Update from Tom - Monday, March 30, 2009 7:29 PM, CDT

[Guest guest]

The old license plates have been put out to pasture.

For the last two years, I have had " Donate Life " license plates on my car to promote organ donation.  To have a little fun, my plate was NDLIVR, for " need liver. "   When you're sick with a life threatening illness, sometimes you need a little lightness to keep from going over the edge.

Since I got my liver, I don't NDLIVER anymore.  Kathy came up with a brilliant idea.  (I certainly could never come up with something so good on my own.  I haven't had a creative thought in 49 years!)  She suggested keeping the Donate Life tags and changing them to THX LGW, to thank Larry for his gift of life.

For my birthday, Kathy presented me with those plates, and they made their debut on Saturday night when we went out with Larry and Debbie.

Of all the birthday presents I've received, this one is one of the best.

Shifting gears a bit, I was back at town today to complain about my throat.  You could see Dr. Shetty's shoulders slump when I announced that the dreaded flareups are back.  All we can do is start trying to solve the mystery again.  We'll start by increasing the prednisone dose (not a good prospect) and once again working with Dr. Shanmugam in the rheumatology department to find another solution.  Maybe going back on thalidomide will be the answer.  It worked before.  The bad part of that is that it puts me back on blood thinners, which have side effects of their own.  Still, if I get relief, I can handle the bad parts.

I think the worst part of this is the emotional aspect.  I thought that I was done with excruciating throat pain after the transplant.  We did have a run of a few good months, and to take a big step backward like this is something I don't recommend.

But, God always seems to find a way to get me through things like this.  I'll be fine.  I'll just have to lean on him.  He's used to it from me!

Tom 

To send a message to Tom, Kathy and family goto;

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/thomasbutler