A Year in Review :: 2010

Another year of the tradition!  What a year!  Here we go... 

1. What did you do in 2010 that you'd never done before? Ended an engagement.  Received a liver transplant.  (Almost 4 months ago to the day!) Recovered from nearly 12 straight months of hell. 

2. What are your New Years Resolutions? To always follow my heart, fight through life's obstacles harder than ever before, and be at peace with myself and others

3. Did anyone close to you give birth in 2009? No

4. Did anyone close to you die? No, which is a good thing as I'm still missing my precious Nana every single day of my life (See my posts from January and February, 2009)

5. What countries did you visit? Unless the Magic Kingdom counts, I stayed in the USA! Hoping for Ireland in Spring 2011

6. What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010? Peace in my heart, a relationship with the family who donated their son's liver to me

7. What date(s) in 2010 will remain etched in your memory and why? Saturday, January 30, 2010 - Breaking off 6 years of love and 2.5 years of an engagement, followed by a panic attack of epic proportions

Tuesday, May 25, 2010, 11pm - Finding out my diseased liver held a tumor

Monday, June 14, 2010 - Being listed on the UNOS waiting list for a liver transplant Sunday, August 14, 2010 - Watching so many people come out and support me and organ transplantation at the LifeBanc Gift of Life Walk and Run

Tuesday, August 31, 2010, 1:30am - Receiving a call from the Cleveland Clinic saying my new liver had been found

Monday, November 1, 2010 - Meeting Carrie Underwood with my baby sister.  Plus, bing in the 4th row of her concert was a surreal experience.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Enduring chemotherapy (chemoembolization) as well as getting through the first 3 months following my liver transplant, being inducted into Sigma Theta Tau, the International Nursing Honors Society, being published in the American Journal of Nursing

9. What was your biggest failure of 2010? Letting emotions, fears, and suffering get the best of me

10. Did you suffer any illness or injury? My 17th year with Primary sclerosing cholangitis,  my 2nd year with fibromyalgia, being diagnosed with a tumor on my liver, and receiving a liver transplant

11. What was the best thing someone bought you? Money can't buy happiness.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration? My mom's.  She's stronger than anyone I know.

13. Whose behavior appalled and depressed you? I don't believe in public humiliation.

14. Where did most of your money go? Smaller clothes - once after I lost a ton of weight after my breakup then a second time after my transplant.  Gadgets.  Coach bags.  Sephora.  Amazon. Pedicures!

15. What did you get really, really excited about? 2 Carrie Underwood concerts, meeting her (see #7), and Lilith Fair in Summer, 2010!  Going to DISNEY WORLD in May.  Being inducted into STTI! (See #8), Being published in the AJN! (See #8)

16. What song(s) reminds you of 2009? Lots.  One is Dear John by Taylor Swift

17. Compared to last year are you... 

a.) Happier or Sadder? Happier  

b.) Thinner or Fatter? Thinner 

c.) Richer or Poorer? No idea

18. What do you wish you'd done more of? Relax

19. What do you wish you'd done less of? Worry - you can't change anything by worrying!

20. How did you spend Christmas? With my family and closest friends - what more can you ask for on Christmas?  Total bliss.

21. Did you fall in love in 2010? No.

22. How many one night stands did you have? Zero.

23. What was your favorite TV program? Grey's Anatomy, seriously!  I also got hooked on Dancing With The Stars and continued to watch One Tree Hill, Private Practice, and the Office.  My sister and I watch Hellcats every week, too.

24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't this time last year? Yes, but I'm working on overcoming it.

25. What was the best book you read? I Will Carry You: The Sacred Dance of Grief and Joy by Angie Smith, A Grief Observed by C.S. Lewis, Lift by Kelly Corrigan

26. What did you do on your birthday and how old were you? I turned 23, and my closest friends and wonderful family all gathered at Bravo! Cucina to celebrate with me.

27. What was your best musical discovery? Pandora internet radio on my Roku box!  Paradise in my bedroom!

28. What did you want and get? More time with friends and family.  

29. What was your favorite film of the year? I love all kinds of movies!  I don't know.  Probably a drama, possibly a chick flick.

30. What did you want and not get? Health

31. What one thing would've made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Graduating, getting married, something big like that.  But on the other hand, let it be.

32. How would you describe your fashion concept for 2010? If you asked my sister, she'd definitely say leggings.  I love leggings, skinny jeans, and flats, but leggings probably win.  I'm also on a headband kick at the moment.  

33. What kept you sane? My friends, family (especially my mom), and precious Lord

34. Which celebrity or public figure did you admire most? Sarah Palin

35. What political issue stirred you most? Healthcare 

36. Who/what do you miss? My Nana, also having someone beside me every day, someone to stay until I fell asleep.  I definitely miss it all.

37. Who was the best new person you met? Re-meeting a few special friends at my 5 year High School Reunion, meeting my cousin's fiance's sister, seeing everyone come out and support me at the LifeBanc Walk/Run this summer - even strangers.  Also, my new friends at TRIO (Transplant Recipients International Organization)

38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned. Never take a moment for granted.  Not one single moment, not one gesture, not one breath.  You never know when you'll lose your ability to climb into your own bed, breathe without pain, or fall asleep alone.  You never know when someone will turn, a situation will change, or your life will be taken away.

39. Quote a song line that defines your year. Can we pretend that airplanes in the night sky are like shooting stars?  I could really use a wish right now, wish right now, wish right now 

A prayer for the New Year

Dear Lord, we thank you for this past year.  We thank you for bringing us through the trials and gracing our days with blessings.  Your grace was evident in every situation, your hand on every moment.  Guide us in this new year.  Let us love you more each day and remember to put our trust in you.  Give us courage, peace, and humility.  We love you.  Amen. 

Psalm 107.1: Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good.  His love endures forever.