Hello friends don’t freak out to much cuz its me actually writing in the blog. I know that it has been a while. I felt compelled to write because of the outpouring of love that has been shown to me and my family. It amazes me that people are so very generous. We have gotten so much help with the fundraisers and people stop by just to give a little to the cause. It has been so fun to hear the stories of how friends and neighbors and relatives have gone out of their way to help my family out.
The principle of charity that the Lord taught about. Loving thy neighbor as thyself. This principle I have only felt on the giving side of things. Its not easy for me to be on the receiving end of things but I have felt your love and am so overwhelmed with love for you. I cannot wait until I can have this all behind me and be able to give back as much. One of my favorite hymns is “Because I have been given much”. I have to thank you so much for everyone that has helped out in any way shape or form. I ask heavenly father everyday to bless you for all that you have done for me and my family.
Physically I have felt pretty good considering. I mean I try to take it day by day. But that being said there is still so much that I can do. I have started to help my father in law Carl Olsen out in his cabinet shop. And helping him has helped me. It gives me something to look forward to and something to focus on. It has helped me to not think about what is going on physically to me. This has helped me emotionally. That has meant a great deal to me. The last thing that I want something that scares me allot is the unknown. I don’t want to get to sick it would be nice if I could just receive a liver and not get too sick. Well I have put this in the Lords hands and up to this point it has worked out pretty good.
I just wanted to say a little about my beautiful wife. She is amazing! I cant say enough about her. I am so lucky to have her in my life. She makes it all worth it to me. She has done so much for this family she is the bread winner, homemaker, spiritual guide, mother, wife, daughter, daughter in law, visiting teacher, help meet, baby sitter, fundraiser organizer, and much much more. All of this and she still is a rock. The other day she felt very overwhelmed and we were talking about things that she worries about and things that she is concerned about. I was able to help talk to her and listen to her she was able to get things off her chest. I think that it helped her. She is amazing and I thank God everyday that he blessed me with her. I am so glad that she is in my life. And I will spend the rest of my life trying to live up to this blessing.
Well I started typing and I can’t believe that I am on page two. I guess I should write in here more often. I just want to say thanks to everyone that helps me on a day to day basis. My family has been a huge supporter of me. Financially and spiritually. Thank you so much I love my mom and dad so much for all that they do for me. And I can’t leave out my sisters who mean so much to me. I will spend the rest of my life paying them back for all they have done for me. I wanted to say thanks to Deanne Olsen my mother in law. She is so special. She has done so much for Amy and I. She has helped raise my two boys and they are such good kids because of it. She watches my boys twice a week and she has been able to teach them things that Amy and I would never been able to do on our own. I love her very much.
Well this has been good to get off of my chest again thanks for everything that you do for me. All of those people that have helped or are planning to help God bless you. I hope to be able to live up to all of this generosity!
January 26, 2011
Well I'm not very good at writing in this blog, but the coolest thing happened to me the other day. Ok, it is necessary for me to get a dentist clearance so that I can get on the transplant list. So Amy set an appointment for me on Monday so I went and the dentist name was Jud Barclay. Amy didn't know who the dentist would be when she set the appointment she just took the first available one. Well I went on Monday and he checked my teeth out. There were some cavities and a crown and he even said that I needed one pulled. So he checked me out and got done then the nurse gave me a list of the necessary dental work and an estimated cost. The total came to around 550.00 and I knew that I needed it done so I set an appointment for the next day because she said that they could do it all in one shot. So I was glad to get it done so quickly but I was bumbed that it was going to cost so much. And that is with insurance. So on my way home I stopped off at Dads work to talk to him about it. He said that he thought the dentist should give me a discount and that he was going to go talk to him. I knew that he was going to try and help me some how. So I drove home and showed Amy the bill and she was just glad that I could be seen so quickly. Then I called and talked to Jancee about what the dentist told me and how much it was going to be. She had been worried about it for a while cuz she used to work as a dental assistant and knew some dentists and she thought they might give me a good deal because of my situation. Jancee asked me who the dentist was and I said Dr. Barclay. Well she got kinda quiet then said "you got to be kidding me," no I said why. Because when Jeff went back to school in West Virginia the Barclays were there also. I guess the were in the same ward and had become good friends and they still send each other Christmas cards and stuff. Jancee told me that she wanted to call his wife and let her know my situation and ask if they would help me out on the bill. Later that night Jancee called and told me that she had talked to Judd Barclays wife and that they wanted to help. So the next day I went to my appointment and he was very nice and told me that he talked to Jancee and said that they were a good family and how much they enjoyed there friendship. Then he went to work and I mean there was a lot of work. I spent four hours in the chair and he was working the whole time with a smile on his face and was very nice to me the whole time. I really appreciated how well he treated me. They had to fill in some cavities and I told him just to use silver because that's what the insurance paid for, well he said don't worry we are just going to use white. After it was all done I told him how much I appreciated him and told him that he was a good man and that my family would benefit from his generosity. I really wanted to give him a hug, but wasnt sure how he would take it. But I hope that he could tell just how much it meant to me. I got the bill and it was like 130.00 for everything. I wanted to cry because that was huge to me and what a blessing it was. Thinking about it now and everything that had to happen for me to go to him and Jancee knowing him and his family. I know that the Lord had a hand in it. He knew that I couldn't pay the original bill but that Judd Barclay could help me. I love the Lord and I am so grateful for Jancee for caring about me enough to call her friend and I am glad the the dentist was generous enough to bless me with his talent. This gospel is true the Lord loves each and everyone of us and he knows what we need and gives freely. One more miracle!
January 17, 2011
Well I have had a few days to let all of the info to sink in, Amy has pretty much told the history and our story of how it all went down. Many things run through your mind when you are faced with a challenge like this one. You know that I thought why me or can this be true. Then after thinking it over and by talking to family and friends I have come to realize how blessed I really am. Plus it really could be worse! I mean its not like its a death sentence. There has been thousands of successful liver transplants performed in this country. The doctors learn more every time. It still scares the shit out of me. The thing that I am most afraid of is the thought of not being able to raise my two boys and not seeing them grow up. Not being there for all of those firsts in life that a little guy goes threw. Its scary to think about them growing up not really knowing who there dad is. The thing is though that I know that I am strong enough to get threw it. Being sick is something that I have learned to get through. Plus there are a couple times that I can think of where looking back I really should not be here. Just the last time that I was in the hospital and ended up in the ICU. That was a scary moment for me. Man, I don't want to go R rated or anything but a human being should not throw up that much blood. Then the first time that I was in the ICU after a major surgery. I passed out in the hallway, I was trying to go for a walk and ended up back in bed. I guess that I had lost so much blood that there was not enough in my body to be upright. Well that's enough whining. One thing that is good that has come out of all of this is that I have become closer to my Lord than ever before. I have felt his presence when I thought that I couldn't take it anymore. That's when I guess he was actually carrying me. Also I have come to realize that he actually knows me personally and wants me to succeed. He knows what my goals are and needs are. He knows that I want to see my two boys go on missions and get married to their brides. Not to mention my beautiful wife Amy. She is the love of my life. She has become my crutch with out her there is no Cody. First off she is the best mother in the world. Also without her I cannot remember anything, whatever the doctors ask she knows the answer to. From dates of surgeries to the last time I had a bowel movement. No seriously!! When it comes down to it I love her so much and could not live without her. Well that's enough rambling on I hope that this little bit of me can help you.
