Second Anniversary!

Today is a special day because it's the second anniversary of my dad's double lung transplant.  Last year we made him blow up a balloon to celebrate one year, but this year we gave him a break.  He has been through a lot these past few months and most of our time has been spent in the hospital.  Last year we had a difficult time with his one year anniversary and this year was no different.  It’s easy to get overwhelmed with different emotions, but I think one emotion we can all agree on is gratitude.  He has been through so much and we are so grateful to get to celebrate this day with him and to think of all the people that are in our lives.  Over the past five years, we have become friends with so many wonderful people that we would have never met and we are truly thankful for all of them.  That’s why we’ve been making so many scarves… they are being distributed to all the doctors, nurses, staff, and team who have helped care for my dad and us over the past few months.  My dad wouldn’t be moving forward with his rehab if it wasn’t for all the amazing people we have been surrounded by in the hospital for the last few months.  I know I have said this many times, but this whole journey has made us really appreciate the small things… like watching my dad take a sip of an ice cold Pepsi that he has been waiting to enjoy for over three months.  Since we went easy on him this year, next year he owes us.  So, maybe I’ll have him cross the finish line at one of my races.  We'll see.  Anyway, today, along with his ice cold Pepsi, I was also able to deliver 2 great pieces of news…  Donate Life agreed to sponsor 30 technical Donate Life running shirts for next year’s LA Marathon, so we will be able to run, raise awareness, and collect donations in support of inspiring the community to register to become organ, eye, and tissue donors.  Also, one of my dad’s nurses won the KONAinspired contest and she will be competing this October!!!  Although it was a simple celebration, it was perfect.  Today was a good day!  Here’s to many more anniversaries, dad… we love you!    

2012 Donate Life Rose Parade Float!

This was our second year of helping with the Donate Life Rose Parade Float and every year it gets better and more meaningful! I love the people and the message; and it’s such a honor to be a part of something so amazing. Decorating the float is one of the biggest collaborative art projects I’ve ever worked on and next year I want to experience it all. I’m going to clear my schedule and go spend more than just one day decorating. My birthday is on New Year’s Eve and it would be so special to see the Parade and experience the day with some wonderful people. This year was no exception... we met so many great people. We got to meet one of the float riders who was only sixteen when he gave his kidney to his twin brother. And... we got to meet an ULTRA runner who came out last minute to help our team decorate. We had never met prior to this, so it was very cool that he came out to support this great cause. He was also pretty amazing at carnation placement. :) THANK YOU, THOMAS!!! Also, got to spend the day with my mom (who has worked on the Rose Parade when she was my age) and Kathy (a mother who gave her kidney to her son). So many inspirational stories. We love Donate Life!!!

We have a Donate Life Kern County facebook page now!!! It's new! Go find us and come to our Blood Drive! It’s tonight!!! Be there!

Donate Life Blog!

Donate Life Logo

My dearest friend, Linna, creates all of our graphic designs. She is so talented and I love to see all the projects she works on because they are all so fun. She's designed all our Saint Olive logs, my class shirts, cards, the logo for Socks-On, and so much more! She is truly amazing and I can't thank her enough for her friendship. Even though she is far away, whenever we talk if feels like no time has passed. It's been years, but I am finally going to fly out to Texas so we can talk in person. I wish it was March already!!! The best part is that we are actually going to do a run together! She has caught the bug!

Anyway, a few months ago I asked her to created a logo for our Donate Life Run/Walk shirts. They were amazing as always, however; we couldn't use them because of copywrite issues. Out of this sad news came something wonderful though. With the help of Bryan Stewart, we were approved by Donate Life America for the FIRST EVER city Donate Life logo!!! We have our own special font and everything!!! So thank you Linna and Bryan for helping Bakersfield make history!

"Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not."
Dr. Seuss, The Lorax

Ten

All I want for Christmas is... to sleep... for two whole weeks! I'm tired and delirious, but after this weekend things should ease up... for about 30 minutes, but I'll take what I can get! :) In the meantime, I'm going to play catch-up because like always we are late on posting... sorry! I'll be the first one to admit that I'm kind of reaching on this one, but I'm going to do my best to combine a bunch of things I love (Donate Life, running, nature, and crafts) into this next countdown update. I know, it's a stretch, but... "you get what you get and you don't throw a fit!" ;) So, without further ado, I present to you countdown #10... a handmade centerpiece! Now let me try my best to connect the dots...

Last Sunday, I probably did the most important and meaningful thing in my life. I was asked by my dad's doctor who did his lung transplant surgery to speak at the UCLA Heart and Lung Transplant Christmas Party. I was so nervous, but I did it! I can't even being to express how much all the doctors and team mean to me. At the end of the event, the centerpieces were given away and we were told that one of the team members had made them. SWEET!!! We love DIY!

So, what's the connection to running? Well, running is pretty much the ultimate Nature Walk! You can find everything you need to make your own centerpieces just like these by simply going for a run!

This countdown is fun, but if you want to give the Ultimate Gift... register to be an organ, eye, and tissue donor! Click on my e-campign to register!

Donate Life Kern County...

is in the house!

I recently coordinated my first Donate Life meeting in Bakersfield and couldn't have done it without my mom's help. The group was small, but mighty! A big thank you to everyone who came out and supported us. Here is a sign my mom and I painted for the occasion. What’s next for Donate Life??? A Blood Drive!!! We are partnering with Houchin Community Blood Bank and Socks-On to help ring in the New Year by donating blood. Come out to Houchin January 5th from 4-8 pm to learn more about organ, eye, and tissue donation!

Donate Life eCampaign!

It's here!!! Our eCampaign is official! I think I went through a box of tissues while writing this, but it's all worth it. Please visit this link and register to be an organ, eye, and tissue donor today!

Happy 1st Anniversary of your 2nd Birthday, Dad!

Aside from this being Father’s Day, which is already reason to celebrate, it is also the first year anniversary of my dad’s double lung transplant! A year ago today our lives were changed by a stranger who selflessly gave my dad the gift of life. We hope to one day meet the donor family in person to tell them just how thankful we are for this gift. It has been a really emotional couple of days, but we are so thankful for everyone in our life and for all of the wonderful people we have met along the way. Thank you for being there for us! And of course the perfect way to celebrate...a Donate Life cake and a single balloon (yup that’s right...we made my dad blow up his own balloon)!

Please sign up to become an organ donor!

5K...HEY, HEY, HEY!

Donate Life Bakersfield gathered together to run in the Donate Life annual 5K Run/Walk. This was Saint Olive’s first ever party planning event and we had so much fun with all the participants! We had such a wonderful group that traveled down to California State University, Fullerton on April 30th. One of the highlights was the revealing of the Donate Life Bakersfield logo!!! This is a huge deal because it’s the first ever city logo that has been approved by Donate Life AMERICA!!! Here are some pictures of the goodie bag preparation. Thank you to my sweet neighbor kids who helped me stuff the bags!

Join us next year!!!

Number 17

Custom painted hat for my dad! We used paint pins...they work so well on many types of fabric!