To Boise with Carmen and Sarah

Right before Christmas we found out that one of Karen's best friend's husband was not doing well at all.  I met Carol and Ed when Dave and I first got married.  They visited often and I always enjoyed visiting with them at Trevino's.  A few years after Dave and I got married Ed got a heart transplant.  I visited them at the hospital.  A few months after that I received in the mail a little box with a paper weight heart in it as well as a Thank You card for our "support" during this time in their life.  I was touched by their kind words and really I hadn't done much other than visit once or twice.


Ed had to come to Salt Lake often to get check ups and see how his body was reacting to his new heart.  It was always a treat to have them in town.  We would go visit and just chit chat.  Although this was not something out of the ordinary for me to do when Karen was still with us, our visits with Carol and Ed formed a friendship that was natural.


After Karen's passing, Carol and I remained close.  We would talk on the phone and exchange emails.  We cried often on the phone as we reminisced of our dear Karen, but we also caught up on each others life, my kids and Ed's condition.  When Ed passed I knew I would be going to Boise to just "be" there for Carol. 


Sarah (who has also been close to Carol), Carmen and I took the overnight trip to Boise, just a few days after Christmas.  Although the circumstances where sad, we still managed to have a good time.  We laughed and cried and we talked, a lot.  Ten hours in the car provides a lot of talking time :)


On our way to Boise, we stopped to visit one of Sarah's college friends and then we dinned at Cafe Rio, YUMMY! 

 (Sarah, Carmen and I)

 Carmen and Sarah at the cemetery.  It was a rainy day and cold!

After the cemetery we went to the luncheon.  Picture above, Me, Carol, Sarah and Carmen. 

It was a surprise to me that Carol asked me to read a paragraph that Ed had written and share a few thoughts during the service.  Below is what Ed wrote for the 20th Anniversary for the Utah Transplant Program: 

“We continue to be amazed at the number of doctors, nurses, therapists, and other professionals and support staff that are involved in this miraculous transplant process.  We will always be grateful to my donor and the donor’s family for their generous gift that made my transplant possible.  We thank all of you for your expertise, dedication, and compassion.  You truly are a great team and we congratulate you for 20 years of working together to extend my life and the lives all transplant recipients.”

I was honored that Carol would asked me to share some words at Ed's Funeral Service.  You never know how your little actions kindness and friendship impact someone's life.  It was my honor to have known Ed and have the friendship that I have with Carol. 

I am also grateful and reminded of the Plan of Salvation.  I find SO much comfort in it and knowing we WILL see our loved ones again.  I just hope that I can live a life that will allow me (and my family) to be with them again.