The Show, Heartbreak

What a nice Thanksgiving weekend. We had my entire extended family here for the holiday, 33 in total.  We played basketball, cut and split our firewood, did a few ranch projects, shot shotguns, ate until it hurt, and watched the MSNBC Heartbreak .

We we all nervous to watch the show.  With all the interviews we went through over the years, we didn't know how it would come out.  We were pleasantly surprised at the results. We thought the show was done incredibly well.  Sandy Cummings did a great job putting it all together.  She was able to bring out some of the untold struggles we had.  I am still not sure why someone didn't tell me about my hair as the doctor was reporting on Gage's transplant.!?!?  Anyway... it was neat to reflect on the donor family, the doctors and nurses that helped our kids, and the good friends we still have in Calif and here in Oregon. There were times of laughter and plenty of tears.  Some of the toughest memories were those when we had 2 heart issues going on at the same time.  In those moments, it was hard to keep it all together.  It is good to have that part of our life behind us.  Thanks Sandy, for all you did. It will be fun to show this to our kids and even grand kids years down the road.

We continue to make trips to Calif for checkups, tests, and med adjustments.  Our next planned trip is in January.  Someday, hopefully deep into the future, the hammer will fall and we will have to return to Calif due to a complication......but not yet.  We try not to think about that, it doesn't do any good. For now, we are happy to all be home and treasure the time here.

Thanks Sandy for the shirts

 The cousins

 Aunts, Uncles and Mom and Dad

 The show audience

 Throw in a little Thanksgiving dinner

 And shotgun shooting

 The Cultural Celebration in Boise

Wrap in up with a little BBall on Thanksgiving morning.

MSNBC Announcement

Time to check in.  'Normal' life has been chuggin' along at a nice pace.  Honestly, there is nothing major to report on the 3 heart kids. After their last biopsies several weeks ago they all sitting at zero!  Our next scheduled trip to Calif is in January.  So for now, we are going to live it up.

Big news is the announcement of a special documentary that will air on MSNBC.  It is a 2 hour documentary that follows our journey from Sierra's near death experience and transplant 11 years ago to Lindsey's 8 month wait on Traeh Nilreb (Berlin Heart) to Gage's pacemaker, defibrillator, LVAD and the 17 month wait as the Man-of-Steel.   Sandy Cummings, the producer, has seen the highs and lows and has done a great job putting the story together. As far as we know, it will air Saturday, November 25, 6-8 Pacific / 9-11 Eastern.   We will pass along any news as we get it.

In other news....Megan's volleyball team had a great season finishing 17-1 in league, but fell short at districts. Now it is on to basketball for Hunter and Megan.  They are both working really hard and really love it.  Stacy and Aunt Emily are teaching the high school dance club including Sierra and a bunch of other kids.  They are having a blast!  Lindsey is also doing dance for the junior high and loves it. Mr. Aurelius thinks he is a comedian and is looking forward to YMCA basketball.  Stacy is the school nurse and is back to working one day a week as an OB nurse.   As for me, I do what I am told, but did had a GREAT time at elk camp.  Me and 7 other guys packed in about 7 miles into the Eagle Cap wilderness and spent a week hunting elk and playing pinochle.