We Aren't Winning Pretty....But We Are Still Winning

As I’ve told a couple of people today….”We aren’t winning pretty, but we are still winning.”

Quite honestly this was an awful day…mistakes were made, there was a computer malfunction, a treatment made Dan very ill,…there was talk of putting the surgery off until Friday….and we actually weren’t O.K.ed for transplant until about 7:15pm. This means that the anti-rejection treatments that Dan just started taking will be done around 11:00 or 12:00pm tonight. He could have spent the night in the hospital, but he wants to come back to the apartment and I can see that.

Today I learned how smart, capable, calm, and understanding all six of our kids are. Dave, Ann, Kate, and Abby are in Omaha; Jim, Bridget, Ryan, and Alex are on the way as I write as are Chris and Sara. They’ve all been people you can depend on and we are so proud of them. They made a difficult situation easier.

I feel the need for humor after such a day….

The surgery is a go for tomorrow. Now we need a plan for disseminating information after the surgery is over…and I have a plan.

Dave, Jim, and Chris are the point men who will contact the following key people and these people will make the next tier of contacts. This is the plan:

Bridget will update the Dan’s Kidney blog.

Andrea will alert the NW suburbs and the Art Institute of Chicago.

Sara will contact the Alma Cardinals football team.

Joan will not contact anyone as she will be powering down Interstate 80 to help us out.

Kathy will call Uncle Boyd, the “Benkelman Post,” and the foresters of New York state.

Linda will e-mail Horizon Middle School, the Last Word Book Club, and Sandy’s transplant e-mail group.

Dick and Sharon will serve as a contact to the KJHS Bearcubs, the coffee group, and the Husker Nation.

Jeanine will notify first lunch students and Larry Houtz.

Larry will inform Madrid, Mayberry, and the Statler Brothers.

Jamie will contact the mighty Julesburg Lions.

Yvonne and Glen will alert the Lanckriets and the indigenous people of northern Alaska.

In movies I’ve seen groups of students standing vigil outside hospitals while holding candles and singing. I’ve always thought that was neat.

Maybe Kipp and Steve could call off school on the 6th and bus the middle school students to Omaha. I know C. J. could organize singing, Jan would make banners, and the retired teachers would help sponsor the trip. Kipp could use magazine money to fund it. If there isn’t enough money…I bet Jerry has some extra magazine money stashed somewhere…maybe buried in the time capsule.

O.K. that’s the plan…let the surgery begin.