I responded to this news the way any marketing professional / Generation X cancer patient would by: doing exhaustive internet research, buying an irreverent t-shirt, and writing a zesty Facebook Q&A.
On Writing and Stuffing
I used to wonder why authors wrote such lousy blogs. Now I get it. Includes a book update!
God, We Need to Talk: A break-up/make-up story
For a long time, God and I got along just fine… until we didn’t.
Want to Bridge the Divide? Time to Embrace Our Inner Trash Panda
The state of the world has made me a Trash Panda. I should probably qualify this.
Not Your Usual Time Management Advice: 7 Tips
I was recently asked my approach to time management. I think the interviewer expected the usual advice: Give yourself deadlines, be ruthless about prioritization, and wake up an hour earlier. What I gave her was something quite different.
“The Liver Grows Back” & Other Things Transplant Patients Don’t Want to Hear [Featured in: The Bigger Picture}
As Jim's need for a new liver became more well known, I began to field a lot more questions. Here are answers to some of the most common ones.
Some Assembly Required has a publisher!
I am giddy to announce that Some Assembly Required has a publisher. The book will be available everywhere in May 2021.
The Hospital Go Bag: A Caregiver’s Guide
“I am thrilled to go to the hospital!” said no patient ever — unless they are at nine months and counting. Enter: The Hospital Go Bag. Packing these 5 things will help keep patients happy and caregiver sane.
Some Years I am All About the Free Bananas
One of my favorite team names is Devin’s Got Guts. This is because it works two ways: Devin is incomparably brave. He is also the proud owner of someone else's guts. Now imagine about a hundred of these teams getting together to walk 3 miles and you have the New Jersey Sharing Network annual 5K Celebration of Life.
I Spent a Day Asking People of Color to Part with their Organs
Last weekend I spent a day standing in a drug store asking people to eventually part with their organs.
![Of Hope and Fish [Featured in P.S. I Love You]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5c97ab3365019f39682bc523/1564318531116-IQPHG7D0HCCMZQGK0HTH/le-bernardin.jpg)
Of Hope and Fish [Featured in P.S. I Love You]
My husband, Jim, had a serious illness that required organ transplant. There were lots of pretty rough moments, but one, in particular, stood out.
Silent Helpers - Caregiving in the U.S.
Did you know 1 in 6 Americans is caring for an adult with an illness or disability? Learn more facts about these “Silent Helpers.”
Give Us This Day Our Daily Pills
People will sometimes ask me: What was the most difficult part of transplant caregiving? There are very many different answers to that question. But, the most technically challenging part? The pills, by far. The pills still give me shudders. Why, you ask? Because what you soon realize – oh, newly minted amateur pharmacist! – is that there is a very real chance you can screw up and kill someone. And that is something you very much want to avoid.
Whew!
After 66K words and 159 pages, this was the easiest of the latter to write.
Team Some Assembly Required Makes First Appearance
Quick flashback to May 2018 when Team Some Assembly Required made its first appearance at the NJ Sharing Network Long Branch 5k.
Jim Speaks About His Liver Transplant
Yeah, I just might be a little bit proud of my fella.
Happy Blue and Green Day
Celebrated Blue and Green Day with a desk display at the office today. Join us in the celebration! Visit http://www.registerme.org.
Now *This* is How I Want to Celebrate Donate Life Month!
When Jim was in need of an organ transplant, I did what nerds do: I looked for books on the subject.... and came up short. My new year’s resolution was to write the book I would have wanted to read. And I am on track to finish a draft this month — National Donate Life Month.
The Self-Dare that Started It All
Some times you just need to dare yourself to do stuff to prove to yourself that you can. #NewYearsResolution #WriteABook
Today I am 40
Every five years I write a birthday note to myself. This is 40: Today I am 40. Today I declare what I don’t like: insincerity and conversations about the weather. Today I don’t mind the wrinkle on my forehead because I earned it from pondering.