Daddy is making much progress in getting on the transplant list. This process is long and tedious, but well worth it in the end! We thank each of you for all your prayers during this time.
On another note, Heard's Landscaping is in the running for Reader's Choice Award in Athens. Please visit http://beta.athensfindit.com/?q=node%2F14211 and scroll to Landscape Co. to vote!!!
I will keep you posted on Daddy's condition as it progresses. Again, many thanks for all your prayers!
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
I don't have any "news" to report on daddy's condition. He and mama are doing well. I do think it is worth mentioning that in the midst of my crazy wedding planning and the actual wedding mama and daddy celebrated a huge milestone!
On March 16, 2010 my wonderful parents celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary!
Let us rejoice with them as they are truly an inspiration, especially during such a special time in my life!
Congratulations Mom and Dad, we love you!!!
On March 16, 2010 my wonderful parents celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary!
Let us rejoice with them as they are truly an inspiration, especially during such a special time in my life!
Congratulations Mom and Dad, we love you!!!
Monday, April 19, 2010
I wanted to bring everyone up to speed on what’s been going in the Heard’s world. When I found out about Daddy’s illness about 10 years ago, my first thought was “would he make it to walk me down the aisle on my wedding day.” Well folks, he did! I couldn’t have been a more prouder daughter that day as my daddy did me the honor of giving me away. It was amazing. I also had asked him to surprise me with our father/daughter dance. The criteria was to pick a song that he felt represented our relationship. It could be funny, slow, fast, anything, but something he thought would fit us best. To be honest, I was kind of nervous. If you know my dad personally, you know he can be a jokester. Anyway, my husband and I had our first dance and then daddy met me on the dance floor. I stand and wait and just smile with apprehension of what the song will be. I then here: “I see trees of green, red roses too- I see them bloom for me and you- And I think to myself, what a wonderful world.” Yes, daddy, it has been a wonderful world, and I think you so much for all you have done for me!
Although we have had some majorly exciting events go on in our family, we are still faced with the grim reality that daddy needs a liver transplant. He is going on a regular basis to meet with the transplant team at Piedmont and is getting wonderful support and help from their staff. He continues to have to meet with psychologist to make sure his mind is prepared for such a traumatic experience, as this transplant process is and will continue to be. He also has to attend support groups at Piedmont and other informational groups to prepare himself with as much knowledge and understanding as one can possibly obtain before the transplant takes place. I would like you all to pray for my mom, Cathy, as this is life changing and stressful for her too. My dad is so lucky to have her, she has been there to support him through all of this.
As of this past week, daddy’s MELD score is still 11% and to actually be on the transplant list it must be a 20%. So he continues to prepare, as much as one can prepare, for this illness to get worse before it will get better. He tells us he’s ready to “get this thing done and over with so I can move on with my life and feel better.”
So that’s what we pray for on a daily basis, healing. We pray for his body to have the strength to withstand this transplant and to accept this new liver that will be so graciously given to him by someone we will most likely never know. We pray for the family of the donor as they will be grieving the loss of a dear loved one, as we rejoice that our loved one is well. Organ donation, as in this case, can be such a bitter sweet moment and the emotions are unimaginable. So please, as you all have done so graciously, continue to pray for daddy and the donor. May God’s warmth wrap around them both.
Although we have had some majorly exciting events go on in our family, we are still faced with the grim reality that daddy needs a liver transplant. He is going on a regular basis to meet with the transplant team at Piedmont and is getting wonderful support and help from their staff. He continues to have to meet with psychologist to make sure his mind is prepared for such a traumatic experience, as this transplant process is and will continue to be. He also has to attend support groups at Piedmont and other informational groups to prepare himself with as much knowledge and understanding as one can possibly obtain before the transplant takes place. I would like you all to pray for my mom, Cathy, as this is life changing and stressful for her too. My dad is so lucky to have her, she has been there to support him through all of this.
As of this past week, daddy’s MELD score is still 11% and to actually be on the transplant list it must be a 20%. So he continues to prepare, as much as one can prepare, for this illness to get worse before it will get better. He tells us he’s ready to “get this thing done and over with so I can move on with my life and feel better.”
So that’s what we pray for on a daily basis, healing. We pray for his body to have the strength to withstand this transplant and to accept this new liver that will be so graciously given to him by someone we will most likely never know. We pray for the family of the donor as they will be grieving the loss of a dear loved one, as we rejoice that our loved one is well. Organ donation, as in this case, can be such a bitter sweet moment and the emotions are unimaginable. So please, as you all have done so graciously, continue to pray for daddy and the donor. May God’s warmth wrap around them both.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Friday, March 12, 2010
Daddy is still about the same. Not much has changed, except his MELD score is now 11%. (It has to be 20% to have a transplant). Please continue to pray as the fatigue, in my opinion, is getting worse. I will most certainly update you all if/when anything changes.
I encourage you all to keep leaving the incredibly uplifting comments on the guestbook page and on the Facebook page. I cannot tell you how much you all mean to daddy and how much your comments and prayers have done for him and the rest of the family as well. Prayer is powerful and we know God is working hard to deliver each of them.
I encourage you all to keep leaving the incredibly uplifting comments on the guestbook page and on the Facebook page. I cannot tell you how much you all mean to daddy and how much your comments and prayers have done for him and the rest of the family as well. Prayer is powerful and we know God is working hard to deliver each of them.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Today marked the 10th anniversary of my grandmother, Carolyn Heard. Daddy, Mama, and my Uncle Sidney headed over to West Point to pay their respects to her today. We miss her dearly and I ask that you pray for continued healing as everyday we miss her! It is also the 8th anniversary of my mothers, Cathy, grandmother. Please be in pray for both families today as it never gets easier when your loved ones go, you miss them more each day that passes.
On another note, I am AMAZED at how this prayer page has spread throughout the community. I check the guestbook often during the day and to see daddy's face last night when a long lost friend had signed just melted my heart. Thank you all for your comments and prayers. We truly believe God is going to provide us with a miracle!
On another note, I am AMAZED at how this prayer page has spread throughout the community. I check the guestbook often during the day and to see daddy's face last night when a long lost friend had signed just melted my heart. Thank you all for your comments and prayers. We truly believe God is going to provide us with a miracle!
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Monday, February 15, 2010
Please keep daddy in your prayers for the first 3 Tuesday's of March. He will be having several appointments at Piedmont. Please pray for the guidance of everyone involved in his transplant case. Pray for wisdom and the doctors and nurses and for the strength of daddy.
Thank you for all the prayers, cards, and calls thus far. Please keep them coming. We all need them right now to keep our spirits up, but they are especially uplifting for daddy!
Love always,
Cristin
Thank you for all the prayers, cards, and calls thus far. Please keep them coming. We all need them right now to keep our spirits up, but they are especially uplifting for daddy!
Love always,
Cristin
Friday, February 12, 2010
Daddy has battled Hepatitis C for the last 30 years or so, only being aware of it the last 10 years. It’s contraction is not totally known, but we speculate he got the disease when he worked at a hospital back in the 70’s.
Daddy is currently doing as well as can be expected. If you look at him, he doesn’t look “sick”. However, he’s very tired, nauseous a lot, and suffers from other various bouts of sickness. His entire life has changed in an instant. Not only is he waiting on a liver to save his life, he has had to change his entire lifestyle to prepare for a liver. He has to lose weight, watch his sodium, sugar, and fluid intakes. No more alcohol or red meat and many other food restrictions. It’s been a whirlwind at our house trying to all get accustomed to this new lifestyle.
As far as the liver transplant goes, they are based on a Model for End-Stage Liver Disease, or MELD score. The scoring is as follows:
40 or more — 100% mortality
30–39 — 83% mortality
20–29 — 76% mortality
10–19 — 27% mortality
<10- 4% mortality
Right now my dad is a 9%. In the state of Georgia, you must be a 20% or higher to receive a transplant. This seems high, but in a lot of states you have to be 30% or higher. Actually, the state of Georgia is the best state to be in for a transplant. We have one of the highest organ donor rates in the country. Amen to that! So, where do we go from here? Daddy continues to meet with the transplant teams and is doing everything he can to stay healthy. It’s a wait and see game now. We just pray that we make it to the point where we need a liver and when that time comes we get one. Thank you for all the prayers thus far and please keep praying for Daddy!
Daddy is currently doing as well as can be expected. If you look at him, he doesn’t look “sick”. However, he’s very tired, nauseous a lot, and suffers from other various bouts of sickness. His entire life has changed in an instant. Not only is he waiting on a liver to save his life, he has had to change his entire lifestyle to prepare for a liver. He has to lose weight, watch his sodium, sugar, and fluid intakes. No more alcohol or red meat and many other food restrictions. It’s been a whirlwind at our house trying to all get accustomed to this new lifestyle.
As far as the liver transplant goes, they are based on a Model for End-Stage Liver Disease, or MELD score. The scoring is as follows:
40 or more — 100% mortality
30–39 — 83% mortality
20–29 — 76% mortality
10–19 — 27% mortality
<10- 4% mortality
Right now my dad is a 9%. In the state of Georgia, you must be a 20% or higher to receive a transplant. This seems high, but in a lot of states you have to be 30% or higher. Actually, the state of Georgia is the best state to be in for a transplant. We have one of the highest organ donor rates in the country. Amen to that! So, where do we go from here? Daddy continues to meet with the transplant teams and is doing everything he can to stay healthy. It’s a wait and see game now. We just pray that we make it to the point where we need a liver and when that time comes we get one. Thank you for all the prayers thus far and please keep praying for Daddy!
Monday, January 4, 2010
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Saturday, January 2, 2010
How You Can Help
Georgia Transplant Foundation
6600 Peachtree Dunwoody Road
600 Embassy Row, Suite 250
Atlanta, GA 30328
Holly Vanager-Crummell, MS
Transplant Fundraising Program Director
770-457-3796
I don't know account # yet, it is not on the forms.
Make sure Roland Shaefer Heard, III is on the donation check.
Friday, January 1, 2010
About Shaefer
Shaefer was born to Carolyn and Roland Heard. He his married to Cathy Couch Heard and has two daughters, Cristin and Callie, and a grandson, Avery. Shaefer has his own business with his wife. Shaefer has a sister, Noey, and brother, Sidney.
Shaefer's journey began about 10 years ago when it was revealed to him, after many rounds of test and procedures, that he had Hepatitis C. In November 2009 it was determined that he had cirrhosis of the liver, a side effect from the Hepatitis C. Shaefer now needs a full liver transplant.
Shaefer's journey began about 10 years ago when it was revealed to him, after many rounds of test and procedures, that he had Hepatitis C. In November 2009 it was determined that he had cirrhosis of the liver, a side effect from the Hepatitis C. Shaefer now needs a full liver transplant.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
