Hey everyone,
First off i would like to apologize for not keeping anyone posted since i first made this blog. I made it with intention to on writing every single day so that friend, family, and supporters can keep up with me. It would be very nice to find some other people on here in my situation to write back and forth and keep up with their posts. Alright so since the last time i wrote.
My Grammie gave me and my wonderful boyfriend a trip paid for to Orlando FLorida. I could never thank her enough for that trip. It truly relaxed me and took a huge stress burdon off of my shoulders. We had a wonderful time. I got to hang out and spend time with one of my close friends. I got lots of rest, slept by the pool in the sunshine, got goofy pictures taken, took two day trips to universal studios and one day to seaworld. Universal was great but i had to be pushed around in a wheelchair, which i always find simply embarrassing. But we were with friends and i didnt want to hold anybody up. The only plus side to the wheelchair was that we all got to skip to the front of every single line. Anyways; Seaworld was a great day for me. I didn't get the wheelchair beause it was just Christopher and I so i knew i could go at my own pace and stop for resting or a coughing fit. It went surprisingly better than i ever expected. We walked around and checked out every animal along with the dolphin show, petting & feeding the stingrays, and last and best of all; watching Shamu right before closing.. although we somehow made it to the guy who draws cartoon faces of couples. During the drawing i explained my situation and the transplant after a few coughs i thought i should tell him why. He ended up giving us the photo for free and it was very funny!! Anyway, we goofed off and had a blast like when we first et which is almost 2 years ago. Our two year anniversary of being together officially is on January 15th. & my first appt at Duke for begining of transpant is the 14th & 15th, what a day! =)
Next was the benefit. We had a benefit to earn money for the costs that my insurance does not cover. We had a WONDERFUL turn out. I was amazed and felt so special to see all those people there supporting me and my illness. One thing i know for sure is i have a huge support group which is actually wonderful for transpant, its one of the thing they look for the most believe it or not. I started after dinner with a short speach and then an amazing woman who got a living donor double lung transplant spoke and let everyone know what i am and will be going through - her mother then spoke and also her uncle who was a part of the band that played for free, and also one of her live donors, he gave her his right lobe and her sister gave her her left lobe. She is now going on 15 years of a transplant survivor. This gave me hope to hear that things did come together for her even after they were terrible and she had come close to not making it. After their speaches my sister and father spoke, my sister told people what a big fighter i was and how she never realized i had cf until i started getting hospitalized and could no longer run with her or play like we always had. She got me good.. made me cry by telling the crowd how this disease affecting me only has one plus to it, and that was that we are more then just sisters, we are best friends. After that my father spoke, not to mention i didn't know that either of them would. My father got me again, he looked me in the eye and told me i was his baby girl and when i was too weak to walk he would be there to carry me. My mother supports me and helped with the event so much. My parents are also my best friends, and i know what my mother felt in her heart, but she doesn't handle it well and each time its talked about sheds a ton of tears. Even though she didnt spoke i know how she feels and how much she loves me as well , but her sitting in the room with tears falling was just enough to make my heart melt even more. If anyone sees this that was there, or donated cash, or a silent auction item, or just came and supported me, THANK YOU!!!!! it was wonderful and idk where i would be without the help of every single one of you!
It has been figured up that i need to raise about 50,000$ in order to be comfortable and make it through the surgery, time frame, and all the months ill be there waiting as well as healing after transplant. So anything helps! if everyone donated 5$ i would be so touched it would be such a small chunk from all but it sure adds up, and anything counts in the end. I have to figure out where i am going to live by the 5th so i have a lot going on for research etc. It has been VERY VERY stressful but the support is amazing. I am oig to kp on fighting this and make my way thru the entire thing with the help of amazing ppl.... so to the ones who have donated THANK YOU! and to the ones who havent, if you would like to be a part of my life saving transplant you could mail check/money to::
Kelly Ward For Erica Ward Trust
39 Private Rd 2
Vershire VT 05079
(if you donate by mail if you could put your name and address i would like to be able to write back to you, i dont get out much so i have lots of time for that stuff sitting around the house!)
or you can go to my website and donate via paypal which will also go to my trust account, thank you all for reading and helping it means the world to me and more! My website is; www.ericas65roses.weebly.com/ you can read more to learn a bit more of my story and also donate via paypal by clickin the donate tab at the top of my homepage... and also to let people know it is now to late for t-shirts and window decals they sold out !
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