If I am totally honest the one thing that I have yet to come
to terms with mentally is the fact that I have been given
another person's heart. I do know that it is the heart of a young man
who died of a brain tumour at the age of 20.
One of my own sons was the same age at the time of my heart transplant.
Makes you think, does it not?
A recent innovation at the various transplant games is
the inclusion of the 'Donor families'. It is very emotional to see the
mams / dads / brothers and sisters of, typically quite young, family members
who have died but have made the decision to allow their organs to be
'gifted' to the competitors, taking an active part in the official
ceremonies and even presenting the medals. On occasions
the medals are presented by the donor family to the recipient of their
child's organ.
Obviously I cannot speak for the donor families but I do
know from some of them that it helps them to come to terms with their loss,
when they see the wonderful 'gift' that their action brings.
There is never a dry eye in the house as it makes
everyone realise just how lucky they are, but for the donors none of
us would be here.
The term, "Gift of Life" could
not be more appropriate.
I do not claim to be the author of the following ditty, but
for me anyway, it puts everything into perspective.
Yesterday is history
Tomorrow is a mystery
Today is the present
That's why it is a gift.
For as long as I remember my favourite and oft repeated
saying was:
I am just happy to be here!
How true and prophetic it has turned out to be.
Someone sent me the following, which is worth a read - see
what you think.
THE
MAYONNAISE JAR AND THE BEER
When things in your
life seem almost too much to handle,
When 24 hours in a day are not
enough,
When you just HAVE TO get that
next task done,
Remember the mayonnaise
jar........and the beer!
A professor stood before his
philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began,
wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded
to fill it with golf balls.
He then asked the
students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.
So the professor then picked up
a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The
pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the
students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.
The professor next
picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar.
Of course, the sand filled up
everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students
responded with an unanimous "yes." The professor then produced two cans of
beer from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar,
effectively filling the empty space between the sand.
The students
laughed.
"Now," said the professor, as
the laughter subsided, "I want you to recognize that this jar represents
your life. The golf balls are the important things--your family, your
children, your health, your friends, your favourite passions--things that if
everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be
full. The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your
house, your car.
The sand is
everything else--the small stuff. If you put the sand into the jar first,"
he continued, "there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same
goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you
will never have room for the things that are important to you. Pay attention
to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children.
Take time to get medical checkups. Take your partner out to dinner. Play
another 18. There will always be time to clean the house, and fix the
disposal. Take care of the golf balls first, the things that really matter.
Set your
priorities. The rest is just sand."
One of the students raised her
hand and inquired what the beer represented.
The professor smiled. "I'm glad
you asked. It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may
seem, there's always room for a couple of beers."
