mah mom.

on april 2nd, my mom had a minor surgery to remove a kidney dialysis access in her left arm that was put there in 2003; over 8 years ago.

my second cousin molly donated a kidney in august 2004, and a successful transplant occurred. 

my mom is a fighter and a survivor, we owe her life to molly, capable doctors, and a mindful and merciful Heavenly Father.

on april 17th, 2012 my mom turned a happy and healthy 51.

what a long way we've come!

in light of her recent surgery, i've been thinking about that time. although i was away at school, it was a vivid time in my life.

i remember finding out about her diagnosis, her kidney failure. i was living upstairs at the shanty, and i remember sitting against that panelboard stairwell receiving the news. there was talk about creatinine levels, possible scenarios, timeframe of decline, dialysis, and the possibility of a transplant...my mind raced. it all seems surreal now.

i remember coming home that Christmas and attending a dialysis session with her. seeing her there amongst all those "sick people" was difficult for me. she didn't belong there. 3-4 hours a day, 3 days a week, she did not belong there. i remember rubbing her feet new years eve as she lay in bed tired and uncomfortable. i remember thinking, "she's so young, is this really happening?"

i got engaged in april of 2004, married june 19th of that year, and we had our reception in my parent's backyard. we still joke that the incredible attendance at my wedding was due to the fact that my dad was a new bishop, and everyone thought my mom was going to die. thank goodness she didn't, and thank you to all of you that came.

i remember the day of the transplant. i was working an art secretary shift at byu-idaho and my dad was calling periodically with updates.

"they're taking her back."

"they've successfully retrieved molly's kidney."

"they're putting it in mom."

"it's working in mom."

i sobbed there at my desk on the second floor of the new spori building, and said a prayer of gratitude.

AMAZING.

she spent the next month in portland, and her recovery went well. she came home, and eventually felt better than she had felt in years; no complications, no signs of rejection, and the access (called a fistula) was taken out this month. she shouldn't need it again. 

and now her funny "buzzing arm" is flat and quiet and she's entered the world of short sleeved shirts once again. hallelujah mom, let's go shopping:)

i'm so grateful for my mom. she is my best friend, my very best friend. i know i'm lucky to have her. i love the way my kid's faces light up when she comes around. i love how harrison reaches out at his first sight of her, and how her purse has a never ending supply of fruit snacks for olive.

she has amazing quiet dignity and grit strength that i so admire.

i'm so proud of you mom, i love you.