Gratitude for Life

I have a new friend Jayne...an 18 yr old girl who is waiting for a liver transplant. She was put on the transplant wait list 6 months ago at Children's Hospital. She is very sick, though has registered for spring semester at College of DuPage =)

Here is a link to her CarePage.

I don't know why I didn't need to suffer long on the list...and others so young...have such a difficult life, and long wait. God works in mysterious ways. I feel truly blessed this Thanksgiving; as just 2 short years ago; I was just returning home from the transplant center today, feeling like hell...but happy to be alive Today, I am still feeling happy for life...and family.

http://www.carepages.com/carepages/JayneZenkerIrishDancer/updates/1845374?ipc=mur


--
Colette

Nothing is worth more than this day!

NATIONAL DONOR SABBATH

Hello family and friends,

At this time of year, when fall is upon us and the earth is going into hibernation whilst preparing for rebirth next spring, I begin to feel even more gratitude for life. November 1st marks the anniversary of my lifesaving liver transplant. This November 1st, the National Day of Re-birth; it will be 2 years that I received the precious gift of life from a family that I have never met. Because of this selfless act of charity, I have been able to enjoy almost 700 sunrises and sunsets and am truly grateful for each and every day. I want to ask if you would find it in your heart to help me spread the word about organ donation in your faith community this November 14-16th. National Donor Sabbath is an annual observance to raise awareness, through religious communities, of the urgent need for organ and tissue donation. Currently there are almost 5,000 people in Illinois and 100,000 nationwide waiting for lifesaving transplants, . Won't you share this attachment and website information with your clergy asking them to put a notice in their bulletin, or to talk to the congregation about this ultimate act of charity? After speaking to the congregation or posting in the weekly bulletin- local transplant recipients (like myself) and donor family members could come to your place of worship and hold a registration drive to register congregation into the Illinois Donor Registry after worship services on the weekend of November 14-16th.

Please take the time to peruse the Gift of Hope website and then send me a note or give me a call. I would be happy to answer any questions regarding donation, and have faith based literature to share with you and your religious community. Thank you again for being there for me when I needed love and support through my transplant experience. I now ask that you help me to help the other 5,000 currently waiting for their second chance at life. Thank you in advance for your assistance. Together we can help save lives. What a beautiful way to honor God's greatest gift- Life!


http://www.giftofhope.org/our-public-outreach/clergy/nds/nds.htm

How about Morgan and sidekick LadyLoveliver?

Morgan playing "Bags" at Lisle Community Day's Donate Life Registration Drive

This is Isa and Michaela with me at Lisle Community Day's Donate Life Registration Drive. Michaela received a liver transplant from her mom, Isa when she was just 8 months old. Aren't they fabulous? This is a prime example of enjoying life after transplant!
Colette

Games in Pittsburgh, July 11-16, 2008

Gratitude for the gift

U.S, Transplant Games - Opening Ceremony -

Transplant Games in Pittsburgh

So I competed in my first ever U.S. Transplant games in Pittsburgh , PA. I went to honor the precious gift of life that I received through transplantation just 19 months ago. So, I missed the Bronze Medal by a mere 13 seconds in the 1500 meter racewalk; I beat my personal best time by almost a full minute! I gave my best, and feel like a real winner !

Support

Hi Everyone!

Every three minutes, another woman in the United States is diagnosed with breast cancer. I have several special people in my life that have been touched by breast cancer, so I’ve made a commitment to work toward changing these statistics and I need your help! Chris, a very close friend of mine that has been instrumental in my recovery post transplant would not be here today if it were not for the research made possible by events like this Walk for Breast Cancer. She was told at age 21 that she would not make it till her next birthday, and here she is 30 years later, walking for the cause! I will walk to support her and others that have walked in her shoes...

On May 31 - June 1, I'll spend the weekend walking with Chris, along with thousands of other people, in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer. I will walk 39 miles, that's the distance of a marathon and a half. I will also raise at least $1,800 in donations to the cause. I'll have to spend the next few months training, fundraising, and preparing for the event. It's a big challenge, but I'm very excited about doing it because I know it will make a real difference to the millions of people affected by breast cancer.

The money raised is managed and disbursed by the Avon Foundation, a 501(c)(3) public charity with a mission to fund access to care and finding a cure for breast cancer. The Avon Foundation funds both local and national organizations in five key areas: medical research; education and early detection programs; clinical care; and support services, all with a focus on the medically under-served.

Please help to support my efforts and this critically important cause by making a generous contribution. You can make your donation online by simply clicking on the link at the bottom of this message, which will bring you right to my personal page. Please remember as you're making your donation that in less than the time it took to read this e-mail, another woman in the U.S. was diagnosed with breast cancer.

You can also help me by passing this message along to others who may be interested in being a part of the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer.

Thanks in advance for your generous support!.


Colette Jordan

Nothing is worth more than this day!

Click here to visit my personal page.
If the text above does not appear as a clickable link, you can visit the web address:
http://info.avonfoundation.org/site/TR/Walk2008/Chicago?px=3942969&pg=personal&fr_id=1450&et=ib5iMxsvuesBukOut7Us5w..&s_tafId=261528

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life today

Life today. I am grateful. I am grateful for a wonderful supportive husband and kids. I am grateful for my very closest friend, Chris. I'm grateful for having the courage and support to deal with the issues in my life today. I am blessed!

So this is my first blog. Last year at this time, I didn't know what a blog was. This is me with 2 of the favorite people in my life, my son Ryan and daughter Nikki. My oldest son Dan recently got married to an awesome girl, Kara and are living in Santa Fe, NM. My husband, John is taking this pic...at my niece Sammi's wedding last September. Life is good!