Three Year Wedding Anniversary

Time is moving on quickly of late with lots happening in a the space of a short time. Today was my third wedding anniversary, remembering the day I married is hard. 

I had to use my oxygen before I was able to get out of my car and walk the short distance in to the Oxford registry office from the disabled spot outside. Our simple ceremony with just our our two witnesses was over quickly and there was no party.I needed to use my Oxygen all the way home afterwards.

It marked a turning point in my life. 

I had just gone on the list and had received two calls within one month of being listed  

First call   Second call 

I had realized that I might not survive the process of transplant or the wait and wanted to put my affairs in order and on those first couple of calls I was very worried about outstanding issues with my pension, tenancy and provision for Liz and my children.

Three years on and life is totally different 

I am so much better and looking forward with hope, thanks to the donor who has given me this chance to live a new life and honor his memory.I am now able to do things with my wife and children and support them like a husband should.
Liz and I met 25 years ago and always said that we would get married, but just didn't get round to it.Life moved on, we had kids and still ,despite me going down on bended knee years ago in the middle of the staff social club at my old hospital,it hadn't happened.
I was staring death in the face when we finally said "I Do" and it all became clear, Love , friendship and happy experiences are the things that matter.
I really hope that I will be able to give my beautiful wife many more years of all of these things

I love you so much Liz and I'm so glad that you have been there with me though all these 25 years. 

You are my rock and I hope that the years yet to come will be even happier

Since my transplant lots has changed and just last week we finally placed my mums ashes in her final resting place in the local church garden of remembrance in St Mary the Virgin, Kidlington. It overlooks the open countryside and I finally felt a sense of peace for her since her passing. I draw comfort in the fact that there will be a space for my ashes with my mums should I wish it when the time comes.

      

I was forced to think again about my mortality as transplant is extra time not a total cure.Because of the medication I take and risks with immusupression my time will shorter that it may have been.

I hope that I have many more years ahead, but I have resolved that the next few years I will going forward firing on all cylinders and making the most of the health I have got now.

I will be looking at holidays for next year and some travelling that I have put of for a while.I missed out on Glastonbury tickets this year:( But I am looking into more transport and Christmas will be a big one this year as Liz will be off. New year I am going to try to  have a proper night out if I can, Liz will be working on 1st.But before that my daughter will be turning 18 (this month) and Liz has a birthday in November so I will be looking forward to spoiling them both.

finally I have entered my first competition at the camera club this month and so I thought I would include the two pictures that I have entered

Hang On A Minute Lads, I've Got A Great Idea....

Red Arrows over Hastings seafront 

They were both taken in Hastings in the summer fingers crossed they do well, I will tell you how they do in my next post.    

Happy 2nd Wedding Anniversary

Today two years ago I pledged my life to my girlfriend with the thought that I may not have made it to my first anniversary!

When I made my vows I was barely able to breath and had to use oxygen in the car because of this. I had taken a break from the list to get my affairs in order as I didn't know if I would survive past the operation.
My first wedding anniversary was in Harefields Hospital in a ward 19 days after my double lung transplant.
Here I am now despite my worries and happy to celebrate my good fortune with my wife who has stood by me for over 24years, though many changes, but none as big as the one we have been though in this last two years.Despite some ups and downs and illnesses along the way she has been my rock

I love you my darling wife 

I don't know what I can do to thank you. 

I just hope in the years we have now I can love you as much as you have loved and cared for me:) 

None of this would have been possible but for my donor! 

Please sign the donor register  Here

I am happy, seeing my children grow into adults and am able to celebrate!

Another reason to celebrate is that Victoria Tremlett who I have been following on this blog since before my transplant has been given the gift of new lungs in Harefields on 11th October after a wait of over four years she has had a few complications but is now doing well and back tweeting on Twitter @tor87  

I have also been following another possible transplantee Kerry Thorpe who is the face of the latest campaign by the charity  LLGL who campaign for organ donation you can find out more here
She is presently waiting to attend Harefield Hospital for a assessment for inclusion on the transplant waiting list for a lung transplant and I wish her all the best for this.

Finally a plug for a great night out that is being organised by another Double lung recipient Victoria Glen

A Great Halloween Night

Saturday 29th October  

Flying Duck Club, 

Glasgow City Centre. Starting at 8pm

DJ’s, music, dancing, rune reading, spooky face painting and prizes…and know all your money is going to a great cause! Tickets to our event get you into the club night for free!!

All cans are £2.50 on the night!!

As it’s Halloween please come in fancy dress! The general theme is Dead Famous, so think icons from the past. However any fancy dress is acceptable. Prizes for winning outfits! If you do however come with no costume you can get your face painted by our resident face painter

Tickets are priced at £7 standard and £5 students. Tickets online are subject to a .99p charge. This charge is to cover the cost of e-ticket service and paypal charges. On-line Tickets can be purchased  http://www.etickets.to/buy/?e=6934 Tickets can be purchased on the door.

100% of funds raised will be donate to the Butterfly Trust. 

Performers and volunteers are providing services free of charge on the night.

For more information on the event please contact us at teamglasgow3@gmail.com

Wedding Anniversary Today

With everything that has been happening over the past week it took my wife to point out something I had missed that had crept up on us without either of us noticing much till the last minute.

Today the 23rd October is our 1st Wedding Anniversary one year ago today we were in Oxford Registry office making vows to stay together for the rest of our lives in my case I was not sure how long that would be.

My darling wife has already forfilled some of the vows she made she has stayed with me" in sickness and for poorer" now I hope that I can forfill the other parts of the vows I said" in health and for richer!"When we went into the offices with our witnesses, I could hardly deal with the breathlessness. Now there is the potential for that to be a thing of the past.How quickly a year has gone and how much has happened since that day.
After we had been together for a long time before our marriage has it made a difference?Maybe not in a day to day sense but for me emotionally it made a lot of difference that I could make that official commitment to her.

My beautiful and loving wife a very Happy Anniversary with all my love and thanks I couldn't have done this all without you ! 

Lets us look forward to many more future celebrations and remember this one as the year that changed our lives together positively

If you want to read more about the marriage it is included Here as part of the second call we got.

The suit I used for the marriage is hanging on the bedroom door and the pyjamas that I bought at the same time are what I  am wearing now! funny how things work out.