Letters to Lily

Find Becky a Kidney

2009-11-18T17:30:00.000-08:00

I have a friend that needs someone's help... the sad thing is, she doesn't even know who that someone is... yet. Someone out there is the answer to Becky's prayers and right now she doesn't know that person, but we're hoping she will soon.

Becky Kelly is a teacher at the Department of Corrections. She is reaching out to find someone to save her life. She needs a kidney. Everyone comes with two, but you only need one to be perfectly healthy. Both of Becky's kidneys have failed.

Although she has always been healthy, in May her kidneys were attacked by an unknown agent and failed. After time in ICU, emergency rooms and two hospitals, she is now on renal dialysis three times a week and dependant on others for many things. Just recently she finally qualified for the Colorado organ donor list, but there are not enough kidneys to go around. The doctors have told her she will be dependent on dialysis for five to seven years waiting for a donated kidney from the organ list. Dialysis is keeping her alive for now, but a new kidney will completely restore her health and give Becky her life back.

A potential donor needs to have the blood type of O positive or O negative. There is no cost to the donor. The surgery would be done at the University Hospital of Colorado in Denver and requires a very small incision.

If you, or someone you know would like to learn more on if you may be the someone to answer Becky's prayers, please contact Vonnie Bagwell at the University Hospital of Colorado Transplant Center at (720) 848-2261.

Please help us find Becky a kidney.

God Bless

********************************************

11/19/09

Update from Becky:

Dear Friends and Family:

Thank you so much for ALL you have done to find me a kidney donor. Thanks also for your prayers and support. It's working! My good friend, Linda Carlson is getting tested. She talked to Vonnie Bagwell, my transplant coordinator (720-848-2261) yesterday and Vonnie said she is receiving at least two phone calls a day from people who want to get tested. I'm so excited and appreciative. Also I have friends who have contacted the newspapers and Channel 5 (Colorado Springs) TV station on my behalf. I know I am going to meet my goal to have a new kidney by May 2010.

I am hanging in there but tire easily. I received my monthly labs and my red blood cell count is now normal. I had the lowest count of all the dialysis patients last month and a lot of my other labs are normal this month. Again your prayers are working! I started nocturnal (9 pm to 4:30 am) dialysis last Friday. It is great because I can run longer (7 hours) and slower. I am told I will have a lot more energy. The only thing that I don't like is driving to Pueblo (40 miles each way) at night. So for now I will only do this on Friday nights.

This Friday I will fly to Texas to be with my family for Thanksgiving. My life now revolves around dialysis, so I had to get that all setup before I left Colorado. Darn, it will cut into my shopping time!

I just had a call from the Canon City Daily Record newspaper. They are going to do a story on me and put it in the November 28th issue. That is the date they have the largest readership of the year. So check it out online.

www.canoncitydailyrecord.com

Thanks again for all your love and support.

Becky

2008-04-12T16:25:00.000-07:00

Auggie Doggy Hamilton

Auggie Doggy (August) Hamilton went to heaven's gate to wait for his masters on April 12, 2008. He was taken by surprise by coyotes and carried away. We believe in our hearts he went quickly and didn't even realize what was happening.

He was born to Zoey Bovier Hamilton on May 24th, 2003 who preceeded him in death. He is survived by his bestfriends and masters, Tom and Molly, brothers Brandon, Josh, and Yugi; sisters Ashley, Kristen, Min, Gidget, and Neiko; niece Lily Hamilton; cousins, Fancy Face. Biscut MaryAnn and Lucy; special friends Luther Lee Hamilton, Emma, Oliver Spice and Cowboy; and life long friends Starr, Sue, PR, Jimmy E, and Joe and Donnell.

August was an 100% purebred jumpin puppy and loved sports. His favorites were to play ball and frisbee. He had an exquisit sense of smell and was able to track any object thrown with his relentless "grid 'er done" technique. In 2006 he had aspirations of entering a national frisbee contest, but was unable to fufill his dream because of a weak front ankle. He was known for his persistance and dedication to his sport as even when he injured himself, after a quick warm water rub down on his leg, he was back on the field, and on with the game.

He was a happy dog and enjoyed company coming over, running to greet them as they drove in the drive way. Sometimes he would be overtaken by emotion and would howl and sing to express his excitement of visitors. He loved lunch meat and anything dropped on the floor or left unattended for an extended period of time. He loved camping and going on rides, even if it was just to Grandma Becky's to pick up the mail. But his greatest joy was sitting in the laps of his best friends and care takers, Tom and Molly.... and it was their greatest joy also.

August will be so very greatly missed, but I know he's waiting for us at the pearly gates... I only hope we are as worthy to get in as he was.....

"Waiting at the Gate"

I explained to Saint Peter I'd rather wait here,

Just outside the Pearly Gate.

I won't be a nuisance, I won't even bark,

I'll be very patient and wait.
I'll be right here chewing a celestial bone,

No matter how long you may be,

'Cuz I'd miss you too much if I went in alone...

It wouldn't be heaven for me.

(author unknown)

2004-11-01T19:52:00.000-08:00

Zoey Bovier Hamilton

Zoey Bovier Hamilton passed on to heaven on November 16th, 2004. She was born in Canon City February 21, 2001. She was the daughter of Tom and Molly Hamilton, sister to Brandon, Ashley, Kristen and Josh, wife of Weezer, mother of Auggie, Mini, Gidget, Yugi, Mitzi and one other pup. Best friends with Starr Thibadeau.

She enjoyed camping, squirrel hunting, going for rides, playing ball, tug-o-war, arrowhead hunting, the Spanish language and baloney treats twice a day.

She was a happy dog who loved living in the country. She had a graceful disposition and a zest for life. She would spin in circles in anticipation of being with you and fondly became known as "spin puppy". She was the subject of many songs sang by her dad. She will be sadly missed and always remembered.

A Treasured Friend

I lost a treasured friend today
The little dog who used to lay
Her gentle head upon my knee
And share her silent thoughts with me...
She'll come no longer to my call
Retrieve no more her favorite ball
A voice far greater than my own
Has called her to His golden throne.
Although my eyes are filled with tears
I thank Him for the happy years
He let her spend down her with me
And for her love and loyalty.
When it is time for me to go
And join her there, this much I know
I shall not fear the transient dark
for she will greet me with her bark.

Author unknown