Evolution

How have your goals as a patient / advocate / person evolved?

My goals as a patient have changed 100%.  I remember the days where I wished to be sick enough for a transplant and just wanted to get it over with already.  But I realize now that I want to hold out on my transplant as long as I can.  Because while it is hard and extremely frustrating now, to just sit around and wait, I am stable.  After transplant, I could be stable too, but between the meds and all the precautions, life on the waiting list, for now, looks pretty good.

I never set out to be an advocate.  I wrote for family and friends.  I remember the first time someone said to me that they had registered to be an organ donor because of me.  Words can't quite explain how amazing it felt to know that I had helped add one more name to the donor count.  That year more than 10 people signed up in honor of me and while its not much compared to the need, I know that I'm helping save lives.  And that feels fantastic.  Next year I am hoping to not only share more of my story but others stories as well.   I am going to set another goal for 2013 to help 13 or more people register.  And now I know I am also writing to encourage and share awareness for Organ Donation.

As a person have my goals changed?  I think what changed more than my goals is my learning to enjoy the way to them.  Its not all about the final destination.  Getting there is the real adventure.  I have slowed down and learned to cherish all the in between moments.  I also learned not to set my goals so high.  And accept the fact that sometimes life is going to get in the way and I will just have to pick up where I left off or find a way around it. Life happens.  Change is good.  At least that is what I keep telling myself.