Friends are Family

What a wonderful quote…I am not sure who the author of these words is but they are so right!

You never know when you might meet people who become such a part of your life that you can’t imagine not knowing them.

One of the totally unexpected consequences of my husband having a liver transplant is that we are now part of a special group who have become our close friends.

This group is bonded together by facing adversity…each person has either had a liver transplant or been a carer for a liver transplant recipient.

These are among the most amazing people I have ever met….what they have had to go through is just beyond belief…liver failure is not pretty….yet they have come out the other side stronger then ever.

And us carers have each seen our loved one face death, go through a transplant, and come out the other side with a second chance of life, thanks to the generous donors.

When we are together, we talk and laugh about things that only those who have been through a life threatening illness can understand.

And we have fun…lots of it!

I have to say its the best therapy there is!

And one of the best parts….you would be hard pressed to pick out who of the group has had a liver transplant…unless they all showed their scars!

My husband and I are very lucky to have good friends from many different parts of our lives, and we value each and every one of them…you know who you are!

But if you had told me a couple of years ago, when Jas was so sick, that some of the people we passed in hospital corridors, met in pre transplant meetings, or saw in various waiting rooms, would eventually become our good friends, then I would probably not have believed you.

Not all liver transplant patients have the opportunity to meet and bond with other recipients…we were lucky to be in the right place at the right time, and fate did the rest!

And this friendship has been a great comfort to us, when we discovered in September last year that I also had a health challenge to face…thryoid cancer.

These wonderful people who have seen more of hospitals, wards, ICU, theatres and waiting rooms then most people ever will, rallied around immediately without question.

We are very proud to be a part of the “Liver Lot”…we love you all!

Liver LotSome of  the “Liver Lot” Group