I’ve talked about cousin before and all the health issues she’s had due to being diabetic. At 43 the doctor’s say it’s a miracle she is still here. She’s been through heart surgery, a kidney transplant, numerous other things related to the disease but the most recent being her pancreas transplant.

The pancreas transplant was the most intriguing to me because I loved the thought that after she received it she would be ‘normal’ again. Meaning no more insulin pump, etc. I couldn’t wrap my brain around the fact that this transplant would drastically change her life forever.

There were several complications after the transplant (staff infection and several other infections) but I’m sitting here with tears running down my face as I just finished reading this email:

Hello Everyone -

I went to the Dr. last week and had great great news…….. ALL my test were normal – I mean NORMAL like a person with NO disease EVER…. With being the ONLY transplant this year in Michigan I am setting the expectations HIGH – so they say. I just have to brag because I have NEVER been this GOOD before – Creatine (kidney function normal is 0.9 to 1.1) MINE 0.9, A1C (glucose (sugar) control 4.0 to 5.0) MINE 4.2 about 85 all the time!!! both transplants are working great and I am finally over all the infections!!!!!!!

When I got home from the Dr. I had a package with 2 loving letters in it from the donor’s family about the man that changed my life. (this is who I mentioned I thought it was – it all just added up right AND I had a feeling inside of me – you know that ones you get)

Talk about something hard to put into vision – I was so happy for myself but cried so hard for the loss of their husband and son, how can you possible feel both ways at the same time???? They did tell me that out of all tragic events something good does happen and the good was ME….. ME I only see the good in Troy and Bridget.

Please when you have time check out this “HUNK” as his wife referred to him as (and I tend to agree) when you have time.

http://web.mac.com/todd.vanderstelt/The_Children_of_Troy_VanderStelt_Educational_Trust/Donate.html

With love to all

Rae Ann

I’m so happy for her, her husband and most importantly their darling son Cooper (whom was adopted from Guatemala). But at the same time I’m sad for the wife that lost her husband and the kids that lost their dad (the man’s pancreas that my cousin was given).

I knew that the reason that the pancreas transplant happened was because someone died. But I never put more thought into it than that…until today. The reality behind that families loss is heartbreaking and one I can’t ever imagine having to deal with. It’s such a bittersweet feeling to know that their loss was a gain for our family. We have the chance to have my cousin around a lot longer and share in family memories because this family lost their loved one. And the brutality behind how he died is what makes it even harder to swallow.

I will definitely be making a donation to the Troy VanderStelt Educational Trust.