Category: family love

Reflections

Lynne13243 Comments

This is a follow-up post from yesterday’s post.

September 16, 2015 Lauren spoke at the Chicopee Chamber of Commerce Breakfast as a guest speaker for Donate Life. It was a packed house. We were both nervous.  Before Lauren became very sick, I had a business called Country Look Designs Gift Baskets.  When I had my business, I was a member of this Chamber,  it was a great way to meet other business people in the area.  I did see some familiar faces,which was very nice.

When Lauren was giving her speech, she mention that she had a PA line in her neck (we called it her leash).  This is Lauren with her PA Line in, before transplant .

MEILA1_6C76499A-E84A-AC38-09996604D2084D09

This is a post Lauren wrote while waiting for her heart:

 I need to have a “PA line” in my neck with two special medicines helping my heart beat stronger to be considered a 1A top of the list. Well I ended up getting the line in on that Friday and things were looking great until about 10:30 at night. My mom was rubbing my feet trying to relax me so I could fall asleep, then all of a sudden my heart rate started going up. Long story short, the ordeal went on until almost two in the morning. My room was filled with doctors and nurses from the ICU, which one of the doctors tried to jiggle the line. Once he had done that, all hell broke loose. I think there was a kink or something because after that a ton of the medicine released and my heart rate went up to 158. I had the x-ray machine in my room, ekgs done, the whole nine yards. My mom was crying because you could literally see my heart beating through my 101 lb body. All of a sudden my nurse told me they were ready to sedate me… and put the shock stickers on me.. yup, they were ready to jolt my ass! Scary! Instead they ended up pulling the line and for the rest of the weekend I was bumped down to a 1B statis. It was a stressful weekend because we were unsure if I was going to be able to get the “LEASH” back in my neck. I call it a leash as a joke because I only have about a 3 foot radius to walk around with it in… Just imagine being 22 and basically being bed bound for 10 days at a time while all your friends are progressing and having fun with there lives, actually imagine being any age and told you had to deal with this.

This picture was taken a couple of months after transplant.

20140127_140409

My daughter Lauren endured every complication that could happen during her recovery.  It was a long road for her, but for the most part she had that pretty smile on her face.  She didn’t want to show me her fear, nor did I. Together we stayed strong, because we were going home someday.

This was the day we left the hospital, after 5 months of recovery.  She never gave up, she still had the trac in and also her feeding tube. But we are going HOME !!!!!!!

When we walked through these doors in March of 2013, never thought we would be walking out May 2014.It was a long road, but I told my daughter we would be walking out together, with what we came for.  Thank you GOD…

20140512_175554

Lauren & Lynne 1437940979_love_valentines_day_11

So many mixed emotions on this day, today’s my birthday, plus so many mourning this day

Lynne13242 Comments

20150911_080731

When I woke up this morning, came down the stairs this is what I saw.  I am so blessed.  My sneaky daughter got up last night, after I went to bed and did this.  Things like this make my heart melt. Love you Lauren

14 years ago, changed the way I feel about September 11th.  I find it hard to celebrate when I know today so so many families lost loved ones on this day.

My husband asked me what I wanted to do for my birthday.  He suggested going away for the weekend, taking me out for a nice dinner, whatever I wanted to do.  I told him, a perfect birthday, I just want to stay at home and have a family dinner. I am so grateful for my family and our home.

We may have gone through so much in our lives, I don’t take things for granted anymore.  Being at home with my family is the perfect day to me.

Please take a moment to remember all the innocent people who are no longer with us.

Love Lynne  1437940979_love_valentines_day_11

Update on Cian, please read

Lynne13241 Comment

Little Cian McDonnell Lynch is four years old. He is battling a very rare illness that has no cure.
Email:hopeforcian@gmail.com
http://www.hopeforcian.com/

12006146_1525023411121985_5928326806849911543_n

Update from Lisa (Cians mother): Today was Cians first day back at pre-school. He was so excited going back.

“We are trying to make life as normal as possible for him while we wait for the liver biopsy, results and a final decision as to if Cian will definitely be put on the list for a double lung transplant in Boston. Cian is in the process of getting tests done before getting the biopsy to ensure he didn’t pick up any type of infection while in Boston Childrens Hospital recently. So far the tests have been clear. We should have dates for the biopsy very soon. Overall Cian continues to be a happy little boy full of fun despite all he is going through. He’s not able for much exercise or moving around as he gets very breathless and sick when he overexerts himself. We want to say a huge thank you to everybody that has supported Cian to date. The support is amazing. We are so grateful to you all 💜”

Since I have heard about Cian and his family, my heart aches for them.  I know the frustration of the waiting game.  Wondering if my child is going to live or die.  I can feel their pain.  When my daughter Lauren was in the hospital, first waiting to find out if she would be accepted to be placed on the transplant list, then after being accepted, waiting for a donor.

During my time in Boston Massachusetts, one day I needed to get out of the hospital.  I took a walk around outside, it started to rain.  I came across a cute little restaurant called Penguin Pizza.  When I entered the place, I felt so alone.  Everyone was with friends having a great time. So I took a seat at the bar (didn’t want to sit at a table alone), on that day, my time in Boston changed.  Everyone that worked there was so friendly, most of them were from Ireland, loved the accents.  Then I met  Pamela O Brien Carthy, she was the manager there.    I remember how Pam made me feel so welcome.  She knew I was new there, so Pam took the time to talk with me.  I told her about my daughter, and how I was living in the hospital with her.  Pam was very comforting and from that day on, I felt I had a friend in Boston.

Lauren and I started a fundraiser for expenses from her hospital room.  We order purple wrist bands to sell.  Pam and her crew jumped in and helped to sell them from her establishment.  One day my husband Dean and I stopped in and to our disbelief, the crew was all wearing the bands, then looking around so many of the customers were wearing the bands also.  They raised so much money for us, I could not believe it.

We have stayed in communications to this day.  That’s how I heard about Cian.

Please share this post.  Cian and his family need our help and prayers.  At this time he is back home in Ireland, waiting for test results.  I am praying he comes back to Boston soon, to receive his gift of life.  When that happens, I would love to make a trip to Children’s Hospital in Boston to be able to meet him and his family.  Also I would love to meet up with Pam again.

Please click on the link to learn more about this precious little boy.
http://www.hopeforcian.com/

Lynne  1437940979_love_valentines_day_11

Time to get in shape

Lynne132412 Comments

manwomanstretch1-548-x-406

With summer coming to a close, my husband and I have decided it’s time to get healthier.

My husband came home from work the other day and said “either I lose weight or I need to buy bigger suits”.  I looked at him and started to laugh, and said you know what we need to do.

So together we are going to do this as a team.

I will post updates of the progress.

Lynne 1437940979_love_valentines_day_11

Make today a beautiful day

Lynne13244 Comments

20150819_045723

The sun is rising.

  I took this picture when I was at the beach, a beautiful morning sunrise.

I am so blessed, that I had the opportunity to be able to watch this magical site.  It’s a new day.

When you start your day today, be thankful for everything and everyone you have in your life, there are no guarantee’s we have tomorrow.  Say a prayer for those are suffering.  Every morning I start my day with a prayer  for anyone who many be living in the hospital, that their gift of life will come to them today.  This poem was written by Suzy Kassem.

 Each day is born with a sunrise
and ends in a sunset, the same way we
open our eyes to see the light,
and close them to hear the dark.
You have no control over
how your story begins or ends.
But by now, you should know that
all things have an ending.
Every spark returns to darkness.
Every sound returns to silence.
And every flower returns to sleep
with the earth.
The journey of the sun
and moon is predictable.
But yours,
is your ultimate
ART.”
― Suzy Kassem

Today is Saturday, the weekend.  To some people it’s called “finally the weekend is here”, to others it is just another day.  The only thing you have control of, is your approach to the day.

Lynne 1437940979_love_valentines_day_11

The ladies are coming today………..

Lynne13242 Comments

DSCN2921

This is my family.

My mother, myself, my sister Laureen and my sister Donna.  My mother and sister Laureen lives in Florida and my sister Donna lives in Virginia.  Today they are flying and driving to come here to my house today.  Then tomorrow we are off to Old Orchard Beach Maine to spend time together.   This will be the first vacation we all take together, since we were kids.

After the last couple of years, we are now learning how important it is to just do it.  We always had reasons before not to be able to just say “let’s do it”, but now every moment is precious. Normally I would fly to Florida once a year to see my mother and sister, but this past year it will be the 3rd time I see my mom.  It is hard when they live so far way.

I am blessed t have my family, so now it’s time to enjoy being together.

Look out Old Orchard Beach, the ladies are coming to have fun.

Lynne

Buddies, Lauren and Joe

Lynne13246 Comments

IMG95201508149515324223795HDR

Lauren and Joe Whalen

Yesterday Lauren went to visit one of her best buddies.  They have a special bond that only they will know.

They both had a heart transplant.

We met Joe and his family when we were living in Brigham & Women’s Hospital in Boston Ma.  Lauren already received her heart at the time, but having so many complications after the transplant, it took Lauren 5 months to recover.  During that time, we met Joe.

Joe was on the heart transplant list, he had a LVAD.  Medical reasons at that time he needed to be hospitalized for his waiting time.  I remember Joe walking with his machine doing laps around the hospital floor all the time.  Joe wanted to keep his body as strong as it could be, plus to be honest there wasn’t really anything else to do.  Walking the floor you can at least talk and meet people.  That’s how Lauren met him.  After talking with Joe, we found out he lives about 10 miles from our house.  Joe and Lauren instantly became friends.  They were great support for each other.  Joe received his gift of life in April.

Since then Lauren and Joe have kept in touch.  I feel blessed that Lauren has someone in her life that she can talk with, laugh with and I’m sure cry with.

Joe is a music teacher, so when we were living in the hospital, Joe created a song about living in the hospital.  We would joke and call the hospital the Cardiac Hotel. Please take a moment to listen to it.  It Is beautiful.

Lynne

IT’S A NEW DAY

Link Lynne13248 Comments

During my life, I have realized that every morning we are blessed to be able to start a new day. This morning, I woke up (that’s a blessing) made a coffee and said “It’s going to be a great day”.  I took some time to reflect on my life.  I live in a beautiful house, […]