What a year it has been.  So many life and death events affecting our friends and family from all over the world in just a year.  On January 16th I was awake when the call came in from the transplant team.  I was awake as my close friend from Scotland had just emailed me with the sad news that her brother in Thailand had just died in his fifties leaving a young son.  Then the call came in and I had to abandon my contemplations of death – for at least for a few hours!  All of you know how awful the next few hours and days and weeks were.  I do not have to relive them.  But I have to acknowledge that on this day a year ago another family lost their child but gave our son a new chance of life.  We are incredibly grateful but their sorrow must be terrible on this anniversary for them.  

We are so sorry about the death in December of another PH/lung transplant traveler.  Only a little older than Iain, she and her family battled through her health issues with such dignity and fortitude.  It is for children like Katy, Iain, Rayni, Chris and Lucas that, we as a family we will continue to raise awareness of that life threatening disease Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension.  We know that there are lots of deadly diseases out there and this week we are honoring the life of a family friend who died last week, He was the father of Iain’s close friend Cormac who came to visit him in Saint Louis (where he almost got into a duel over a  handicap spot that Iain needed) and although the family and he had to battle an awful disease they were unwavering in their support of Iain.

So many of you and your families have had your own health challenges and I am humbled by your constancy through Iain’s transplant and beyond.  I still go back and read the comments, in small doses at a time.  So although death is always with us, so is hope and life and laughs and things unexpected.  Iain has an awfully cute new cousin, born in Serbia so the cousin group has expanded.  Unexpectedly, my siblings and I have acquired a new aunt and uncle in the UK that we hope to meet someday.  And laughs – thank you to my stalwart friends who have stuck with me through thick and thin and wonder at my sanity. Not to mention, of course, our families – fortunately we have seen them all over Thanksiving and Christmas. Iain on his gap year will be visiting all of you so watch out Los Gatos, Vail, Marathon, Sheperton, Sunderland, Penshaw, Seattle, Belgrade, Falkirk, (India perhaps but am hesistant with a lung transplant patient). John and I this year now only have one child under the age of 18.  Olivia is set on her adventures of computer science and Iain is set to graduate this year.  

So in ten days Iain will have his 12 month check-up.  Fingers crossed everyone.  Iain have fun tonight with the Squad and more….