I May Be Famous!

Okay, maybe not necessarily FAMOUS, but I may be on the front page of the local newspaper. Okay, maybe not the front page, but I did spend the afternoon being interviewed by a columnist from the Lansing State Journal. She does a lot of human interest stories, and wifey contacted her about my story. She was very interested, especially with me having worked for the State and wifey being a teacher. So, she contacted us and set up a time for this afternoon.

She started with, "where would you like to start?" Wifey and I just looked at one another. Where do you start when talking about a genetic condition? Birth? From when I was diagnosed? From when I was put on the transplant list? We were flummoxed.

Fortunately the columnist started asking questions about my childhood, my family, how Wifey and I met.

We shared a lot of our personal stories and many of the struggles. From how it felt to get my diagnosis. How the diagnosis has affected our marriage and our daily lives. How I offered Wifey a divorce after I was diagnosed. Wait. WHAT?!? You what?!?!

Yes. I offered her a divorce. Not because I didn't love her, but because I love her madly. I wanted to spare her the pain and heartache that would come with my condition, the ups and downs of being tied to oxygen 24/7. I wanted her to have the chance for a normal life.

Lucky for me, she didn't take the bait. She stuck it out, which is good for me because I hadn't planned what I'd do if she had agreed and left me. So much for planning ahead. But, I digress. The columnist loved our story. She loved our relationship. She loved everything about us (or at least is a very, VERY accomplished actress). So, it looks like we'll have an article about my condition, my potential transplant, organ donation, and my upcoming benefit dinner in the local newspaper.