago at church around Christmas time. I hadn't thought about (or heard) this song in forever and I can usually only remember the chorus of the song. While the song is mainly about Mary uncertain of why God has chosen her to carry and give birth to His son, I found that a lot of the lyrics could apply to any situation really. Especially mine. I am definitely waiting in a silent prayer, and definitely frightened by the load that I bear....check it out:

Breath of Heaven by Amy Grant

I have traveled many moonless nights
Cold and weary, with a babe inside
And I wonder what I've done
Holy Father, you have come
And chosen me now
To carry your son

I am waiting in a silent prayer
I am frightened by the load I bear
In a world as cold as stone,
Must I walk this path alone?
Be with me now
Be with me now

Chorus:
Breath of heaven
Hold me together
Be forever near me
Breath of heaven
Breath of heaven
Light up my darkness
Pour over me your holiness
For you are holy

Breath of heaven
Do you wonder as you watch my face
If a wiser one one should have had my place
But I offer all I am
For the mercy of your plan
Help me be strong
Help me be
Help me