Re: Two Year Anniversary....

December 14, 2001

Cheryl & Randy,

Thank you for sharing your sentiments toward the group and each other.

I admire you both for your mental outlook on life and sharing it with

others in the article that is published. You both are a great

inspiration to the rest of us. We are truly blessed with you both.

Happy Aniversary to you both I look forward to seeing posts from

you and keeping us updated.

LC AIH (0701)

> Hello to all,

>

> It is hard to believe but today, Dec. 14, 2001, is the second

anniversary of

> our surgery. I can fondly recall all the support we received prior

and after

> our surgery from the group. I remember those who sent prayers,

offered to

> come and help, and of course those of you who came to the hospital

to visit

> or phoned to check our progress.

>

> Randy and I have been extremely blessed and we are thankful each

and every

> day for the opportunity that has been bestowed upon us. We rejoice

in the

> triumphs, cry during the disappointments, and mourn the deaths of

those who

> fought a great battle on this list. We think of those who are

dealing with

> liver disease and try to help in anyway we can. Our story is on

the store

> shelves this week in the Jan. 15, 2002, edition of Family Circle

magazine.

>

> I must say it is an honor as well as a humbling experience to be

able to

> truly lay your life on the line for someone else. Many of us never

get the

> chance for such an experience, but it is a very life altering

event.

>

> When I look at Randy and see the bright smile, the pink skin and

white eyes I

> have the utmost admiration for him. He had to live and breathe

this dreaded

> disease; I did not. Most people say it was great what I did for

him... I

> think it was I who got more on the receiving side of the equation.

The peace

> and serenity that has been in my life since the surgery is of

unmeasured

> dimension. Life itself has a totally different meaning... I am

happy, he is

> happy, we are happy. The sun shines warmly upon our faces and the

wind blows

> gently through our hair. We are awed by sunsets and smile at the

dancing

> sunlight on the water. We appreciate the simpliest of things. He

holds my

> hand when we walk in the evenings. I helped him to love life and

have fun.

> We respect each other...

>

> We believe God reached down and simultaneously healed two people...

we share

> the same liver, same type of scar, same life..... same happiness.

We are a

> family and we are survivors.

>

> So I will say to Randy on this his second birthday..... Life is

good

> McCullough and he will answer me.... Sure is McCullough..........

>

> Cheryl & Randy McCullough

December 14, 2001

Dear Cheryl and Randy, I got my Family Circle yesterday. What a wonderful article. It made me feel so good. Especiallly with all the negative things in the world today, this made the spirit of Christmas so real. How lucky you are to have each other. I just had a smile on my face all day. I told people at work, hey, I know these people, Even tho we have never met in person .I thank you for allowing all of us to share in your wonderful journey. Hope you have a very Merry Christmas and many Happy New Years. Jane Totten AIH in Indiana

December 14, 2001

Cheryl,

Congratulations to you and Randy!! You are two very special people and we are blessed to have you involved with this liversupport group. Your story is so inspiring and holds hope for those who may have given up on life because of devastating liver disease. I am looking forward to reading your article in Family Circle.

Bonnie P.

AIH and post transplant

December 14, 2001

Congratuations, Cheryl and Randy.

My contact with you this year has been a great pleasure.

Harper

December 14, 2001

You both have been truly gifted. Imagine what the world would be like if there were more people in like the both of you. I'm glad to hear that you both are doing well. I have only been on for a couple of months and just by reading the posts I have found out many things that I didn't know. Everyone here has been a great source of information and I thank everyone for it. Ann [ ] Two Year Anniversary.... Hello to all,It is hard to believe but today, Dec. 14, 2001, is the second anniversary ofour surgery. I can fondly recall all the support we received prior and afterour surgery from the group. I remember those who sent prayers, offered tocome and help, and of course those of you who came to the hospital to visitor phoned to check our progress.Randy and I have been extremely blessed and we are thankful each and everyday for the opportunity that has been bestowed upon us. We rejoice in thetriumphs, cry during the disappointments, and mourn the deaths of those whofought a great battle on this list. We think of those who are dealing withliver disease and try to help in anyway we can. Our story is on the storeshelves this week in the Jan. 15, 2002, edition of Family Circle magazine.I must say it is an honor as well as a humbling experience to be able totruly lay your life on the line for someone else. Many of us never get thechance for such an experience, but it is a very life altering event.When I look at Randy and see the bright smile, the pink skin and white eyes Ihave the utmost admiration for him. He had to live and breathe this dreadeddisease; I did not. Most people say it was great what I did for him... Ithink it was I who got more on the receiving side of the equation. The peaceand serenity that has been in my life since the surgery is of unmeasureddimension. Life itself has a totally different meaning... I am happy, he ishappy, we are happy. The sun shines warmly upon our faces and the wind blowsgently through our hair. We are awed by sunsets and smile at the dancingsunlight on the water. We appreciate the simpliest of things. He holds myhand when we walk in the evenings. I helped him to love life and have fun.We respect each other...We believe God reached down and simultaneously healed two people... we sharethe same liver, same type of scar, same life..... same happiness. We are afamily and we are survivors.So I will say to Randy on this his second birthday..... Life is goodMcCullough and he will answer me.... Sure is McCullough..........Cheryl & Randy McCullough

December 14, 2001

Cheryl,

Happy birthday. I believe more and more people will become inspired by the

gifts that you and Genny and many others have given in saving the life of

someone you love and by extension enriching your own immeasurably. The

article will go along way in getting the message out.

You and Randy seem to share a very special love, you seem to be such a kind

caring person I expect the relationship would have been wonderful

regardless, but your gift probably soldered it forever!

Cheryl you have also given a tremendous amount to this group, in your kind

support. You have been a true asset and hope you appreciate the difference

you make.

Happy Birthday to both you & Randy, I look forward to the article.

Patty

[ ] Two Year Anniversary....

Hello to all,

It is hard to believe but today, Dec. 14, 2001, is the second anniversary of

our surgery. I can fondly recall all the support we received prior and

after

our surgery from the group. I remember those who sent prayers, offered to

come and help, and of course those of you who came to the hospital to visit

or phoned to check our progress.

Randy and I have been extremely blessed and we are thankful each and every

day for the opportunity that has been bestowed upon us. We rejoice in the

triumphs, cry during the disappointments, and mourn the deaths of those who

fought a great battle on this list. We think of those who are dealing with

liver disease and try to help in anyway we can. Our story is on the store

shelves this week in the Jan. 15, 2002, edition of Family Circle magazine.

I must say it is an honor as well as a humbling experience to be able to

truly lay your life on the line for someone else. Many of us never get the

chance for such an experience, but it is a very life altering event.

When I look at Randy and see the bright smile, the pink skin and white eyes

I

have the utmost admiration for him. He had to live and breathe this dreaded

disease; I did not. Most people say it was great what I did for him... I

think it was I who got more on the receiving side of the equation. The

peace

and serenity that has been in my life since the surgery is of unmeasured

dimension. Life itself has a totally different meaning... I am happy, he is

happy, we are happy. The sun shines warmly upon our faces and the wind

blows

gently through our hair. We are awed by sunsets and smile at the dancing

sunlight on the water. We appreciate the simpliest of things. He holds my

hand when we walk in the evenings. I helped him to love life and have fun.

We respect each other...

We believe God reached down and simultaneously healed two people... we share

the same liver, same type of scar, same life..... same happiness. We are a

family and we are survivors.

So I will say to Randy on this his second birthday..... Life is good

McCullough and he will answer me.... Sure is McCullough..........

Cheryl & Randy McCullough

December 14, 2001

Cheryl and Randy,

From one of the old ones here hard to believe 2 years have gone by. I am happy for you both what a miracle you have been for Randy I think that is so sweet.

gayle/trans 6-99

galye@... q~q

^

December 14, 2001

What a beautiful story. I think you two are truly blessed to have found each

other and agree that you share as one. You two are an inspiration to us all.

(Cheryl I have been trying to reach you by IM but we miss connections. I'm

at home this weekend and will probably be online Saturday middle of the

afternoon. Would love to chat.)

.

December 14, 2001

In a message dated 12/14/01 6:29:28 PM Pacific Standard Time, josephb@... writes:

Congrats on your anniversary! I know exactly how you feel. I just celebrated my 10th anniversary on the 29th of November and I can tell you first hand, the appreciation for life and the new found outlook never diminishes.

Congratulations to you, Joe. Life is, for me, much more full of pleasure than it was before I developed AIH. Today I took the bus to pick up a prescription -- not exactly a glamourous situation -- but every moment of the trip was a delight. I wonder how I wasted so much time before, but I won't worry about it. Instead I'll actively look for the good that is available to me and the good that, just maybe, I can find to repay.

Harper (AIH dx 5/00)

December 14, 2001

ph,

What a lovely story. Congratulations on your 10 years. You and Randy and

Cheryl are all that we admire and hope to be. Your courage and strength are

unremarkable.

Merry Christmas and 10 x 10 more happy years.

December 15, 2001

Congrats on your anniversary! I know exactly how you feel. I just

celebrated my 10th anniversary on the 29th of November and I can tell

you first hand, the appreciation for life and the new found outlook

never diminishes.

I too learned what was really important in life and have spent the

past 10 years making up for all the time I lost prior to receiving my

gift. I am at such peace now with everything in my life and I know

that I have lived a truly fulfilling and rewarding life. There is

nothing of importance that I long to do...only to improve upon the

goals that I have set for myself, and achieved.

I call them my " Primary Goals " . They are to be the best husband that

I can be; to be the best father that I can be; to be the best brother

and friend that I can be; and to give back to my community all that I

can. My " Secondary Goals " are no different than anybody else...they

are to live in a nice house and drive a nice car and all those other

materialistic things. The reallity is that I now know that if I was

to lose all my material wealth it can't change what kind of husband,

father, brother and friend I am. If I continue to treat him like a

good father should, my son won't love me any less because I drive a

used car rather than a new one. If I continue to give back to my

community the people in it won't look down on me because I live in an

apartment instead of a 4 bedroom home in the burbs. So I continue

every day to try and improve upon my success with achieving my

primary goals. All this because of the gift I received 10 years

ago. It's too bad more people couldn't go through the same life

altering experience without having to put up with the terrible

disease before hand.

I used to have a saying that I would recite to people who were

unhappy in their relationship(s). " The grass is only greener on the

other side because you're not spending enough time watering your own

lawn. " The same can be said about life in general can't it?

Enough rant from me...again, congratulations Cheryl and Randy. I

hope you have many more happy anniversaries to celebrate in the years

ahead.

ph

December 15, 2001

ph, I enjoyed your rant.

Patty

[ ] Re: Two Year Anniversary....