My Hero

Before our story wraps up and before I am under the influence of any drugs I feel like my blogging requires a dedication to my hero. While everyone is busy telling me how brave I am and what a great sacrifice I am giving.....while everyone is saying prayers for me and Nathanial and trying to do all they can to help us out during the next couple of weeks.....while everyone hugs me and says 'bless your heart', a silent hero has been standing in the shadows supporting me throughout this entire process.

My hero just cleaned out the guest room last week so that my granny would have a room to sleep in when she comes to stay with us. My hero has been to almost every doctor appointment with me regarding the transplant. My hero put money in all the kids' lunch accounts so I don't have to worry about packing lunches every morning after surgery. My hero has been there to hold my hand and rub my back for all of my tests and proceedures. My hero, well, he's really the reason I'm able to do this. He is my rock.

I'm emotional today. I know the stress is starting to get to me. I keep doing that thing where I think "next week right now I will be....." and then I get weak feeling and anxious. Its dumb, I know. This is the week we have been waiting on for months!! And now, NOW I decide to get weirded out?! It doesn't make sense.

Last night, Geoff just lay beside me in bed listening to me talk about the things I was excited about and the things I was scared about and all the things I laugh about. He rubbed my back and listened, really listened, to all that was on my mind and all that was troubling me so that I could go to sleep. How selfless is that? And then, he cracked a joke about how funny it would be if, when I was coming out of the anesthsia, he put on a white owl mask. (have you seen the trailer for the new movie "The Fourth Kind"? Where people are abducted by aliens and every night they see a white owl outside their window prior to the abduction? FREAKY!!!!) I love how he listens, but then knows just the right time to make me crack up and forget all my troubles. Its hard to find a more genuine soul in this world. Someone who always places your needs before their own. Thank you, Geoff, for being my all. Thank you for being there even when I'm bitchy (and Lord knows, those days are many). Thank you for buying me pudding when I want pudding and for getting me a tanning package because I wanted to be tan for surgery. Thank you for listening to me sing all around the house because I sing like a musical when I'm stressed. Thank you for not throwing out my favorite old pair of green sweat pants that you detest (they're going to be SO comfy after surgery!) And thank you for listening to me and really hearing what I say. I love you.

~Hilary

Footnote: Dad, don't even THINK about getting a white owl mask. I know this is what you are thinking and it would NOT be funny to anyone. This would be like when you and Nathanial came over to watch BlairWitch at my house and left little piles of rocks on my porch in the dark that night after you left.

My View (By Braden Sullivan, 11yrs)

This whole kidney transplant between my mom and uncle is a very difficult time for me.

My mom is always going to the nephrologist and I can only imagine the stress my uncle is going through. I always feel bad because my mother shows me her little dots from where she gets shots and tells me how scared she was, and I feel like I should have done something. (even though that was clearly impossible since I am always in school when she is getting shot with a long, bloodthirsty, needle) I am very stressed out almost all of the time, even though I don't have to do anything! But it is also VERY relieving, knowing that after this my uncle has many more years to go.

Nathanial (my uncle) is one of the biggest role models in my life. Me and him are like cheese and crackers. Every Wednesday, from when I was little to fourth grade (when we moved to Wichita) he would pick me up and we would have 'guys night'. Nathanial would take me to a movie, or play a board game,or try out a new video game or, well, you get the point. I have memories of Nathanial and I for as far back as I can remember. I have always looked up to him and seen him as not just my uncle, but also my best friend and my hero. I am very excited to find out that he will be around for a while now!

My mom has been there for me since I was, well, a baby. I feel very happy for her, knowing that she has the chance to do a great and honorable thing like donating a kidney. But i also feel bad for her, because on top of normal, everyday stress, she also has to think, "oh no, what if this happens," or, "what if that happens!?" This also stresses me out. But, I will have fun messing with her rib.(which she gets to keep...BLECHKKK!)

All and all, I am very excited to see how this turns out. With Every inch of my heart, I want Nathanial to get better. I miss the guys nights, and guy trips, and everything we used to do together. I know that if i couldn't pee, getting a kidney would be at the top of my agenda, so i know how this is exciting for him. I wish him the best of luck in the near future so that everything will go according to plan. I want him to know that I pray for him and my mom everyday so that this will be okay.