We had a great time getting together with some of our liver friends, some we already knew well- like the Lais...the rest we met for the first time in person, though tied through our blogs. It's a comfortable feeling being around these strangers as we are linked together by something so near and dear to us all. Our sick babies. At one point I started laughing out loud as we were all asking each others blood types, liver sizes, previous surgeries etc. How many other picnics going on in Sugar House Park that day were people being asked about their blood type? We're a unique group- you could say.An underlying theme of the day: how great it is to have Dr. Book on our side. I've thought many times before how there is always someone new coming into this scary process of finding out their child has a disease, feeling alone, scared, uncertain, depressed, overwhelmed- (do you want me to keep going?) etc. etc. There is such comfort in numbers. To know you aren't alone-someone else understands-really, really knows what your are going through. Eden was our first we watched go through the transplant process. Edens parents are also the ones who've organized Utah Liver Families, an organization to bring Utah (and Idaho/Wyoming) families dealing with liver problems together for support and friendship. There was no such group, so amongst dealing with their own very sick daughter they created this wonderful organization that will grow exponentially over the years and bless the lives of many to come. Thanks Doug and Erica, bravo to you both. They could have just gone on their way but they stopped and dedicated themselves to ways they could improve this process for all involved. If we would all do that in our own lives....(cliche) we'd live in a better world.
Love you Liver Familes, the ones I know and don't know yet.
xoxo
lizzie
alpha-1, liver mum
