Happy New Year

Well can you believe it another year has gone, and boy do I have a lot to remember and be thankful for, just look at the blessings God has given me. Just in case you are keeping track I am getting close to a year since my transplant. I am still bottling the ole lung juice, I came up with a possible marketing name, protein in a jug! LOL

Not sure if you got to hear the Christmas message or not, but God is awesome, he allowed me another year and to broadcast the Christmas story one more time. Praise God Almighty.

Well are you headed to Atlanta? Well I ain't, but Justin is. I can watch everything from my chair and my bathroom is not crowded. If you are going be careful and watch those Clemson Tigers go.

Happy New Year.

Are you a Christian?

Make 2008 the year for you!

God Bless You,
Lightning

Christmas Eve Eve

Well I am ready for Santa Claus(e). Abigail has been counting down, so she would not count the day we were on and would count to Christmas Eve and say there is so many days to Christmas.

OK my exciting news, as you know for over 10 years I have done the Christmas story over the Anderson County Fire Radio. Well I won't be doing it this year, but we are starting a new tradition at South Greenville Fire Department, so this year around 1000hrs. set your radio or scanner to 154.280 and join us for a new tradition, the Christmas story from South Greenville Fire Department. God is still opening doors, join me as we walk through them in search of God's will.

Merry Christmas from Claire, Justin, Abigail & myself, and thank you for all you have done for us.

We Love You,
God Bless You,

Pelham

Week Before CHRISTmas Day

Good Tuesday Morning,

I know I am behind and slow, but one thing is far sure I still got no watch on my wrist and I still don't care what time it is, so here is my late Monday Post.

First of all if you got the e-mail from me for a new or update blog post and you replied to my e-mail you should get an e-mail about this post. If you did not get my e-mail or you forgot to respond you can be added to the new or updated blog e-mail list, just by sending me an e-mail at lightning@wildblue.net and request to be added to the new or updated blog e-mail list. OK, confused now!

I want to post a couple of links and if you have time go to these links and I think you will enjoy them.

Christmas with a capital C www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAckfn8yiAQ

Interview With God http://www.theinterviewwithgod.com/

Well I don't want to cause a panic or stir up your troubles but CHRISTmas is almost here. Have you done your shopping yet, well I have done some, but I am waiting on Abigail to get out of school, so she and I can get it done. Thinking about CHRISTmas, what does it mean to you? Is it all about the children, or is it about all the gifts you will get or not get, is it about all the gifts you will give or is it about a birthday? Well for me it's about a birthday, the most important birthday ever and I am not just talking about the date, I am talking about the birth of our savior, Jesus Christ. You know, Claire was the first person I ever heard talk about the big birthday party in Heaven. Can you even imagine what it must be like, we can try but I believe our earthly thoughts can not grasp that kind of event. You know we are always sadden when someone we know and love has gone on to Heaven, but the sadness should be for ourselves, just think what Heaven must be like and to be present for that grand birthday party, I know I will be there one day, singing praises and happy birthday. How about You?

Well I will give you an update! I still get up every morning and put my britches on one leg at a time. The fluid is still a flowing, taking about 1000ml or 1 liter out every 3 days. I am still tired and my joints still hurt, but thank God I am much better than I was this times last year. I still have no report from Charleston as to what the next step will be, but I am getting of the mind set that maybe I will always have this fluid problem, so what! God has blessed me more than I deserve so if a little fluid in my chest is all I have to whine about, then I know you will be glad for me to just get over it, so I am trying to stop whining and just looking forward to every day that God has made and allows me to be in it.

I have some exciting news to share with you, but I can't tell you right now, but it will be in my next post, at least by Sunday night. Guess you will have to check back and see what my exciting news is.

God Bless You,
Merry CHRISTmas,
Pel

Allen's Pain In The Neck

Good Tuesday Evening,

Well today is another great day that God has made. God has yet answered another prayer and performed another miracle through modern medicine. We have prayed that God’s will to be done in Brother Allen’s neck surgery. He had his surgery this morning at AnMed, he had to be there at 0530hrs and they took him to surgery at 0750hrs. I stopped this morning and had a bowl of oatmeal for him. The doctor came in about 1245hrs and said everything went well. I did not hang around any longer because you know Allen is goofy enough on his owe, I knew the hospital could not deal with Allen on drugs and me making fun of him, of course I’m gonna make fun of him anyway. God Bless You Allen. I am praying for God’s will in a speedy recovery. We must also remember Glenda & the family’s while they tend to Allen’s needs. We must also remember Allen when his good friends, like me, go by to harass him.

Well you know the weather man is not calling for much rain in the future, I understood that maybe by next fall we might get some rain! Let me tell you that the dry weather is not affecting my leak; I drained a day early and still maxed out, 1000ml or 1 liter or a good Dr. Pepper for the country folks. The good doc from Charleston has not called as of yet, you know we are limited on way out yonder phone calls.

I got a great letter from another one of my best friends today, ole Sully. You know the Yankee that moved to Charleston and then got stuck in Anderson, just our luck. Sully has an idea for leak he told me about what the Navy done in the submarines when they had a leak, nope not stop leak but duck tape. Sully decided to move away and go back home to Iowa, can you believe he chose his Mother and other family over me. Well he might have moved away but he can’t get rid of me that easy, I’m like snow to Sully just won’t go away. He told me that it may warm up to 28F or so and snow is already being measured by the foot not inch, he stated that another dusting was coming about 6 inches. Sully you should have stayed down her with me and moved the family down here with the rest of your family, but anyway it’s cold here to me, in the 60’s HaHa.

Well the youngin has been washed and Mama just got home so now it’s time to eat so I must say Good Night.

Wednesday Update – Allen is on the 7th floor at AnMed, Claire has stopped by a couple of times and said he is still in a lot of pain. I again ask for your prayers for God’s will to be done with Brother Allen’s recovery. He has probably named his pain Pel, you know a pain in the neck.

God Bless You,

Pel

Charleston Trip 11-29-2007

Good Morning Everyone,

Well we went for one test which meant one injection site with one dose of nuclear medicine and one day. Well you know me I am going to be different and more difficult. We arrived on Wednesday night after a good trip down. We went to the hospital for a 1000hrs appointment which they took me right on back. The procedure was to be done as a ultra sound guided catheter, of course that means guiding a needle, they were saying that they did not want to do a gut shot, I did not think I wanted that either. Well never the lest to say by nearly 1700hrs, after two injection sites and three doses of nuclear medicine and two liters of normal saline injected under my skin, suppose to be in my abdomen he put another one there, and a lot of walking, trendelenburg position, belly rubbing, gut sloshing and a lot of laying around on my sides, back and belly the doctor said for me to go to the motel and come back first thing in the morning and he would see if it had moved. We went away with me being very warped sided and now my shirt would not even fit correctly and retired for the evening to be ready to return early in the morning. Morning came and I arrived back around 0800hrs for the doctor to look at the pictures and to say well it did not work. The doctor, who is the professor of radiology told me that I was the hardest case he had ever done, he then decided to carry me to the ultra sound area and to yet inject me again using a newer ultra sound machine. The procedure is quite complicated, the site is located, Novocaine is injected, then he cuts (nicks) the skin with a scalpel then inserts spinal needle to the target area and then feeds a catheter to that area, they then inject about a liter or so if fluid, the nuclear medicine and then more fluid, and of course everything has to be sterile and a feeling within yourself to be still while watching all of this. OK so he has completed the fourth dose and all of the above issues had to be done over again and then later on after a bunch of pictures the doctor concluded that the test was negative and that the fluid in my lung area was not coming from my abdomen. He studied for a while and said he had no other test that he knew to do right now to help figure out where the fluid is coming from, so he will send the report over to my lung doctor and I am waiting patiently for the lung doctor to call with the next step. I guess to sum up the two days, there was about 11 hours of testing and I guess I did not study well, because I failed, I never was good at taking test.

I have also created a Blog Posting Notification and if you would like to be notified anytime a new or corrected blog posting has been posted just respond to this posting at the comment section with a valid e-mail address and ask to be added to the Blog Posting Notification List.

God Bless You,

Pel

Turkey Gone?

Well Sunday night has came and now you must stop rubbing your belly and get ready to go back to work and school. Abigail told me today how lucky I was because I could stay at home and do what I wanted, not like her having to go face school, the third grade after the Thanksgiving Holidays. Well my first thought was that no I wasn't lucky, because I had rather be headed back to work. That was a dumb response on my part because she was right, I am lucky. I am the luckiest, no the most blessed man alive. First of all God has given me more than I deserve, just to be alive is more that I deserve and then there is my family, my friends well that stops me there. You are either my family or my friend and my friends are my family and I don't deserve that but you are stuck with me. Remember, careful what you pray for because God answers prayers. Even if the doctors only gave me until November 2007 to live, God gave me that transplant that you prayed for, so you see I am here a whole lot longer because God answered your prayer.

This was a wonderful Thanksgiving for me and my family, one thing I love to do is cook on the smoker. I got out the ole smoker out of the loft of the barn and cleaned it up, took some hickory that Daddy cut for firewood and cut it into one inch thick chunks and soaked them in good ole Possum Kingdom water. I smoked a ham, Claire out done herself with some pan fried fresh corn, pea salad and an awesome red velvet cake. This was just a small part of the feast that we enjoyed, everyone vittles were just awesome dishes and boy did we get full. Strange things were going on after we ate, like I will never eat again and people just walking around rubbing their bellies. It was wonderful having all of the family together. Justin came down Wednesday night and stayed until he had to go back to work at May-Lan Christmas Tree Farm at 1045hrs on Thursday morning. The rest of the family arrived at Daddy & Deeda's around 1200hrs with baskets full of goodies. It was awesome sitting at the table with all my family. Just to catch you up in case you are not sure of who all my family are. Claire & Abigail, Daddy & step-mother Deeda, sister Meleeda & Anthony with his scrapes and bruises from his wreck on Wednesday morning going to work and we thank God for his safety during the incident of the big rig (bob tailed) hitting his Nissan pickup in the drivers door at the Ware Place, step-brother Larry & Kim, step-sister Vicky & Jerry and all our kids. After we ate and the ladies cleaned up we sat around and chatted a while and then slowly one by one we all returned to our homes. Claire, Abigail & I then went on another visit, this was to see PaPa (Claire's Daddy) so off to the lake we went and it sure was great to see him and spend some time with him. We knew this weekend was out for a visit, due to the Clemson football game on Saturday. PaPa may not be able to go to all the games but his true Clemson spirit is not getting older, because he will get his orange on and sit and watch or listen to those tigers, and I found out early on not to bother the Clemson game day.

Speaking of Saturday's football game, Claire was planning on her way home from work as to what she had to do before she could sit down and watch the game. Well the game was well worth watching but it was even better in my house, Claire pulling for Clemson and Abigail pulling for Carolina. Well we all know how it ended!! Go Clemson.

Well the night is growing on and I must retire to bed so I can arise on time in the morning so Abigail isn't late to school.

Claire and I will be headed to Charleston for a test this week. Keep us in your prayers and pray for my donor's family every day.

God Bless You,

Pel

Prayers Answered

Hello My Dear Friends,

Thank you so much for the prayer for Brother Allen Billings & Family. He had his cath today and they found that the stent he had put in back in 1999 had some blockage. The doctor said it was not as important to fix it right now as it was for him to have his neck fixed first. He said his heart was good enough for the surgery and they would fix his heart later. Thank God for answered prayers. Please keep the Billings family in your prayers, for as of now he is scheduled for surgery on his neck next Thursday.

Thank You for your prayers,

God Bless You,

Pel

Urgent Prayer Request

Good Evening,

I was not sure how to get the word out the quickest and duh, I thought of the blog.

I am requesting prayer for a true dear friend of mine and yours, his name is Allen Billings (Fire Marshal - Retired). Allen is in need of our prayers because he is faced with some tough days ahead. Allen has a problem with his neck C-6 to T-2, will have to have some removal of the bone and replaced with a rod and screws. The doctors have told him to be very careful of how he moves between now and the surgery or he could be paralyzed. The surgery was set for November 27, 2007, but he had to have his heart checked out first, he has already had two open heart surgeries, one in 1982 and one stint placed in 1999 and another open heart in 2000. He went today for the ole treadmill test and after about two minutes the doctor stopped the test and instructed him as soon as a room came open at AnMed, he would be admitted. Allen is resting at the hospital tonight, awaiting his turn tomorrow for the catheterization, and if need be any other procedures the doctors see that needs to be conducted. The doctor told him that he must have his neck fixed or he could be paralyzed, but his heart had to be able to stand up to the stress of the surgery. Please pray for Brother Allen as we all know the unknown can be scary. Please pray for his wife Glenda and their children as the days ahead approach. Brother Al we love you and we are praying for you, keep you faith in God and he will see you through, for God is in control.

Please send get well wishes to
Allen & Glinda Billings
Email: agbillings@bellsouth.net

or to me Pelham Medlock
Email: lightning@wildblue.net
as I will see that they get them.

God Bless You,

Lighting

Happy Thanksgiving Week

Good Monday Morning,

I trust that you had a wonderful week. Well down here in Possum Kingdom all things are Great because God is in it. This week has been good, but it also held it's challenges. Daddy & I hauled some logs to the saw mill. I know this sounds like a lot of work, but Daddy had already done all the work, he cut the trees over a year ago. Daddy then loaded them on the trailer and tied them down, really all I done was drive the truck. Anyway on our second load, of course something must go wrong, it was just a small thing. Well at least that was the way we told Claire and DeDa (Joyce). The only thing that happened was just one of the straps holding the logs on the trailer broke, course we only had two on it. I slowed the trailer down and stopped and as we regained our thoughts we applied a chain and a smaller strap to the load, then Daddy discovered what caused the strap to go flying up in that yard. The strap broke due to the fact that one of our tires on the trailer had separated and broke the strap, so what do we do, we went on to the mill, very slow. God got us there and said all right boys fix this before you do something really dumb. Therefore we emptied our load and came home without the lumber due to the tire issue, on Wednesday after two return trips we had all the sewn lumber back in Possum Kingdom. I had grown very tired during the week and was having a lot of stomach pain, so Daddy & DeDa started stacking the lumber and a little after dinner (12:00PM) the lumber was stacked safely away. I retired to my chair at the house and have remained there through out the week. I picked Abigail up at school on Friday, after her trip to the Upcountry Museum and discovered that she to was sick. Claire came home from work Friday sick as well. Claire had to carry Abigail to the doctor on Sunday afternoon and she has strep throat and will be out of school Monday and Tuesday. Claire was hurting so when she came home Friday that she had made an appointment to see her doctor on Monday. On Friday, Dr. Sahan's office called and advised me that they had scheduled the nuclear medicine test for me on November 29, 2007 in Charleston. I guess he just wanted an after Thanksgiving gathering in Charleston. They will skeet some nuclear (glowing stuff) in my belly and see if it winds up in my chest, sound like fun? I am not sure what kind of prize I will win if it does wind up in my chest, maybe it will be something fun? Then after the the prize ceremony they will then skeet some other nuclear (glowing stuff) in my foot and that is suppose to show them where the leak is, I'm still thinking stop leak is all I need! I am just not sure how soon after one test the next test will be and then when the leak stopping, or patching will be? I sure hope this Thanksgiving turns out different that last year, because if you remember I spent the Thanksgiving Holidays with the fine folks at AnMed Hospital, and my family sneaking in turkey, they could have brought just a little more. This year I am going to be standing by when the turkey is ready so I can taste first, to see if it is done, then I will need to test just before everyone eats to be sure it is warm, and then one final taste to be sure it has not sit out to long, last year the turkey they brought me just sang and danced. My family thought it was funny, but it was hard to eat, I don't think it was done.

Well any way I sure do have a lot to be thankful for, do you? I want to Thank God for saving my soul and allowing me to live through this transplant and all the other wonderful blessings he gives me each day. I am so thankful to my donor's family, to allow him to Donate Life. I have a wonderful family that I am so proud of and thankful for. My wife Claire, she sure took each one of those words she spoke on June 19, 1996 to it's true limit, you know the part about in sickness and in health, she could have threw me away and who could have blamed her, but I thank God she kept me. I have Justin, our son who has stood tall as a man and took care of us all and Abigail, our daughter who always wanted to be there with her Daddy and still keeps me young, both I am so proud of and I am so thankful of. I have Daddy & DeDa who has stood by us each step of the way, you know I am suppose to be helping them but they are still helping me. I have Meleeda & Anthony who was always there with us and at home with us. I have so many other family and friends that has helped us in so many ways, from raising money to visits and phone calls, but most of all I have all of you who have always been there for me and my family through your prayer, I could never thank ya'll enough. I thank God for our millitary men and women and their families, pray that they remain safe. OK so I have sit here late at night or early in the morning I should say, writing what I thought to myself was going to be short and now you have a knot on your head from banging it on the monitor, so wake up. I hope that you take that extra moment and tell the ones around you that you love them and thank them for being there for you. I sure do love you and thank you for being there for me, this thing is not over so keep praying and don't be surprised that one day I come knocking on your door just to whine and cry on your shoulder. If you have a friend you have not talked with in a while, stop and do it, hug your Mama and Daddy or at least call them and let them know how much you love them, you never know when you won't have that chance again. If you have not ask Jesus into your heart do it now and tell everyone, we all have been praying for you, you never know when it will be to late. What will you leave behind? Will your soul go where your Mama always prayed it would go? Have you made you decision to Donate Life, if so have you told your family, tell them over the Holiday, remember 18 people will die each day waiting on a life saving transplant. If you remember November 2007 was my project death date, but Thank God my donor's family decided to Donate Life.

I hope each one of you have a great Thanksgiving Holiday, be thankful unto God who all things belong to.

Happy Thanksgiving,

Love Ya,

Pel

Bad News!!

I am sure that this will be some bad news for some; well the bad news for some is that just because it has been a while since my last posting, I am not dead. Thing are going good for me and I don’t want to complain all the time. I will however catch you up on the past few weeks.

In October we had the great privilege of attending an event for all people involved in transplants from donors & family to recipients & families, this was in Charleston SC and it was wonderful because Claire, Abigail & Justin were all there with me. We had the opportunity to talk with other family members and even meet people from the upcountry that I had only heard about. The booths that were set up provided fun for both the young and the old. Then there was the food, and we all know that a fat boy from Possum Kingdom is going to find the food. They served us a lowcountry boil in a wooden serving trough and I think that made it taste even better. The day grew to an end much sooner than I wanted, because that was going to cause a separation of my family. Claire and Abigail loaded up and were heading back to Possum Kingdom, Justin Loaded up and headed back to Rock Hill and I headed to the Donate Life booth, to gather items that were left over so I could carry them to my next stop. My next direction was up the east coast from Charleston, Myrtle Beach. I loaded up my supplies and headed up the coast to my next destination, which was the Crown Reef motel at Myrtle Beach and to meet up with my dear friend, Bum (aka Curt Bumgarner). This was a meeting that I was looking forward to. The 11th NC / SC IAAI this conference was something I had missed the past two years and was not sure about this year, but God worked it all out.

How did I get there? Well it all started with a conversation with Chief Ken Taylor and I were talking about the need for more intense investigations being conducted from the fire department side in Greenville County. I spoke of the great training that was available at the annual conference, so he suggested that Curt and I go. I thought this was an awesome idea, to have the opportunity to go to the conference and to spend a week with my awesome friend, Bum. Let me tell you just a little bit about Bum and how far we go back. He was hired as the 26th person at South Greenville Fire Department and I was the 27th, so you can tell we have been close a long time, such as taking one of the first field classes of the trio of the interior fire fighting classes, to going to the SCCJA for two weeks to take our basic arson training. I knew just from the beginning this was going to be a great week at the beach. OK so we arrived at the beach and wow the people that I think so much of and had not seen for a couple of years, I knew my week could not go bad. We then went to an invitation only lowcountry boil for the staff and instructors of the conference. I was so honored to be among such a room full of professional and to be greeted with such open arms. To think this was just the beginning of the week. We then retired for the evening and arrived back at the conference center at 0630hrs on Monday morning to set up the booth for Donate Life SC and to set information on each row of the tables.



The greetings I received from everyone from North and South Carolina was outstanding. I was then asked to set at the head table to pray during the opening ceremony as well as speak.



I was able to thank God in front of my piers for all that he had done for me and I was as well able to thank each chapter for all that they had done for me and my family. I was also able to tell them about the need for organ & tissue donation. They did give me a time limit so I tried to keep it brief. This was an awesome start of the week and training had not even started yet. The week went on and the classes were great. I got to talk to people one on one and train with the best of the best, not just in North & South Carolina but the nation. We even got the flash back of our school days because we went on a field trip on a school bus. On Wednesday night we had the banquet and again more good eating. I was ask to sit at the front, but I did not think nothing was up, I sure was wrong. They are up there giving talks and then giving out awards and I was just proud to be there. SC President Jeff Allen was giving out SC awards and then he started talking about a special award that award being a Life Membership, then he ask me to come up front. I was overwhelmed and as I arrived up front I looked out at all of those people standing up, clapping and I knew they were clapping for me, but I knew how unworthy I was for that caliber of people to stand up and clap for me. Jeff then asks me to speak if I wanted to.



You know me I am not going to give up that chance, but you know I was so surprised that I don't remember what I said, other than as I was wiping tears away I told them that it was OK for a fat boy to cry. Why does God bless me so much? I hope I can live up to the expectations God has for me and maybe one day I could be half as good as those who stood up and clapped for me. Thank You God, the SC IAAI board and members, my family, my donor’s family and all the ones at the conference. This was again another proud moment for a country boy and my new liver.



I was able to hand out a lot of information during the week; we had over 300 at the conference. I was able to talk to very good friends about all my liver troubles and about some of their liver troubles. I was able to provide information both to SC & NC member as well as President Tom Fee IAAI The web sites are,
SC Donate Life SC http://www.donatelifesc.org/
NC Donate Life NC http://www.donatelifenc.org/
Carolina Donor Services http://www.carolinadonorservices.org/
Life Share Of The Carolinas http://www.lifesharecarolinas.org/
The week progressed on and the great instructors continued the task of trying to make us smarter. My time with all the NC & SC members was growing to a close and as well as the time with my great friend Bum, Friday came and as all good weeks this one ended with a test. Test is which a curse word to a dumb country boy but by the end of the grading I had survived the test and received my certificate. We all then went our separate ways and traveled home, but before I left the beach I had to stop for that most important item, the souvenir for Abigail, so with gifts in tow I was homeward bound. I was looking so forward to seeing Claire & Abigail, Justin was still away trying to get smarter. Many Thanks to Ricky Seel of Columbia for the photographs.

The weekend was a night mare for the victims, families and friends of the house fire at the beach; it was also a big task for my dear friends who had the weight on their shoulders to figure out what snuffed the life away from those seven young men and women. The firefighters who fought the fire did so, bravely and with pride, to yet suffer the sadness that no matter how hard they tried the loss of life had happened. May God bless all who are involved in this tragic loss.

The weekend at home was great, but then on Sunday night we received some very sadden news, our pastor was leaving. Rev. Frank Dooley would be moving on in reverence to God’s will. Our church members and community will miss Brother Frank more than he will ever know. We all know that it’s not our will but God’s will, God Bless You Brother Frank. I wish I could tell you the words I feel for you, you have been a pastor, friend, brother to me and my family, from Mama’s death to my sickness. We Love You Brother Frank.


Monday came about and I got to go to my visit to see the vampires. The blood work came back and as usual some things were elevated but nothing real bad, my uric acid was the one of concern right now and my liver doctor in Charleston wanted to wait until this Monday and test it again before treating, I guess that way I get stuck an extra time, ha ha.
My fluid levels are still going up, on Monday I drained 1100ml, so if your keeping score the numbers go from 325ml in the start to 1100ml now and still no buyers for the liquid gold. I went into town during the week and seen some good ole friends that were truly a blessing for me to see. Some I haven’t seen in a while and some I just lost contact with but it sure was an awesome experience for me to reunite with them. Some explain how much they enjoyed reading my blog and that made me feel bad since I have not update in a while, so now you all get to read a lot. I remained around the house the rest of the week moaning and groaning, but they tell me the aches and pains will go away once my troubles are fixed with this fluid. We will see!! The weekend began with a blast for me I went to Greenville on Saturday for some training through Donate Life SC. It was called TSI, Transplant Speakers International. The training was to teach the ones of us who are shy and don’t like to talk in front of people how to get up and tell our story, which the ones of you that know me the more the merry for me. The next part of the training was to teach us how to tell our story with the power statement, body and ending all in five minutes. I laughed to myself and thought I would still be telling my name by the end of that short time but I guessed the training worked because I told my story in 4:59 ½ minutes, and I got a good rating on that, I sure felt like I had a hole lot more to say but my time was up. Sunday was a lazy day as I just went to church and lay around until church time again. Claire, Abigail, Samson, Rebel & the chickens went for a walk in the woods and the dogs played in the branch. They returned just before dark and then Abigail wanted me to go down there, I put her off until Monday night.

Monday I went to the Anderson County Arson Unit and gathered the last things I still had over there in their way, I think after two days maybe when they look around the office they won't see my junk in their way. I was also able to congratulate a very good friend of mine into the position of arson investigator in the Anderson County Arson Unit, my friend Brother Ken Blakely.

On Thursday I went to see Dr. Kopp in Anderson and he made some adjustment and told me to hang on for the word from Dr. Sahn in Charleston, every one tells me how much he knows. Well then today while I was writing in the blog, I got a phone call from Charleston; it was Dr. Sahn himself calling to tell me what he wanted to do next. He stated that he thought I had a leak from my transplant and that he wanted to have some glowing medicine put in my belly, not my stomach, and see if it glowed, I mean flowed up to my chest. He said if my chest then wound up with the medicine, he meant glowing, that they would then put some other kind of medicine, some other glowing stuff, in my foot and as it worked it's way to my chest that could possible tell them where my leak is, I still think a good dose of stop leak should do the trick, guess they don’t have a medical grade of that yet. Once they find the leak then they will decide how to fix it, I am not sure if they will solder it or weld it. I am confused about one part of this test, I know the old saying about a way to a man’s heart is through he stomach, but I have never heard of the way to a man’s chest is through his foot, oh well what do I know. Well now you are caught up to Friday afternoon, November 9, 2007.

This Sunday November 11, 2007 is Donor Sabbath.

I will be speaking at Fair View Street Baptist Church Sunday morning at 1030hrs., please come and join us for worship, fellowship and a whole lot of praising God.



God Bless You,

Lightning

WAW - Gotta Think

What A Week


Were should I start. I think I will start on Friday October 12, 2007. I had the honor and privilege of participating in the first Clergy Appreciation Luncheon, that's a lot to say for a country boy. For all you other country folks, I helped with a dinner where we had a whole bunch of preachers all in the same room. I had such a God filled day and an inspiring intermingling day with fellow Christians. I am privileged to be a part of an organization that has such a staff who loves God, is straight forward thinking, mission statement minded and individual focused. This staff along with some help from DLSC volunteers were able to not just feed the preacher's bellies but filled their souls with inspiring song and words of wisdom from inspiring people and then followed up with a key note speaker everyone should hear because he is a God fearing man and a servant of God, Mr. Truett Cathy - Founder of Chick-fil-A. Mr. Cathy will tell you real quick that the success of Chick-fil-A came from God, because God was in it.
Our hope through all these efforts, the Clergy will be able to help achieve the goal, that being more people being organ & tissue donors. Remember that at the end of any day for us, 18 people will have died waiting on a lifesaving transplant. Are You A Christian? Get Jesus in your heart and then agree to be a donor once God has called you home, and remember to tell your family. Tell them Yes your a Born Again Christian and yes you want to be an organ & tissue donor.

On Sunday October 14, 2007 the journey to Charleston was once again traveled. As the waiting room fills, the event of who will be next began as the wait began to see Dr. Willner. I am greeted by the nurse as she points to the dreaded scales. I began my stripping act right there in the waiting room, with the heads around the room turned in embarrassment. I look at these things this way, if they are going to fuss about what I weigh and they don't want this behavior to occur then they need to put these scales in a closet or just throw them out the door. I however cowardly stepped on this dreaded monster and immediately started spitting out excesses about why my weight was not my fault. I gathered my hat and other belongings and down the hall I go with my head lowered and hoping the walk would not be long because I just could not walk muck more. The nurses came in and of course they had to find something to fuss about so they decided to pick on my blood pressure. Let me tell you once they decide your blood pressure is up, you sure do get a lot of attention, after all of those excuses. The room grew quite as I sat there waiting on the next round to start, I knew that some one was going to find something to fuss about and of course Claire is going to chime in her two cents worth, that usually don't help. Her chiming usually get me stuck some how some where. This time I was proud of myself, I did not sir up any hate and discontent. Dr. Willner then walks through the door and gleams down at me and ask how I am doing. I know this could be a tricky question so I am not sure how to answer it, but I try. I replied by saying fine, and then drawing up. Dr. Willner smiled and said all my liver numbers looked great, blood pressure was up and he was not pleased that my leg was swelling, so he increased my blood pressure medication and started me on Lasix, but you know it did not stop there, I have not been stuck yet then there she is with the needle, yelp right there in the arm she gigged me and gave me my flu shot. He then said he was going to send Dr. Sahn a letter that he agreed to the nuclear medicine test. He said that Dr. Sahn was going to have to figure out what was going on with my plural effusion. He said that he was cutting my blood work to once a month and I did not have to come back and see him until January, that's my year anniversary month.
Now talking about that plural effusion, just to bring you up to date. When they put this tube in me they said they would not consider removing it until I got down to about 50ml at every drainage, that's also 50cc. I started with the drainage numbers being about 325ml and as of today I removed 1000ml, I know the number are going the wrong way. Just don't get all excited and start fussing at me, because me & you know God is in control and he knows what he is doing.
Now to this weekend, we arrived in Charleston just a couple of hours ago and Justin just came in, now we are ready to start a weekend. That's right we are in town this time just for fun. We are here for the MUSC Transplant Center's 2007 Celebration Of Life. This is were the donor and or family and recipient and family come together. I am not sure what all is going to happen but they did say we were eating dinner (lunch) so you know me I am here the night before. Once this big dinner is over, Claire Justin and Abigail will be headed home and I must make a stop at Myrtle Beach for the NC/SC IAAI convention. I sure am looking forward to the entire array of events.

God Bless You,
Put a smile on your face,
God Loves you and me,

Lightning

Doctor's Vist in Charleston on Friday 10-5-2007

Well Hello My Beloved Friends,

I wanted to give you an update on my last Charleston, 10-5-2007. This was one that we were looking forward to, since we were going to see Dr. Sahn and his team. The last time we spoke with them was about a month ago when I was in the hospital. I went in for my appointment and I had a PFT - pulmonary function test. This kind of reminds me when we have to do the test for firefighting and the folks at North Greenville Fitness would give us that cardboard tube and make you take a deep breath and blow it out and they keep yelling blow, blow, blow, keep blowing, keep blowing and them you realize that you just blew out one eyeball and then they tell you to stop. Well this test was just like that except they made me do it three times, must have failed cause they gave me some medication that I had to breath, I think it was to keep your eyeballs glued in and then they made me do it three more times. I had one excuse, at least I tried to use it, I have to drain my lung cavity ever three days and Friday was the third day. Over all they compared my test scores from a year ago, and I guess I have gotten dumber, because my score went down this time 28% to 30%. I am still however sucking in good air, my level was 97%, you know when they stick that close pin with that red light on your finger. I then had to go have a chest x-ray, don't know but I think Claire put them up to that to try and see if I had a heart, I sure do. I then saw Dr. Sahn and two of his FELLOWS, that is a speciality in the medical field, not just good ole boys, why some of us are smarter than we thought, cause people be calling us fellers for a long time, like look at them dumb fellers climbing that tree after that possum. Anyway Dr. Sahn and the other two doctors talked about a lot of different things and then Dr. Sahn sat down and told me that right now I was still a mystery, he said he did not think it was bad but he just did not know why I had this fluid. They then talked some more doctor talk with those five and eight cylinder words and they sent me for more test. I went down to the bronc sweet, that's the place where they stab you in the back or shove a tube down your nose or mouth. This time was different for me, those kind nurses hooked me up and drained my chest cavity, no stabbing in the back this time, but they got about 800ml out. Then just when I though I had gotten through the day with out being stuck, right there after them draining me with no sticking, she gigged me right there in the left arm, and drew blood. After that enjoyable stop I then went to the ultrasound area for an ultrasound of my liver and all of my belly, you know that took some time cause that's a lot of belly to cover, after that we headed to Possum Kingdom and it sure was great to be home.

Thanks for all your prayers and calls and all the other ways you help us.

God Bless You,

Lightning

WEHAVE5 - Please reply

Hello to the lady who was asking me some questions about my some of postings if you could please e-mail me directly to chiefashdigger@juno.com so I can reply to you I have been trying but I can not get through to you.

I hope all is well with you and your husband.
God Bless You,

Pel

What A Full Month - October

Hello folks,

Just to bring you up to date, I am still looking for that buyer, becasue I am still producing fluid, found out it won't run a gasoline engine. In other words drained it again Saturday, still draining every three days, and I filled the bottle up, 550ml and that was not all. I just decided not to open another kit, I have been trying to hold out til today for my third day draining again. Home health care is coming today to discharge us. Claire and I have passed the test and proved we could manage this task on our own. The home health care people are just great people to have around you and I am sorry to see them go, but there is sick people out there that needs them a whole lot more than me, still good byes are sad.

Daddy pulled a good one on me yesterday, we had been talking about cutting hay, well weeds, and we said we was going to cut the hay soon. I came home yesterday from picking up Abigail and the hay was being cut, so yelp he is doing great also.

This week is a special week for us, we will be in Charleston on Friday to see Dr. Sahn, the lung doctor, we are hoping he has came up with the cause of the fluid and then will know how to stop it.

Next week, on October 12, 2007 I have plans to help with the Clergy Appreciation Luncheon a Donate Life SC event and then on the 15th I will go to see Dr. Willner in Charleston, and we then will return to Charleston on the 20th for a Family Day that MUSC puts on, and on the 21st I will be headed to Myrtle Beach for the NC/SC IAAI, I sure am looking forward to that, they are even going to let me talk a few minutes, I will attend the classes and set up a booth for Donate Life SC.

God Is An Awsome God.

Pray for my Donor's Family
Pray for my family
I will pray for you

God Loves Us All,

God Bless You,

Pel

First Annual Farm Day

Well, how do I start. I guess a Big Thank You to Jerry & John Munns at The Big Sky Farm & The Barn (801 Princeton Highway, Honea Path, SC 864-369-0988), for opening up their farm for all to come and wonder around and have a chance to see local animals and talents right here at home. The way I understand things Jerry Munns & Angie Craft were talking (can you believe that) and the next thing was, not only the plans for the Farm Day was a done deal, they decided to do a fund raiser for my family and I. They then contact South Greenville Fire Department, and Chief Taylor and some of the guys came to the farm and parked cars and took up a donations, these guys parked a bunch of cars, thank you brothers. I know I have left some people out and if I did I am so sorry, please let me know so I can thank you also. I would like to also thank all the vendors and all the people who came out for a wonderful, educational, and family day. Please remember to continue to support these vendors all throughout the year, one work day does not make an annual salary. Please remember to support our youth at Cedar Shoals Baptist Church (864-338-9241) they were selling bake goods for a trip next year and will continue to sell items and work toward their goal, that's continuing to serve God no matter what! God Bless You guys.

I want to Thank each and everyone of you that had anything what so ever to do with the events Saturday, Sept. 29, 2007. God Is Good All The Time

Once again you have have humbled me and my family, the only thing I am going to fuss about is the fact that since Last August with the auction at Auctions On The Square, all the way to Saturday, not only have all you amazing people humbled me, but you make me cry. I am a fire fighter and police officer I am not suppose to cry, I have gotten use to it by now.

I love each and every one of you that has put on an event, called me, prayed for me, sent me cards, ask about me, checked my blog or helped us out financially. I told the church congregation Sunday morning that it would be more convenient to live in Charleston, but Possum Kingdom is our home and through all of your help we have and will continue to be able to continue to commute, Thank You & most of all Thank God.

Words Of Wisdom

Don’t Worry Be Happy

Live every day like it was your last, but remember that if it is your last day, is Jesus in your heart, if he is go out and enjoy and look forward to the homecoming celebration, if Jesus is not in your heart be very afraid, because if this is your last day your life's journey will have given you a ticket straight to hell.

I was 41 years old when I received my liver transplant on January 29, 2007. A couple of years before that I was on top of the world and loving every minute of my God, my family and my job, because I had a long time to go. Now talking about my job, because it is gone right now, I had a job that I loved therefore I never worked a day in my life, in a moment's time, my career was over, don't take it for granted.
Through the mercy of God and the knowledge he has given the doctors, one journey is over but the next ride has just begun, I am hanging on tight because God is in control and he has told me to keep up, we got things to do.

Well see what I mean God is so wonderful and powerful he always gives us something to look forward to even during the sad time.


" I am not as good as I should be; I am not as good as I could be; BUT..... THANK GOD, I am better than I used to be."

When Jesus lives in your heart this should be your thought process
So Many Things To Think About But Nothing To Worry About.

God Bless You,
I Love each of you,
Thank You for what you do for us and all who is around you.

Pel

Hot, Sweet, Possum Kingdom - We are home!

Hello My Dear Family & Friends,

Just wanted to give you a quick update. I went to MUSC hospital this morning and had two pictures made, funny thing they never told me to smile. I then went to see the surgeon. They took the five staples out , took the bandage off said everything looked good and ask if I had any troubles, I said no. They said to call if I have any problems and to let them know when I will be coming back after these next few visits, I said OK and we left.

Daddy & I went to the Market and went to the Charleston Crab House and ate Shrimp & Grits, just awesome. You know I had to carry Daddy because the last time he went to a restaurant in Charleston he got a bowl of grits and a bowl of fried shrimp, not quite the same.

Well got to go and finish home work with Abigail.

As you all know I am a proud Daddy of my son's football coaching, tomorrow night at 1730hrs. Rock Hill High School will be playing in Mauldin against Mauldin High School. First chance I have had to get to go watch him coach.

God Bless You All and Thank You,

Pel

The Strickland Family

My dear friends join me as I pray for this dear family, my extension family.

All Mighty God please wrap you loving arms around this dear family in this time of sadness.
All Mighty God we know you make no mistakes and as you have called another child home please God comfort and bless each one here on earth that is coming to grips with this reality.
God we know that to live we too shall die, we know that leaving this earth is a rejoicing time in heaven so please comfort us in this time and remind us moment by moment that you make no mistakes.

All Mighty God we understand that you are in control and we thank you for the wonderful times we have had with Gary, (Son, Christian, Husband, Father & Brother Firefighter). Thank You for being in control. God I pray that your will be done in the lives that Gary has touched while you allowed us the privilege to spend time with him.

Oh God we know that Gary only feels peace now, no more suffering. God as you have showed us time and time again you are with us always even on our final call.

God please bless each family member and each friend and help them to smile instead of frowning because Angles are singing and welcoming a new Angles home and all are praising you, All Mighty God.

Thank You God for allowing me to pray to you,

For it is in the name of Jesus Christ I pray,

A-Men

Attention Business Minded People

Only Interested Person should respond.

Marketing Specialist

Item to Market

Never Before Sold (Anywhere)

Liquid Gold

OK enough of my silliness, just putting a little humor on the fact that I am still producing fluid! I made this offer to the doctors, but they did not seem to think there was a market, they are probably right. I am still producing about 400ml to 550ml ever three days and just pouring it down the drain.

Well today is another wonderful day that God has made and I am just proud to be in it.

Daddy & I have traveled down to the wonderful city of Charleston for a visit with my surgeon and then we will be headed back to Possum Kingdom.

Sorry for the lack of postings, but our router is down and I just have not felt like fooling with the computer.

Well to catch you up on what has been happening.
I returned home after the surgery and have continued to whine about hurting, but the pain is getting better. Life sure is simpler, being able to drain the fluid at home on my schedule. We have gotten our lives back to normal, at least Abigail in school and Claire back to work.

I will be coming back to Charleston on October 4th to see the lung doctor and maybe they have figure out what is causing this fluid, I will let you know.

I hope you have a wonderful night and a great day tomorrow.

God Bless You,

Pel

Home Again

Hello Everyone,

Well today is another grand day, I hope you had a God filled day.

I just wanted to let you know that we are home again. I had my surgery on Friday and was released from the hospital on Saturday. I think I had one of the longest rides of my life yesterday, but by the grace of God we made it home again. Possum Kingdom looks better ever time I get home. Today has been great, kinda slow and uneventful, little pain and a little drugs.

I had the Pleurx catheter placed in my chest Friday and if you are curious about what it is, I have included a link, www.denverbio.com/physician_pleurx_catheter.html so you can view it and if you are interested you can even view a doctor inplanting one, not mine I was asleep. I watched it once and thought about doing it myself, but I could not see the target area that well on myself.

Well I must go now, kinda tired, don't take much now days for me to get tired.

God Bless You,

Pel

September 7,2007

September 7,2007

Pelham is in the recovery room, he got out of surgery about 1830 tonight. He is in a lot of pain right now,but the surgeon said the surgery went well, and another 1200ml. of fluid was drawn off. If all goes well, he will be discharged tomorrow. If he is up to the trip home, we will be home, but from the looks of things right now, I doubt he will be up to the trip. I willl keep you updated as soon as we know.

God Bless,

Claire

September 4,2007

September 4, 2007

Hello everyone,

We are back in Charleston and Pelham saw the cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. DeRosimo today. Pelham will undergo another surgery Friday 9/7 to place a catheter into his lung so we can hook it to a bottle every couple of days at home to drain. It is not a fix, but a management of the fluid until a cause for the pleural effusion can be found. They still have no clue what is causing it. So keep us in our prayers and hopefully we will be back home next week. GO TIGERS!

We Love you,

Claire

September 2,2007

September 2,2007

Hello folks,

We returned home from Charleston last night and will go back Tuesday morning for an appointment with the thoracic surgeons. Not sure if and when he will have the second pleurodesis. They have mentioned the possibility of inserting an indwelling catheter into his lung that would continously drain the fluid. We still do not know the cause. Hope you all have a restful and great Labor Day.

God Bless You,

Claire

Rainy Charleston

Hello My Dear Family and Friends,

Well today is Friday and the 10th day here in the hospital in Charleston, but even though it is raining they threw me out today. Claire, Abigail and myself have arrived at the motel and preparing to have a good evening and then travel home tomorrow.

Why have I been in the hospital? To discover the cause for the plural effusion, now 10 days later they explained to us this morning they still have no answers. The test that was sent to Salt Lake City returned today and it was negative, therefore ruling out the liver and other stomach areas, but leaving nothing but questions.

We have to return to Charleston on Tuesday to see the surgeons to talk about more lung area surgery, we will see.

Kind of tired now, so I will go. Thanks for the prayers, visits, and calls.

We Love You All,
God Bless You,

Pel

August 28, 2007

August 28, 2007

Hello everyone,

We are on our 7th day at MUSC and we still do not have any answers. The test that was sent to Salt Lake City has still not come back. The Dr. told us today right now the only explanation he has for the recurrent pleural effusions is cancer, but there is no evidence of cancer in Pelhams case. Once the results are all back, they will make a decision whether or not to do the second pleurodesis. Pelham was able to walk a little ways down the hall today without labored breathing so that's an accomplishment. Everyday we hope that will be the day for good news. Pelhams father and stepmother was here yesterday and today and Pel was so glad to see them. If anyone has been trying to call him, we discovered today that the ringer on his phone was turned off. So we turned it on and he is in room 1059 at MUSC. He said he would be glad to talk, but if he did not answer, he was either gone for another test or too short of breath to talk. He wants everyone to know how much he appreciates the prayers and concerns. We know several people has come to Charleston to visit and was told he was not here, we are not sure why, but thank goodness they called us on our cell phone and directed to his room. He enjoyed the visits. He is presently on isolation for a hospital acquired infection he tested positive for in Feburary of this year, however, you can still visit as long as you wash your hands good when entering and leaving the room. He is negative now, but has to have 3 negatives before taking him off isolation. I will update you as soon as we know any information. Thanks,

Claire

August 26, 2007

August 26, 2007

We are hoping the test results will be back tomorrow and we will know more about how to fix the problem. Pelham is still having some pain, but his spirits are good. His dad and step mom came in today and he was glad to see them. Looks like we will be here another week or so. Thank you all for the prayers coming our way. We know that God is with us and will carry him through this.

Claire

August 24, 2007

August 24, 2007

Well Pelham had another thoracentesis today and they got 3300ml. fluid this time. They still are waiting on the results of one specific test , chylomicron, in the fluid to see if it is present. It has to be sent to Salt Lake City, so it will be Monday until it comes back. That will show if the fluid is coming from the liver. The pulmonologist that is his primary Dr. here is Dr. Sahn, a well know physician who is an expert in pleural effusions. He says that out of 80 to 90 years of medical studies, there were only about 5 different causes and not any of those pertain to pelhams case. They are still saying he will need another pleurodesis next week. Hope you all have a great weekend.

Claire

August 22,2007

August 22, 2007

Hello everyone, we are still here at MUSC. Pelham had CT scans and ultrasounds today and another diagnostic thoracentesis. The Doctors here say the pleurodesis he had last week was a failure, the fluid is back in his lung and is still leaking into his abdomen and flank area. They have many ideas of what is causing it, but nothing factual yet until the results of the test are back. One theory is that because of the liver transplant itself, a track from the liver to the lung had developed and the fluid around his liver was leaking into his lung and when the pressure built up so much in the lung it began leaking into his abd. Another theory is there may be a clot in a vessel causing the fluid build up. No one know for sure just yet, but the goal is to find out what is causing the fluid to accumulate and fix that. He may need another chest tube, another surgery to repair the tract, but they give us hope the cause will be found. WE appreciate all of you, the doctors back home, Dr. Thompson, Dr. Buice, Dr. Kopp all of them have been wonderful. I'll keep you updated. Thanks

Claire

Road Trip

Hey Folks,

Sorry I have not been on the blog with any updates, but my dear wife has. I did want to in short tell you what's up and maybe when I get to feeling better I will tell you about this chest tube, bad stuff. I will take a liver transplant over a chest tube anyday.

However we are packing up and headed to Charleston and I will be admitted to MUSC when the next bed comes open. I am having a time with this fluid, not on my lung now but all on my left side.

God Bless You each one,

Love Claire, Abigail, Justin & Pel

August 17, 2007

Pelham's blood test this am revealed improvement in his kidney function, so he was discharged home this afternoon. YAHOO! He is still very short of breath and having pain, but I think he is better, even he does not think so. We have to follow up at MUSC in Charleston in the next couple of weeks. Maybe in a few days he will feel like dropping a line or two on the blog. Thank you all again.

Claire

August 16, 2007

Pelham was moved to med surg floor today. He still has the chest tube in place and is having lots of pain. A nephrologist, Dr. Din was called in today because his kidney function is not very good. He thinks maybe it is caused by the antirejection medications he is taking and the massive fluid volume depletion from the numerous thoracentesis he has experienced the last few weeks. Hopefully the chest tube will be removed tomorrow and he can get up and get moving. He has pain and shortness of breath with the least bit of exertion at this point. Pelham's strong faith in God and the support and friendship he has with all of you will comfort him and see him through. Keep those prayers coming and Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

Claire

Post surgery August 15, 2007

August 15, 2007

Pelham got out of sugery yesterday about 1730 and went to the Intensive Care Unit, he had a bad first few hours post surgery, but once the pain med was increased, it was tolerable. Depending on how he progresses today, they may move him to a step down unit for further obseration. He sends all his love and wants to thank each and every one of you. Thank you all for your prayers and concerns through our journey. God Bless You

Claire

Surgery Date & Time

Hey Folks,

I will be having my surgery on Tuesday,August 14, 2007 at AnMed Main Hospital in Anderson at 1230hrs. I will be admitted at 1030hrs. The surgery is to be around two hours long, I will either go to intensive care or a regular room. Thank you for your concerns, thoughts and most of all your prayers for my family and myself.

God Bless You,

Lightning

Sunshine In Possum Kingdom & Update on Surgery

Good Morning My Dear Family & Friends,

As I sit here this morning, watching the sun rise and God shine his glory on Possum Kingdom & me, I think of how fortunate I really am. It is sometime easy to whine and complain about how bad things are in our own life, then we can just stop and look around and find someone worst off than we are. I think of that when I am complaining about how I feel. I am truly thankful for what God has done for me and I know he is in control of the future.

I hope this don’t sound oxy-moron but let me tell you what is in front of me. I have to call AnMed main hospital after 1500hrs today and find out what time I must arrive there in the morning and during this phone call I will be informed of what time my surgery will be scheduled for on 8/14/2007. The surgery in case you have not been informed is called a (VATS) Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery with a biopsy and pleurodesis. The surgeon, Dr. Buice, has explained to me that he will put two or three incisions and be able to determine which method will be best. One procedure is using the talc powder, baby powder, but of course medical grade, by blowing it in the chest cavity. The other procedure is by scraping the walls this will causes an irritation, therefore causing the lung to stick also. He stated that he would probably use the powder. I am truly looking forward to this surgery, so this fluid will stop coming back in my lung area.

I had another 2300mls or 2.3liters drawn off my left lung on Friday and my breathing is short and laborious already again this morning. This fluid removal was more painful and the fluid was bloody this time. The doctor said that is was from the trauma from taping so often and that she probably hit a vessel with the tap. Nevertheless, this causes me to hang out in the recovery room for about three hours and get some heavy duty drugs on board and then a ride home from family members. My weekend has been uncomfortable but OK.

I am excited about a new adventure that is about to get underway. On August 21, 2007 a new class is starting at Greenville Tech and I am excited about being a part of it. I will be co-instructing in a class, Fire Investigations 1, on Tuesdays and ending in December, 2007.

I hope each of you has a great week and keep check on the blog as we will post updates as we can. I may only have dial-up while in the hospital, and we all know what that means.

God Bless You,
Lightning

A Liquid Problem In A Dry Season!!

Good Afternoon Folks,

Hello my dear family & friends I just wanted to give you a quick update. The doctor feels it is best to go ahead with the surgery to fix the fluid in my lung area. I have an appointment with the surgeon in the morning. I then have to go to the cardiologist and have an echocardiogram to make sure the fluid is not building up around my heart, he don't think it is but want's to be sure. The answer he has right now is that my body is identifying something is in there that ain't suppose to be. My auto-immune system is sending out this fluid with inflammation to try to find what is the intruder, the anti-rejection meds are working, therefore it can't find that my liver is new, so we won't tell it. He said that the fluid was working more on a pressure theory than a volume theory, this is my words not his 6 cylinder words, therefore when they fix the area around my lung, once it reaches a set amount of pressure in my body it would quite making the fluid and should over time just go away. He said it would affect all my joints and organs that are in a sack, membrane.

Heck I guess he knows what he is talking about, he's got letters before his name and after his name, so who am I to question? My feeling is bring on the knife and let's get R dun!! I do wonder if when they put the talc powder, he said that was like baby powder, a medical grade, if when I sneeze I will blow a little puff of powder out, guess I would always have powder fresh breath.

Words Of Wisdom

If you ever enter a dark room, you know one with out lights, and you are not careful and leave the door open to long you will let all of the dark out.

God Bless You & Your Family,

Pel

Pleural Effusion Update

Good Afternoon,

I hope all is well in your world. In my world, every thing is wonderful because God is in control.

I wanted to give you an update on what is happening with me and this (effusion) fluid issue; you know one of those bumps in the road. In earlier post I told you about the ultrasound guided thoracentesis on July 20, 2007. Well the fluid came back and I also noticed some swelling and pain in my abdomen and my left leg. Dr. Thompson wanted to conduct some additional test, so he ordered an ultrasound on my abdomen and some blood work. This was conducted at the AnMed main hospital. The fluid in my left lung had gotten to the point where just walking in the house would cause me to labor to breath, therefore Dr. Thompson also ordered another ultrasound guided thoracentesis to be conducted after the ultrasound on my abdomen. The ultrasound guided thoracentesis produced 2500mls or 2.5 liters. It all went very well; the folks taking care of me again were both professional and caring. Again I talk about how great some one was to me who I thanked for stabbing me in the back and arm with sharp instruments and the putting tubes in places that God did not leave a natural hole for. These procedures were virtually painless and most of all relieving, hence I can breath so much better now. I am so blessed with many family and friends taking care of me and praying for me. I am equally blessed to have the best medical team taking care of me. Dr. James Kopp, a great long time friend and my personal doctor and liver specialist here at home, Dr. Ira Wilner, my hepatologist and friend in Charleston, and Dr. Charles Thompson, my pulmonolotgist and friend in Anderson. I also must acknowledge their great staff, for they are the ones who first listen to my whining, but don’t seem to mind my whining. These great minds are in communication with each other to determine the cause of this (effusion) fluid and how is the best way to resolve this issue. The issue with the (pleural effusion) fluid in my lung comes from the fact that there is a substance in each of our bodies on the exterior of our lungs that causes our lung walls to stick to the chest wall, at some point my left lung has lost it’s sticky, therefore resulting in a pleural effusion, fluid pooling up in the area around my lung and chest wall. There is a procedure that will fix the problem, and after Dr. Thompson has discussed the possible treatments with Dr. Wilner, they concluded that Dr. Thompson will have a surgeon perform a video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) with biopsy and pleurodesis (putting in medicine, powder that will cause a chemical reaction, to cause the lung to stick to the chest wall and prevent recurrent accumulation). This will only be a 2 or 3 day hospital stay in Anderson. Dr. Wilner did tell Dr. Thompson that effusions of this type are not common after liver transplant. Dr Thompson had some other test conducted to determine the cause of the effusions, fluid generation. I have an appointment to see Dr. Thompson next week for the next step.

I hope each of you have a great weekend, stay cool.

WORDS OF WISDOM:

The more you stay out of the heat the cooler you will be!!



God Bless You,

Pel


FYI - My chest x-ray just after the ultrasound guided thoracentesis on 7-20-2007 that yeilded
3.6 liters.

Right Left

WOW - What A Weekend!!

Good Monday Afternoon,

I hope all is well and feeling great. I have had some more weekend. It all started Friday. Claire & I went to the hospital, so they could perform the ultrasound guided thoracentesis. The nurse put me on the side of a bed and I had to be rude and sit with my back to her. She then used the ultrasound and found the fluid; she then performed her artistic work and started drawing on my back. The doctor came in and we chatted for a minute while he washes his hand. He talked about what he was going to do, numb the area and stick a needle in my back to tap into the fluid, and then he would thread tubing and remove the needle. In a little bee sting and a good bye he was out the door. The nurse showed me my first bottle that came out, it looked like dark beer. These were 500ml bottles she used and she filled 5 up and started on the 6th one. I then had some pain in my back and left shoulder, she said she was done and put a band aide on my back. There was 3600ml, 3.6 litters or about 15 pounds removed. I then went for another x-ray and they let me go home. I felt really good then. I could breath. I felt so good I came home, drove to Greenville and returned home to run the weed eater.

Saturday I was a little sore and did not get into a whole lot, enjoyed some time with Justin & Abigail, while Claire worked. I felt good Sunday morning and then Sunday evening came with yet another blessing. I went to Hillcrest Baptist Church in Williamston and spoke during the evening worship service. My step-brother Larry Baldwin is the pastor there and I was honored to share the pulpit with him. I spoke for just a minute in my no clock world; I think it was some where around an hour. We handed out about 80 donor cards and got over 30 donors, Gods blessings still pouring out. I conclude my evening with a nice evening with my beautiful wife and daughter.

I want to ask you a question, when you are gone from this earth what will you leave behind? What kind of mark will you leave on this earth or on people? That’s a lot to think about!!

God Bless You,

Lightning

Speaking Engagement & Doctor Update

Good Evening,

God is Great all the time to you and I.

God has again blessed me and has given me another opportunity to share my blessings. Please join Preacher Larry Baldwin, the great people at Hillcrest Baptist Church at 1300 Anderson Dr. Williamston, SC and me on Sunday night July 22, 2007. If you have not signed up to be an organ donor yet this would be a great time and place.

Remember if you have already signed up to Donate Life be sure your next of kin knows your wishes.

Watch for and purchase the Donate Life SC tags when your vehicle tag need to be replaced, this will help raise awareness.

This will be a short update, but I wanted to bring you up to date. I have tried not to complain to much but since May, when I had the (Pleural Effusion) this means fluid in the space between my lung & my chest wall, I have not felt as good as I had been feeling. I have been blaming it on the heat. In the past two weeks I have not felt good at all, I have gotten winded when doing nothing. In the past few days things starting getting worst, but on Monday I had to confess to Claire about not feeling good, of course she already knew. I went to see Dr. Kopp yesterday and he said I had the Pleural Effusion again, and he sent me to have a chest x-ray. The x-ray showed the Pleural Effusion was worst than it was back in May. Dr. Kopp then sent me to see Dr. Thompson a pulmonolotgist, a lung doctor. I seen Dr. Thompson today and he had some blood work done and has set me up for a ultrasound guided thoracentesis, in other words they are going to stick in a needle through my back and drain the fluid out, they will then perform studies on the withdrawn fluids, I may have to identify what fires they will be looking at. I have an appointment to see Dr. Thompson again next week to find out what has caused the fluid to build up and also find out what the studies on the fluid showed.

I hope you have a wonderful evening and God Bless You & Your Family.

Lightning

Possum Kingdom - A Great Place To Live!

Good Sunday,


Possum Kingdom - A Great Place To Live!

Well by now you know what I mean! First of all you know I praise God every day for just one more day and I pray for my donor family each and every day. With out God performing miracles and families like my donor family willing to participate in miracles, I would be a sick or dead man. Course you already know I ain't dead. God is Great and Life is Good, but Life is Great when God is in it. Second of all there is no place like Possum Kingdom to live, I know you are jealous but everybody can not be lucky enough to live in Possum Kingdom


Donate Life what does it mean? Life - when you need an organ.


" I am not as good as I should be; I am not as good as I could be; BUT..... THANK GOD, I am better than I used to be."

Breaking News: SC Donor Registry Bill Becomes Law!

Donate Life SC is pleased to announce that on June 14th, 2007, Governor Mark Sanford signed House Bill 3317 into Law. The passing of this legislation allows for the establishment of a SC Organ and Tissue Donor Registry that will be housed and maintained by Donate Life SC. On behalf of the nearly 700 South Carolinians waiting for a vital organ transplant, Donate Life SC and myself would like to thank the Governor, the Legislative body, Capital Consultants, Inc., and the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles for their unwavering support in this effort.

Look for the launch of the South Carolina Organ and Tissue Donor Registry in early 2008!


On to the health report, I went and visited the vampires on Monday June 25, 2007. I received more good news, liver number are still great, kidney numbers about the same and my Hepatitis and HIV panels came back negative. I felt great about the blood products I received but multiply units meant multiply donors, now I fell even better. The doctor cut my Prograf down to 4mg twice a day instead of 5mg.


I will return to the vampires on July 9, 2007.


My family and I want to wish you a very Happy Fourth of July.


On Friday June 29, 2007 Al Billings & I went fishing and you just would not believe the fish that we caught, so I am not even gonna bother to tell you about them. The ones that broke the line and straightened the hook, WOW. I will tell you that I am fixing to fry the fillets up right now.


WORDS OF WISDOM!


If you go swimming this summer always be aware of your surroundings because this could happen to you;


LOVE IN A MENTAL HOSPITAL

Just because someone doesn't love you the way you want them to, doesn't mean they don't love you with all they have.

LOVE

Jim and Edna were both patients in a mental hospital. One day while they were walking past the hospital swimming pool, Jim suddenly jumped into the deep end. He sank to the bottom of the pool and stayed there. Edna promptly jumped in to save him. She swam to the bottom and pulled Jim out. When the Head Nurse Director became aware of Edna's heroic act, she immediately ordered her to be discharged from the hospital, as she now considered her to be mentally stable. When she went to tell Edna the news she said, "Edna, I have good news and bad news. The good news is you're being discharged; since you were able to rationally respond to a crisis by jumping in and saving the life of another patient, I have concluded that your act displays that you have a sound mind. The bad news is, Jim, the patient you saved, hung himself in the bathroom with his bathrobe belt right after you saved him. I am so sorry, but he's dead." Edna replied, "He didn't hang himself, I put him there to dry. How soon can I go home?"

God Bless You,
Lightning

9 Brother Firefighters Gone; God Rest Their Souls

Good Afternoon Everyone,
I write in the blog today with a heavy and sadden heart, due to the loss of 9 brother firefighters in Charleston yesterday. Please keep each of these firefighter's family and friends in your thoughts and prayers and keep the Charleston Fire Department in your thoughts and prayers also. Pray that God will give us the courage to celebrate their lives and we all will remember what great heros they are.

Our Fallen Brothers

Capt. William "Billy" Hutchinson, 48;

Capt. Mike Benke, 49;

Capt. Louis Mulkey, 34;

Engineer Mark Kelsey, 40;

Engineer Bradford "Brad" Baity, 37;

Assistant Engineer Michael French, 27;

Firefighter James "Earl" Drayton, 56;

Firefighter Brandon Thompson, 27;

Firefighter Melven Champaign, 46

God Bless Their Families.

Chief Thomas noted that these men together had over 100 years of service.

Charleston Mayor Riley advised that calls of sympathy and support were pouring in from all over the US. He also advised that a fund has been set up to assist with this loss. Those wishing to make donations may do so in two manners;

Go to any Bank of America branch and making a donation to

"City of Charleston Firemen's Fund".

Or, you can mail a donation to:

City of Charleston Firemen's Fund

P. O. Box 304

Charleston, SC 29402

I will now give you a quick check up note I received from Charleston yesterday. I was taken off of the Predisone and my Prograf was reduced to 5mg instead of 6mg. They said my liver numbers look great and the liver is doing it's job. My kidney numbers are no better, but no worst either. Right now I don't have to back for another check up until October 2007, and they are changing my blood work to once a month. When I returned home yesterday I had in tow a gift for my lovely bride.

Why do I tell you this?

Because today is our 11th annervisty and I am the luckiest husband, father, man ever.

I Love You Claire, thanks for being my wife.

Ain't They Both Just Gorgeous!!

God Knows I Am A Lucky Man!

God Bless Us All!!
Lightning

WOW What a week!!

Good Friday Afternoon,



Well I hope all is well and I hope that you are getting ready for Father’s Day. Well let me tell you I sure am looking forward to this Father’s Day.



Why you may ask?

Go ahead ask, I don’t mind.

Matter of fact I will just tell you. I am looking at this Father’s Day as being my first, yelp my first Father’s Day! Bet that caught you off guard, since Justin is 20 and Abigail is 8. I guess you think what little mind I had is gone now. Just before you get any other wild ideas, no we are not having another youngin either. This is my first Father’s Day since my liver transplant. I will have to admit that this time last year you could have convinced me that would have been my last Father’s Day.


Today there is a much different story, I know I will be around for many Father’s Days to come and I will even be around for my way in the future Grandfathers’ Days.



Well let me bring you up to date since the last posting. It took me about 2 ½ weeks to get over my virus (plural effusion), but when I finally got rid of it, the next thing I knew I was on my way to Myrtle Beach.

We left for the beach on Friday June 8th and we returned home Monday June 11th. It was wonderful; this was the first vacation that we have taken in about three years, that was not related to a doctor’s visit. Justin was even able to get off of work long enough to come down also, God just really blessed us. Claire, Abigail, Justin & Myself really needed this time away, I was thinking that I don’t remember the last time I went to the beach and did not feel bad, that was great in it’s self.

We did suffer one set back while on the beach, this is truly a sad story but with a happy ending but there may be some tears in the middle. I am not sure if you have seen the newspaper or news clips from Myrtle Beach but there was sadness on Saturday at Myrtle Beach, just like the national story had been telling about the mother whale and her calf in the river, there was on the shores of Myrtle Beach a beached whale. Its story was again similar to that of the whale and calf, because this whale also had been hit by a boat prop or something of the like and caused a bad scar on the belly of the whale. The marine biologist and all those nature kind of people was searching for the answer of how to treat the whale and should the whale be carried to a enclosure to heal or just help it back in the ocean at high tide and let nature take its course. It was interesting hearing them all them discuss what could have caused the cut on the belly with a shape similar to the emblem on a Mercedes Benz. One rocket scientist even came up with the idea that it may have gotten the cut on a man made reef, one made with cars, he said that there could have been a Mercedes Benz in the reef. You know I was enjoying the attention until that one little ole lady with that sand bucket finally get on my nerves and I set up and told her if she put one more bucket of that cold, wet, sandy, salty water on my head one more time I was going to throw her out in the ocean at low tide. It amazed her that the whale set up and talked to her, then it insulted her that the whale would raise his voice to her and even threaten to get her blue hair wet, but I did. I then convinced every one that it was just me and I did not need to be put in an enclosure or even be drug out to sea at high tide. I then confessed that if they would just leave me a lone I would get up and walk back to the room and they could call off the rescue efforts, so they agreed. I then gathered my shirt, hat and chair and wobbled across the hot sand to the motel. One thing I did notice during this whole whale event, no one in my family was around, not sure why or where they went.

We did have an awesome time, we ate a lot, I even splurged and eat some broiled flounder and shrimp, yelp it was good.

We returned home Monday, I am still trying to get the sand out of my ears and hair from that little ole lady’s sand bucket, it sure was great to get home, even though it was nearly 8:30 PM. What took us so long? Check out was at 11:00 AM. Claire had this wild idea that we should get to one of those condo sells pitches, so we could get some money back that we spent on the Dixie Stampede Tickets, they told us only 90 minutes. Nearly 4 hours later we are leaving to head home, but by golly we got our $60.00, I think that will be the last time Claire will go to one, and no don’t ask to barrow our condo. We did not buy any part of the package, but we got $60.00, WOW.

I have been running kind of slow this week, nothing wrong just running slow. I did go to my bi-weekly visit on Tuesday to see the vampires in Greenville and I will be leaving on Sunday headed down to Charleston for a check up on Monday.
Starting Saturday what a few awesome days for me. Saturday June 16th is my 42nd birthday, Sunday June 17th Father’s Day and Tuesday June 19th our 11th wedding anniversary, God is awesome to me.

Well I think the rain has past now and I will be headed back outside to see what I can get into. I do want to inform you about some important events coming up. On Sunday June 17th Greenville News and News Channel 7 is going to do a story about my family and my first Father’s Day since the transplant. On Saturday June 16th at 7:00 AM on WRIX in Anderson on Conversations with Paul Brown, Mark Johnson with Donate Life SC is the guest and on June 23rd I am the guest, please join us on those important events if you can.

God Bless My Family
God Bless My Donor Family
God Bless You

Lightning

Hot Days In Possum Kingdom

Good Day Every One,

Well all is well in Possum Kingdom, I have hit one of those bumps in the road, I think it was just a small piece of sand. I have some fluid (Pleural Effusion) that has built up on my lung(s). This means fluid in the space between my lung & my chest wall. It felt like I had been in a real bad wreck, but everything was fine except I felt like I broke all of my ribs. I don’t know what a broke rib feels like and this was a pain I had never had before. It only hurt when I took a breath. I found that if I was still and took small breaths I was OK. I do however feel better, the thick air and heat today has kept me in the AC. I have forwarded all the information to MUSC and they will advise me as to what may have cause it and what to do about it. The nurse did not brag on me to much when I told her it hurt when I hit a bump on the tractor or four wheeler. Claire, of course said I had done too much, can I argue she is a grouchy ER Nurse, and I am always wrong. She has the whole hospital on her side. All I have is my brothers and sisters in the fire service and my brothers and sisters in law. Some people think these professions are questionable because who in their right mind would run into a burning building, and who in their right mind would run to a location where there has been a report of shots fired. I do however have the good ole boys from Possum Kingdom, so you can see I am going to lose that battle.

Daddy is improving each day, he started therapy on May 29, 2007 and he said the lady told him she was not there to hurt him only to help, he said she did not hurt him. He is in good sprits, resting well and has already been walking around outside. He will probably be talking about how the bumps on the tractor hurt him also, bet he will lose the battle also.

While I have been sitting here in the quite of Possum Kingdom, drinking a glass of Happy Cow milk, I wanted to share a letter with you that was written by a
Physician Assistant about Happy Cow Milk.

“As a Physician Assistant in a growing integrative medicine practice in Easley, SC, I have had to do my research on dairy products. Omega 3 and CLA (conjugated linoleic acid) are two very healthy, necessary fats that we all need in our diets. The first, omega 3, raises our level of good cholesterol, helps lower triglycerides and aids in brain function. You get higher levels of omega 3 in animal products when the animals have been fed their natural diets and not? bulked up? With grains such as corn and soy. The second, CLA, has been proven to aide in weight loss; and is found in animal products when the animals are raised in a stress free environment. In my professional opinion the Happy Cow Creamery has the highest quality dairy products of any I know. I have had many patients improve their health drinking Happy Cow’s whole fat milk and dairy products. One man in particular who followed the diet laid out in our Natural Bariatric Program, which relies heavily on Happy Cow products, was able to lose 35 lbs and greatly improve his lipid profile and glucose control in only 3 months with no medication. On 10/15/2006 his numbers were as follows: Total cholesterol 204, triglycerides 227, HDL (good cholesterol) 29, LDL (bad cholesterol) 130, and HgbA1C (which is a 3 month average blood sugar level that is best kept below 5.5) 6.3. On 1/11/2007 they were: total cholesterol 173, triglycerides 128, HDL 34, LDL 113 and HgbA1C 5.5. These are improvements that any medicine would be proud of, but only diet and lifestyle were used. This one of many success stories I have seen when people include Happy Cow Creamery’s dairy products in their healthy diet and lifestyle.”

Cheryl Middleton PA-C

LivingWell Integrative Healthcare

Easley, SC

864-850-9988

As you know by now I am sold whole heartedly on Happy Cow products. I will drink about 2 gallons of whole milk a week and about a gallon of butter milk a week. I know some have had some questions about the process, but the milk is Grade A Pasteurized and in the whole milk the ingredients are Whole Milk. In the Cultured Whole Butter Milk the butter milk is Grade A Pasteurized and the ingredients are Whole Milk, Culture and Salt.
In my opinion “You can’t get no better than that!”

Tom told me how the body needed and used the ingredients in these milks, I told him I liked the whole milk but I just could not drink butter milk, because I did not like it. He told me of the cleansing values the butter milk had and how it helped cleansed the liver. I told him again how I did not like the taste of butter milk. He then ask me if I liked being sick and I said no, he said just drink a glass of Happy Cow Butter Milk each night, now I love the taste and will drink much more than a small glass at night. My weight has been maintaining about the same, around 260 lbs and all the doctors are happy, big improvement from the 350 lbs before my liver transplant. I give God all the credit, God made the cows happy and perfect for all Gods creatures, God gave Big Tom and Lil Tom the knowledge to know and understand the gift of nature, they also know how to keep Happy Cows happy. Big Tom and Lil Tom have bottled Bovine Wine and they share it with the rest of us.

God Is Great All The Time!

Claire & I have finally closed on our house in Anderson. We just wanted to let you know that if you ever need a Realtor contact
Jennifer Robinson with Century 21 Anderson Properties, Inc. at
864-225-7000 she will do much more than she has to. One thing for sure she will do exactly what she says she will sell your house. If you are shopping for a house she will find you one.
Thanks Jen, Paul & Family for what you have done for us.

Well I must go now; I have an appointment with Dr. Kopp in Anderson.

Have a Great Day or Great Night if it’s already dark.

God Bless You,

Lightning

Happenings in Possum Kingdom wif da Medlocks

Good Day or Good Night if it already dark,

I hope you did not think I had forgotten about keeping you up on my progress, but a lot of things are going on in Possum Kingdom and I am feeling so great I have been busy outside of the computer. I do however have a lot of things to bring you up to date on.

First of all

Words Of Wisdom

If you ever have an upset stomach heat up some Coke (drink not smoke) in the microwave until all the bubbles are gone, Caution contents will be hot once remove from microwave, then just a little kick of lime and drink it down once it is cool or even cold, stomach ache gone.

Ok on to the news, on April 30, 2007 I saw Dr. Willner in Charleston and he was very pleased with all of my blood work and he also removed several medications from my pile. I am now only taking 7 medications now verses when I was so sick I was taking about 24. He told me that I would know my limitations now; he did not have to tell me. You know he was right, I though just because I had no limitations I could do anything, but I did however find some self correcting events that I tried and won’t try them again soon. Dr. Willner also doesn’t want to see me until June 18, 2007, about two months so my visits to Charleston are getting cut back. I have still maintained my weight loss and I am right at 260lbs that verses 350lbs this time last year, Thank You God.

One issue that has kept me busy for the last months has been that we finally sold our house in Anderson, Thank You God. This however created a whole new list of items for me to do. The luck I have also created addition work, just a for instance, I needed to replace the vinyl in the hall bathroom, no big deal right. I pulled the old vinyl up and noticed a discoloration on the sub floor, I picked at it and then determined that it should be replace, I wound up replacing about half of the sub flooring then replacing the vinyl. The vinyl was another issue when Daddy replaced the kitchen floor there was enough to replace the hall bathroom, except when I went to replace it, it was 11 inches short. God is in control and I am still along for the ride, and as always God had every thing worked out. Now we are trying to do the closing, we have just received our third date and time for the closing, but the best thing is no one is waiting on me, at least I don’t think so.

On May 21, 2007 I had a check up with my local doctor, Dr. Kopp and he is so pleased with how everything is going. He even replied that I looked great and he asks if I had looked in the mirror lately. I told him yelp, I just did not tell him about the mirror breaking. He is so happy with all my blood work and blood pressure he said he did not want to see me for two months. That’s from two different doctors; makes me wonder if they are trying to see me the Monday after the Saturday bath, or they are just tired of seeing me.

On May 21, 2007 Daddy received a phone call from his doctor and he wanted to change his surgery from Thursday May 24, 2007 to Tuesday May 22, 2007. This turned out good for Daddy that gave him two less days to worry and to work us all less. His surgery went great he had his right shoulder replaced. The doctor stated that he was not sure how he had handled the pain for so long. He stated all went just as he wanted it to but it was a challenge. The challenge was due to the fact that Daddy had worn his shoulder out so that the socket on the shoulder was flat, nothing but bone and the head of the humerus; the ball was also worn flat. He used a reverse method where he used screws to hold the prosthetic in place instead of glue, because there was such bad arthritis and wearing down of the bone. The doctor however was pleased and said he would be in the hospital for pain management until Friday, but today 5/23/2007 they started therapy. In about two months he will be having his left shoulder replaced. I just wonder if the new shoulders will last another 68 year like his olds ones.

On May 30, 2007 my brother in-law Pastor Anthony Kelley will be meeting with a surgeon to discuss removing his gizzard, no I mean his gall bladder. He just wanted some of that liver attention. Please keep Anthony and my sister Meleeda and their church family in you prayers.

On June 18, 2007 I will be traveling back down to Charleston for another check up with Dr. Willner.

Claire, Abigail & Justin are all doing great, and again we all want to thank you for your prayers and support to our entire family.

Claire is continuing her college education, she is trying to get as smart as me, I hate to tell her it ain’t gonna happen, you know how women are they never listen.

Abigail and I are gonna have a wonderful summer doing a whole lot of nothing but what we want to do.

Justin will be staying in Rock Hill this summer; he has two jobs at Winthrop and also landed another coaching job, Rock Hill High this year, with the 9th grade football team. Yelp I am a proud Daddy .

We Love Ya’ll,
God Bless Ya’ll,

Pel