David and I at the Liver Life Walk
Me with my biggest supporter, my dad.
Everyone’s journey through life shapes their individual characteristics, inspires their passions, and encourages their actions. I was lucky enough to receive a second chance at life when I got a liver transplant on September 27, 2010. If you had met me 10 years ago when I found out I had a liver disease, you definitely would not be encountering the person I am today. I struggled with the news and illness through high school and early college; in fact I was a pain in the kisser, to my doctors, due to the name calling and denial. It wasn’t until I met my fiancé, David, that I began to accept the disease. Thanks to him and the support of my family and friends I was able to be the only 22 year old not spending every weekend and dollar at the bar, and became much nicer and pleasant to my doctors and nurses.
I experienced the most proud moment in my life when I signed up for the 2009 Northern Virginia Liver Life Walk with the Liver Foundation of America. My personal fundraising page earned me an adorable little trophy for being “Top Individual Fundraiser.” Don’t get me wrong the trophy was wonderful, but the best part was that I genuinely felt incredible inside and full of joy and pride for my surpassing my monetary fundraising goal for a cause that was so close to my heart! It was a thrill to see my family, friends, and friends of friends donating to a cause that I was passionate about and supporting me. I will never forget that day, the experience was amazing. When I was recovering in the hospital I made it my goal to always be happy and cheerful towards all of the amazing nurses and doctors who took care of me. I also told myself, and everyone I met, that after I recovered I wanted to put more of my time and energy into more fundraising and volunteer work.
I hope to use this blog as a journal to document the great memories and happy feelings that will come as I set out to accomplish my goal of becoming a philanthropist. Sharing stories and pictures of events I will be participating in or attending. I also hope that as you follow me on my journey, I can show you how fun and easy volunteering and fundraising can be, and inspire you to do the same. If I can get readers to volunteer for a charity for a day, or attend a fundraising event at least once a year, imagine the big changes that will be made in peoples’ lives and/or in the communities that benefit from these charities. I will try to highlight and promote great charities, fun events, and share ideas on the small steps you can take to help others. Please email me with anything you would like for me to share at loveshareity@gmail.com!
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