As the holiday season is approaching quickly, this year I have a lot of things to celebrate. Unfortunately this year, my mother has to work on Thanksgiving so our annual get-together has been cancelled. Hopefully her restaurant doesn't decide to open for Yule (Christmas). It's usually the only time of year when my entire family is able to get together. My three sisters and my two brother-in-law's, my nephew, my mom, her partner, Teresa, and my husband and I. It's a time we all use to get re-acquainted with one another and what has happend over the past year. My sister, Christina is working on, ironically enough, cancer research at the University of Cincinnati. My sister Courtney is a medical assistant for our mothers' cardiologist office and my younger sister, Ashley, is engaged and still going to school for pediactric nursing. I don't get to talk to any of them very often so it's nice when I have the chance to see them all over at Mom's house during the holidays.

This year, we won't be getting together for Thanksgiving. but I still have a lot to be thankful for. I get to enjoy being alive. It's been a hell of a battle, but I've gained more than I've lost. I went for a check-up today, and I had to begin dialasys. I'm very drained. The medicines they have me on have been making me rather lethargic, but I try to keep myself busy. My husband began a new job a few weeks ago, and fortunately, the company he works for is covering all of my medical costs. We've also begun to rebuild ourselves a little financially. We are looking into purchasing our first home. I figure, I might as well do all I can just in case my new liver never comes. We are planning on doing a big holiday this year for everyone that has been so supportive of us over the past year also.

I'm very happy to say that life is turning around. The only thing that could possibly make it batter would be for me to get a new liver. Last week they thought they had found a match, but unfortunately the liver was too damaged to be transplanted. So far, things are going okay. I'm just lucky and happy to have so much love and support.