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Post by Deleted on Jan 14, 2014 21:03:18 GMT -1
It's my (re)birthday today, folks, I just turned 13  (What IS she on about, I hear you ask... ) Well, two years after Ms Rolo was born, I was diagnosed with a progressive, incurable, auto-immune disease of genetic origin. I got increasingly sick over the next five years as the bstrding Primary Biliary Cirrhosis attacked my internal organs. I became so ill with liver failure that, with maybe a year to live, I was put on the organ transplant list when Ms R was only 7. My chances were let's just say......not good. But the kindness of a stranger saved my life 13 years ago today. I got supremely lucky. My donor and the surgeons at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary granted my only wish, which was to see my wee girl grow up---and to my utter joy I've been able to do just that... plus I've had a (hopefully) productive life since. I rarely talk about it because it doesn't define me, who I am and what I do, but I try my best in my own way, just now and then, to encourage people to think about organ donation. You just never know what's around the corner. People less fortunate than me are dying while on the transplant list. If you or yours would be prepared to accept an organ if in need, or if you'd like to help people stay alive in the event of your death, please would you consider joining the register, if you haven't already. www.organdonationscotland.org/share-your-wishesAlive and kicking... Rolo xxx |
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Post by notanimby on Jan 14, 2014 21:31:22 GMT -1
It's my (re)birthday today, folks, I just turned 13 (What IS she on about, I hear you ask... ) Well, two years after Ms Rolo was born, I was diagnosed with a progressive, incurable, auto-immune disease of genetic origin. I got increasingly sick over the next five years as the bstrding Primary Biliary Cirrhosis attacked my internal organs. I became so ill with liver failure that, with maybe a year to live, I was put on the organ transplant list when Ms R was only 7. My chances were let's just say......not good. But the kindness of a stranger saved my life 13 years ago today. I got supremely lucky. My donor and the surgeons at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary granted my only wish, which was to see my wee girl grow up---and to my utter joy I've been able to do just that... plus I've had a (hopefully) productive life since. I rarely talk about it because it doesn't define me, who I am and what I do, but I try my best in my own way, just now and then, to encourage people to think about organ donation. You just never know what's around the corner. People less fortunate than me are dying while on the transplant list. If you or yours would be prepared to accept an organ if in need, or if you'd like to help people stay alive in the event of your death, please would you consider joining the register, if you haven't already. www.organdonationscotland.org/share-your-wishesAlive and kicking... Rolo xxx Many happy returns for today and the many more still to come....... |
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Post by ozneil on Jan 15, 2014 7:32:50 GMT -1
Many many Happy Retuns  Im so glad for you. I am so pleased you got your wish & saw ms Rolo Grow up. She is an absolute credit to you and Mr R I hope you see her married and with Grandkids. There are still some wonderful people around. From a purely selfish point of view I am glad from my point of view coz it has given me the opportunity of "meeting" a lady I very much admire. Both My & Mrs Oz's driving licences are endorsed "Organ Donor" though I reckon now they will be pretty clapped out by now |
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Post by bormes on Jan 15, 2014 9:02:46 GMT -1
Well, as you probably know, we knew and watched a lot of your struggle.
Which was done uncomplainingly with the greatest dignity and if you forgive me lots of humour from you.
We always remember you laughing with young Rolo!!!!
Congrats on your "Special Birthday"
May you see hundreds and hundreds more!!!!
Love from us both.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 16, 2014 20:14:47 GMT -1
Thanks so much for your really kind thoughts, friends Actually getting a wee bit teary reading your lovely messages... People who've known me for a while are aye kind enough to ask how I'm doing, even 13 years later and I hope they find me hale, hearty and just darned glad to still be around! I had to smile at your comment, Oz, about clapped-out organs. I'll have you know (  ) the liver I now carry is 11 years older than the rest of me and it's doing a very fine job indeed! Our NHS is absolutely wonderful but they can only achieve so much without donors. And donation's a tricky subject, I've come to understand that there are many conflicting views held by people. But if I can do just a little, now and then, to highlight the issue, fine. My old friend Bruce Findlay, former manager of Simple Minds and the founder of Bruce's Records chain in the 70s, recently donated one of his kidneys to his elder brother. Both are 'Alive and Kicking' after nearly 4 years, well into their 60s. Bruce is still working, managing bands and giving guest lectures to our young people on music courses at Uni. A paramedic from Tayside who works TITP every year with me is also a kidney recipient. Every July on arriving on site, we have a bloody good embrace, in the joy that we're still here Davie saves lives on a regular basis. Just ordinary folks, who got a second chance through the generosity of others. R x |
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Post by bormes on Jan 16, 2014 20:35:50 GMT -1
You are actually NOT ordinary folk, I know you and you are EXTRAORDINARY folk.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 14, 2015 1:32:53 GMT -1
It's my (re)birthday today, folks, I just turned 13 (What IS she on about, I hear you ask... ) Well, two years after Ms Rolo was born, I was diagnosed with a progressive, incurable, auto-immune disease of genetic origin. I got increasingly sick over the next five years as the bstrding Primary Biliary Cirrhosis attacked my internal organs. I became so ill with liver failure that, with maybe a year to live, I was put on the organ transplant list when Ms R was only 7. My chances were let's just say......not good. But the kindness of a stranger saved my life 13 years ago today. I got supremely lucky. My donor and the surgeons at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary granted my only wish, which was to see my wee girl grow up---and to my utter joy I've been able to do just that... plus I've had a (hopefully) productive life since. I rarely talk about it because it doesn't define me, who I am and what I do, but I try my best in my own way, just now and then, to encourage people to think about organ donation. You just never know what's around the corner. People less fortunate than me are dying while on the transplant list. If you or yours would be prepared to accept an organ if in need, or if you'd like to help people stay alive in the event of your death, please would you consider joining the register, if you haven't already. www.organdonationscotland.org/share-your-wishesAlive and kicking... Rolo xxx Still here to bug the living daylights out of youse all  14 today, and successfully ignoring the fact I'm about to actually turn 59..eeeeek! It's been quite a year, has 2014  Highlights: Eagles at the Hydro June then out to ma beloved Cat the next morning for 10 days...utter JOY! Ms R's 21st at wur Chip and Arta with friends and fams Mother's 85th-hale and hearty, a blessing Switzerland-- expected to hate it on a routine conference trip to but feck me,despite my preconceptions, loved it  Tons more other good stuff, and no small measure of shitty bad shit too. Eternally grateful though: www.organdonationscotland.org/share-your-wishes |
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Post by ozneil on Jan 14, 2015 2:29:00 GMT -1
Well done and many many more happy years have fun
xxx oz
Ps my licence is stamped "organ donor" with in brackets after "if you are desperate and not fussy"
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Post by bormes on Jan 14, 2015 7:39:48 GMT -1
All the best my friend. xx
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Post by Deleted on Jan 16, 2015 2:04:14 GMT -1
Well done and many many more happy years have fun xxx oz Ps my licence is stamped "organ donor" with in brackets after "if you are desperate and not fussy" I carry the organ donor card too, Oz, though I'm not 100% sure if a donated liver could be re-donated but hey, the thing is--- kidneys, hearts, lungs, pancreases, corneas can all be donated in principle, and the transplant surgeons take the call on their condition re whether they can help anyone in need. I know that many donors- of all ages- can save the lives of up to seven people and gift sight to others. I'd also like to mention that one donated liver can save more than one person. My first donor liver got stuck at Heathrow in terrible snowy conditions back in Dec 2000 as all flights to Scotland were cancelled. Sure, I did wonder if my number was up but had the overriding feeling that what's for you won't go by you.all I had to hold on to, to be honest  Found out next day the liver had been taken back into London, cut in two and saved the life of an adult and a wee baby. And I got the second call only two weeks later. Luck/grief/gratitude you name it, I felt it I completely get how difficult it is for a family to make decisions at the most hellish of times-- so that's why it's imperative, if we'd wish to be donors, that we make our wishes clear to family while we're still alive. Right, that's me shutting up about it for another year xxx |
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Post by ozneil on Jan 16, 2015 20:18:02 GMT -1
they tell me the Poms have perfected brain cell transplants and that Scottish brain cells are in great demand. Thats because they have seldom been used  |
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Post by notanimby on Jan 16, 2015 20:21:28 GMT -1
they tell me the Poms have perfected brain cell transplants and that Scottish brain cells are in great demand. Thats because they have seldom been used I'm surprised hat you know there's more to cells than what your original immigrants were used to...... |
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Post by ozneil on Jan 16, 2015 20:30:44 GMT -1
I will have you know our early settlers were chosen by some of Britain's best judges and some of the worst 
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Post by Deleted on Jan 16, 2015 22:43:43 GMT -1
they tell me the Poms have perfected brain cell transplants and that Scottish brain cells are in great demand. Thats because they have seldom been used Aye. Very good.  |
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) the liver I now carry is 11 years older than the rest of me 
