If you count up the months of hospital stays, dialysis, transplant, and now recovery it's been a long time since we've seen many of you! The Children's Organ Transplant Association for Evelyn team is throwing a Football for Life fundraiser and Keith and I will be there. It will be great food, a great event for families, and a great opportunity to catch up. Check out the Evite and come if you can!

I'm so thankful for Rebecca, Tarah, Annette, and all of our other friends and family who have kept everyone informed during our surprisingly smooth transplant week. The doctors are delighted by her recovery and how well Keith's kidney is functioning. They took one of her kidneys out and said it was terribly scarred from her kidney reflux. So thank you daddy for a fresh start!!! Keith gets really tired but feels better every day.

We are so relieved to be home today and can't wait for Marilouise and Ada to join us tomorrow. We are tremendously grateful that Keith's kidney seems so happy in its new home and that Evelyn is getting closer every day to her old self. Evelyn just asked to take a nap, which she did not take once in the hospital. She knows it's her birthday today and has asked for a banana cake and balloons when her sisters arrive tomorrow.

Love to all of you!

Julianne

Great news everyone! Yesterday was The Big Day, transplant day. We are glad to report that both Evelyn and her dad did well and are now in recovery at Seattle Children's (Evelyn) and UW Hospital (Keith).
 
This is a huge milestone, and the family and everyone involved is so thankful and relieved to have reached this point in the transplant journey. You can't imagine how important are all the many ways in which individual people and communities are helping - your notes of encouragement, your help getting the word out by telling friends, family, neighbors and co-workers, connecting us with media opportunities, and financial support. Thank you all for your participation and support thus far!
 

A few years ago I was helping out in the church nursery and in toddled Evelyn, a tiny bundle of energy.  Her spunk and cuteness absolutely captured my heart. Last fall I headed to our local co-op for a play date at the park. My kids didn't know anyone coming but I was thrilled to see Evelyn and her family pull up beside us! My 2 year old son was drawn to Ev immediately. He raced over, grabbed her hand and literally dragged her to the playground! It was clear that Evelyn had captured my kids' hearts as well.

How are we surviving the 5 days until Ev and Keith undergo major surgery?

"I'm excited transplant is soon, Momma."

10) Pull frozen meals out of the freezer or thank friends when they bring the warm kind. Hot dogs also a winner.

Anticipation

Thoughts from October 3, 2012

I've been thinking about The Princess Bride. "Let me splain. No, stoo much. Let me sum up."

The past few weeks we've been blessed by Marilouise's school co-op and other friends with lunches, snacks, dinners and treats (thank you!!!). Others have asked about bringing us food. Our friend from church, Michelle Housel, has graciously organized a Take Them A Meal page, if you wish to join the effort. Our humble and grateful thanks.