The year was 1997. After a night out on the town with my husband I awoke with flu like symtoms. I had been working some really long hours managing my own retail store. I layed around for a couple of days and was not feeling any better, so I went to the hospital and was admitted for test.

Several doctors came to see me, but it was ultimately a gastroenterologist who delivered the devastating news. I was diagnosed with Chronic Active Hepatitis C. I remembered when I got this virus back in 1976, thanks to a very small tattoo I had gotten. The virus came and went so quickly that I never really thought about it again until this bombshell was dropped on me.

Dr. Knowles, my gastroenterologist, set up my evaluation at Baylor Medical Center in Dallas, and I went, stayed five days and had every test known to mankind ran on me... Or at least it felt like I had. I came home and waited for the phone call that would determine my fate.

That phone call came one week later. It was the end of April 1997. I was told I had extensive cell damage due to the on-going hepatitis, and was being listed for a liver transplant. I received my beeper and settled in for the long wait... I was getting sicker and sicker as the months passed and praying for that phone call to come in time.

July 1998. 9:15 pm. I get the much awaited phone call that tells me a liver is waiting for me. I was already packed and ready and my way by 10:00 pm.

My surgery was scheduled for 1:00 pm, but I actually didn't go in until 4:30 pm. The surgeon was doing some extra test on the new liver and wanted to make sure the match was perfect.

My surgery lasted 5 hours and all went extremely well. A perfect match I was told. After 24 hours in ICU I was moved to room 1414 on the 14th floor and recovery began...

I stayed 6 days in the hospital and then off to twice blessed for my 2 1/2 month stay. All was going well until my 3rd week out. Blood work showed rejection, and I was put back in the hospital. Massive dosages of steroids were given me to bring me out of the rejection, but they were not working. Soooo, I got to be one of the 15% who had to take the OKT-3 treatments. The shot I took everyday made me feel just awful, but doctors assured me the end result would be worth it. Easy for them to say, they weren't the ones laying there with flu like symptons 10 times worse than the actual flu. Anyway, I toughed it out and after 7 days in the hospital I was released back to twice blessed and the healing truly began... I did have to go back and forth to the hospital for another 7 days to take the OKT-3 shot, but the worse part was over, and I was on the mend.

In Sept. I got to start coming home on the weekends, and this helped so much. I was getting stronger and stronger everday and I could really feel the change.

Finally on Oct. 3rd I was released from Baylor and free to go and enjoy my new life, and that I have. I go to Baylor every three months for check-ups and even though the hepatitis is back I still feel great and that I am in the best hands I can be with the whole staff at Baylor, and God watching over me.

My medicine levels are low. I take 75 mg of neoral twice a day and 250 mg of cellcept twice a day, and that's it. I feel very fortunate to be at these low levels.

God has truly blessed me with this second chance at life and for bringing many transplant friends into my life.

Organ donation is the greatest gift that one person can give to another. Those who can donate should, and for those who have already, our undying love to you always.

Peace and love to all who will read this....