Thursday, August 02, 2007

Yesterday was a gorgeous day. Brilliant blue sky, deep but not too stifling heat, and plenty of bright sunshine. Consequently, my family (all members managing to have the same day off) decided to have a BBQ in this new found emerging summer. Armed with factor 40 (not allowed to sit out in the sun) I set off for my parents’ house to join them in the preparations.

We sat around the garden, chatted, wound my mother up (it’s really too easy and just begs to be done) and caught up on a pretty busy week all round. In a sudden fit of inspiration the other day, my parents decided to purchase a gazebo for the garden (possibly in the hope of persuading the sun to stay out a little more). Eager to try out this new toy, they insisted we each take a leg and try to “pop it open” just as it says on the box. Needless to say it wasn’t quite that simple and Abby and I being the weaklings struggled dutifully with our leg whilst everyone else stood back and admired their handiwork. My dad lit up the BBQ (certain things going in the oven for me as BBQ foods are not recommended post transplant) and five minutes and a billowing grey haze later we were all summoned to move said new gazebo down the garden away from the smoke.

My dad stood up at the beginning of the meal to do a toast; to a summer we have been waiting hoping and wishing for, and to many more family experiences over the coming months. As we were clearing away, I came back out into the garden to see my parents standing there hugging, and overheard my dad saying how this was everything they had dreamed, everything they had been hoping for over the last 2 years. See it’s not only my life that has been changed unimaginably for the better; it’s also deeply affected all of theirs.

I walked down to the post-box a couple of roads away yesterday evening. Everything was bathed in that gorgeous deep gold evening summer light, which seems to highlight the surfaces of everything it touches and makes it shimmer. I wandered down the road, lost in my own thoughts, enjoying the solitude and the independence that I had so desperately craved for the last few years. Everything this summer seems so new and exciting, it’s such a long time since I did any of this, and I am loving every second.

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Emily, I'm so glad you could enjoy time with your family, I did Tuesday also.

Enjoy, Love, Randall

Anonymous said...

isn't life wonderful kiddo? keep on having fun but stop when you are even a bit tired, better for the body not to overtax. As you get stronger and stronger, you'll have time and energy for all the high living you want. I can just imagine the happiness of our parents and everyone else close to you. So go for it..........

Emmie said...

Awww lovely post Em :o)

MWAH xxxxxxxx

Anonymous said...

Another georgeous blog Emily x
Lindy x

misdee said...

will you stop making me bkub with your lovely lovely posts [reaches for a clean hanky]

Lorraine said...

And the final piece in the change in you will be next month - walking round Hyde Park. Can't wait to see you again - you looked so fragile last year - I may just squeeze you a bit this year! xx

Anonymous said...

Emily you are so so right a transplant 'gift of life' does affect family members too etc and so lovely bet for your parents to see you all together having fun.Does make u appreciate everything soo much more.........

luv n hugz Elaine & Rach xx

suzie said...

Aww Em, lovely to read that blog tonight, here's to lots of sun and much charcoaled food ;-)

xxx

Jackie said...

Hi Emily - I love reading your blog and log in every day to see how you are doing. I hope the recipients of my Emily's organs are enjoying their lives as much as you are. Since my Emily died, I spend more time than I used to just enjoying the everyday things knowing now how precious life really is. When I tell my husband who is currently working abroad that it is an "Emmy Day" he knows that it is a beautiful day here. Lots of love Jackie (Emily Gorman's mum)

fairenuff said...

Here I am, crying again. It's your fault that I am turning into mush!!
Love
Sam
xxx

Jac said...

Thanks for a very smiley post :-)
xx

Anonymous said...

Hello from Katie and Philippa who are reading your blog in Prague (where it offers to Pridejte svuj komentar on the post reply bit). Your Mum was indeed very happy this evening, but that may have been the slivovic....
Wish you were here! xxxx

BreathinSteven said...

Hi Emily!

I've been watching you from afar -- kinda way afar -- across the ocean... I love reading your thoughts and experiences. Very often, your feelings parallel mine.

I'm so proud of you for all you do for cystic fibrosis and for organ donation. I love the "Life Life then Give Life" campaign you and Emma started...

I hope you don't mind -- I used the last few paragraphs of this post in a blog posting I did today...

I contribute to a blog at www.ReviveHope.com with a guy who got a kidney from his Mum and a very close friend of my donor... My posting about you is here...

I have a website that needs to be updated about my donor here...

You take care... I'm proud of who you are and what you do -- keep on doing it.

Love,

Steve

Steve Ferkau
Chicago, IL USA