Re: Words about depression and iodine supplementation.

Ops, I wasn't clear about it. My sweetie received a liver transplant in September of 1992.

I have no doubt your man stands tall among men. That goes for caregivers in general. If he is anything like me, we don't spend a lot of time thinking about the warm fuzzies. Instead, need to lean forward and keep pressing on. A little reflection is good. But mostly, have to keep pressing forward. Ms. H., you are very lucky to have your man, but you know that. And there is no doubt he is very lucky too. I mean, your posts have brightened up a LOT of people Ms. H. A lot.

Last eve I typed up a followup to the other post, but grew way too long, and also kinda unnerved me. So I didn't post it. One thing in it tho was... we tell folks that we did the wedding vows backwards. We'd hardly been dating when she began to lapse into illness. Led to a coma, last rites three times over 5 weeks, unbelievable efforts by a University Hospital to keep her alive until a donor liver became available. She was at the end given 24-48 hours, had to fight a serious infection, did, and received a donor liver. 1992. In world of strange worlds, I knew about the very sad circumstances of the donor two days before the hospital did. Really quirky set of circumstances.

Vows backwards. She does talk about traveling down a tunnel, but being sent back... so that almost covers 'Until d**** do us part', 'sickness and health' --- would say this qualifies, 'rich or poorer' --- the financial aspect has been, well...

She had to be evaluated for a transplant in 12 hours. Was racing around the hospital when I wasn't with her, talking to anyone who would listen, the morning after she was admitted in a coma. Was called into a conference room where a bevy of people sat. Her parents were there but frozen and unable to speak, literally. I quickly realized that they were the medical teams that were evaluating her on the spot. Half way around the large conf table, someone went on about something and then said "blah blah blah 'your wife' blah blah blah". Didn't blink. I said "yes, and?" At that instant I made us common law married, even though we had hardly even been dating. I had to. From making decisions I thought she would make, social, psychological profiling, financial medical. I made us married in the eyes of the law... which years later gave me the idea that we had done the vows backwards.

Five years after her transplant I had a tie clip family heirloom. We took the diamond from it and just put it into a ring. A little later we started calling it a wedding ring. Then she wanted to add to it which became an engagement ring. Ten years after her transplant, we went to Vegas and were married. Finally made it on paper. We'd like to have a more formal wedding someday. Then we have been thrust into the series of total joint replacements which have been all consuming for the last 6 years. And we talk about someday soon, we may try to start dating since we never really got around to that. Been busy...

Long post. Typical me. Oh well... she has an unbelievable spirit. Get this... through all this stuff, she loves to work her Mary Kay and Avon. Someone over Xmas said it must be nice to be 'Drop D*** gorgeous' about her. And, she can sing. No, she can SING. That was her profession. She sings with the local choral and opera festivals now. And after 118 years, she and her musical partner are forming up again to work up some sets. She has an unrelenting spirit.

Ya'll's who have wonderful partners are blessed. I know we savor them.