Happy Two Years!!!

I cannot believe it has been two years! Thanks to the McHenry's for changing our lives forever. Tomorrow night we will celebrate with good food and hopefully champagne!

If I could figure out how to post the article I would, but apparently I am not that intelligent. Dispatch seems to be blocking me from copying and pasting. Well you can search Neal Kothe and find the article Blood Brothers.

Oh yeah, my mom asked so I thought I would share if you were wondering, I do still have nerves of steel.

Don't forget to Donate to the NKF.

The walk is less than a week away. Don't forget to help us out.



http://walk.kidney.org/site/TR/Walk/Ohio?px=1282481&pg=personal&fr_id=2020



Thanks,

Neal, Michele, Grady, Gwendolyn, Tippy, Luke

Update on Ryan

Congratulations to Ryan for completing the Columbus marathon last weekend!

So Ryan donated a kidney to Neal in January of 2008. In the fall of 2008, Ryan ran the Columbus half marathon. This past weekend, Ryan ran the full marathon in Columbus. Pretty amazing. I am asking for predictions on what he will do in 2010?

Tomorrow the guys are in the Circleville Pumpkin parade for Donate Life at 8pm. They are driving the mustang and Honey Bee (the Donate Life mascot). Leslie and Connor will be there and hopefully the twins and I will make it. Supposedly you can watch it online. Keep an eye out for us!

http://www.pumpkinshow.com/media/index.htm

Remember this....


I am sure neither Ryan or Neal have forgotten this day. Fear and anticipation filled the hospital to say the least, but look where we are today.

We are joining another walk to raise awareness for organ donation. I think it is just a mile. The babies will be participating as long as the weather permits. They are quite the little fundraisers. Here is the letter from my husband.

Date: Sunday, November 1, 2009
Location: The Ohio Statehouse - Broad & High Street
Check In Begins: 8 a.m.
Walk Starts at: 9 a.m. (Don't forget about the time change!)
http://walk.kidney.org/site/TR/Walk/Ohio?px=1282481&pg=personal&fr_id=2020&et=hS46xU8ZOUwnIVp9ifqw2Q..&s_tafId=16392


All,

It is that time of year again. The National Kidney Foundation walk is quickly approaching. The National Kidney Foundation is a great organization that helps inform the public about Kidney disease and transplantation.

Very few people in my situation have had such a great outcome. Only with the love and support of my family and friends am I alive today. Whether it is waking up in the middle of the night to change a poopy, excuse me, two poopy diapers I do it with great pleasure, knowing that less than 2 years ago I had a hard time even walking to the bathroom from the couch. The love shown by the McHenry family over the last 2 years is unbelievable. I can never repay them for what they have done for our family. Because of Ryan and the McHenry clan I will be able to intimidate my daughters first boyfriend, congratulate my son on the winning touchdown in overtime against the Steelers, and dance at both of their weddings. I am truly THE luckiest man alive.

I can never repay Ryan and Leslie for the life saving decision they made. I can only try and help raise awareness. The National Kidney Foundation is just one way I can help out. So please support us as we try to help the National Kidney Foundation of Ohio raise awareness.

Thanks,
Neal, Michele, Grady, and Gwendolyn

Neal had a rough 13 months, but transplantation allowed him and I to regain our life. If you need more of a reason to participate read http://beadonor.blogspot.com/. You do not have to donate money to support us. You can attend the walk or simply register to be an organ donor at http://www.lifelineofohio.org/.

National Kidney Foundation Walk

It is that time of year again. Time to walk for the National Kidney Foundation. I have started a walk page for donations just like last year. If you would like to you are welcome to donate to help the cause.

http://walk.kidney.org/site/TR/Walk/Ohio?px=1282481&pg=personal&fr_id=2020

Thanks!

I tried to find a picture of what I look like on the inside but I could only find one with a single transplant. I look like this on the inside, except that there are 4 total.

More pictures

Work has started