Today I had lunch with a dear friend, John Slatin. Little did I know that today was his 1st Birthday.
About half-way through lunch our conversation went like this:
John: “Today is my second 1st Birthday”.
Glenda (clearly puzzled): “It is?”
John: “Yes, one year ago today I received my bone marrow transplant. So today is my re-birthday.”
(see John’s blog post from 8/22/2006, one year ago today.)
Hard to believe a year has passed. John is doing well. He is coming back this fall to campus to teach a class. And while there are still many challenges he faces, he remains ever so brave and full of hope and positive energy.
Reminds me of a quote from Richard Bach’s, “There’s No Such Place as Far Away”
Gifts of tin and glass,
Wear out in a day
And are gone
While true friendship is a treasure that lasts forever.
Indeed, happy first (re)birthday John. It’s fantastic to hear that you’re doing so well (and Dillon too) and going back to teach soon :-)
I wish Dillon was doing as well as John..but alas, he is not. Dillon has now officially retired from being a guide dog. He seems happy and is eating well and is not in too pain. Dillon’s cancer is not curable.
John has gotten on the waiting list for a new guide dog. I know that no dog will ever truly replace Dillon because he was John’s very first guide dog.