Wonderful Weekend: Now, LET'S PRAY!

What a weekend....

Friday night I got to see my oh so cute Dentist, Dr. Jesse Sidu, had a cavity filled (FOUR shots of novicane, I must have a tolerance built up!)

Then, once my mouth felt normal again mama and I fixed BBQ-d Ribs and roasted eggplant and bell peppers for dinner! I LOVE hanging out with my mom, especially cooking dinner or going out to a movie! She is SO COOL! She just rocks! More than anyone or anything out of my life whole life, my mom has been there, and she will be there again, as always, bedside vigil, tomorrow. God Bless that woman, she's an absolute SAINT! Anyway, after dinner, we hung out some more, talked and watched Reba! It was great! My mom's still one of my best friends, and she's so beautiful too! I don't know how she does it all and manages to stay strong, kind, compassionate and understanding. I wouldn't be here if it weren't for her, and I truly know that. What an angel my dearest mother Linda, carebear! What an angel! :)

Yesterday we thought my dad, Joe, had a heartattack. Turns out, it was complications and an allergic reaction to a combination of medicinces he's on for his diabetes and blood pressure/ THANK GOD! So GLAD HE'S STILL HERE! Heck, I'm so glad I'M still here! Right on! Anyway, I was very scared for him and prayed a lot, I don't want anything to happen to him for a long, long time.

And when it does come, as death so inevitably does one day, I hope and pray that all of my loved ones have a peaceful and healthful death. Myself included!

Speaking of which, last week I got a living will written up! I chose not to have articial life support for me should something happen-God knows just let me go if it comes down to that, I've been through enough! Sheesh!

Anyhow, I also talked to my sister, Jordan Hannah for a long, long time. She just kept talkin' and talkin'! Gee, wonder where she gets that from? LOL! She's such a little me! I love that kid more than life itself. She telling me a bout things being so expensive and school being fine except "for the STUPID people," LOL! Sounds JUST like something I'd a said back then. She's 9. For me, in my own life, 9 was the beinging of the end for about ten years-but anyhow. LOL! I've learned and I've loved! She told me all about how God's Love isn't expensive, but it is infinite and how she loves me almost as much as she loves God. She is such a sweet, sweet good hearted little girl. I love her so much. What a crack up!

Joely and Kelsey are doing well-god those girls are the absoulte loves my life and the light that shines in it. They inspire me and move me and make me so very proud and bring me so much joy-I'm so, so, so blessed to have them! Wow! It's a powerful thing having three younger sisters who look up to you; forces me to take responsibilty for my life and set a good example, one that they can be proud of.

My grandma and mama are there for me too; never-ending love and care. I'm so blessed!

Anyhow, yesterday was Hugh's 29th birtday, I made him a card and a coupon book! LOL! He loved 'em. I also fixed him dinner and we had an AMAZING time celebrating, for someone who didn't want to celebrate their bday to begin with, he didn't complain the whole day! LOL! I LOVE making a HUGE deal out of people's bday and showering them with love, attention and affection that WHOLE day! Birthdays SHOULD be celebrated;

Every life and evey moment of it is so very, very precious! It's a beautiful, wonderful, miraculous gift!

It really, truly is!

And every year, we (hopefully) get wiser and smarter and grow and learn! At least I do! On my birthday, I LOVE to celebrate, so why shoudln't everyone else? Age is just a number and

it's not what happens to you, it's what you DO with what happens to you that counts! :) Wynonna said that I believe! A

Anyway, I had a GREAT weekend!

Tomorrow is my 28th or 29th surgery, I've lost track. It's late and I really need to get to bed, so rather than type this all up again, I'm just going to copy and paste an email I wrote earlier this week to family and friends......

Hello Everyone,

Please read this email through, I need your prayers and it's not that long!

I sincerely hope this email finds you well and that life is going good for each and everyone of you!

I myself am very happy and enjoying the gergeous spring weather we're having here in SUNNY Las Vegas! Enjoying nannying and getting back to organizing my room and home! I'm looking foward to summer and seeing my sisters in June and just trying to relax and make the most of everyday as it comes!

I'm writing today to ask for your special prayers, and with some not so wonderful news....

Well, it's not that it's bad, bad news, but the news could be better.....

Anyhow, some of already know, some of you might don't.....

I have to have a minor surgery on my kidney this coming Monday, April 11th @ 7am.

It's a surgery for my right (and only) kidney, I have what is called Mild Hydriphronosis. It's a swelling of the kidney and an infection that can lead to urine blockage. I've been drinking 2 Liters of water a day, which is only one more liter than usual for me. Trying to flush it out! Anyhow, they have to knock me out (thank God!) and go in and take a look at it. They might have to place a stint in there between my bladder and kidney to get things working properly again, or they might have to send me to San Francisco (I'd actually prefer that, cuz that place is like a 2nd home to me) to have my kidney reconstructed. It really depends on how severe the damage is and what they find out while they're in there Monday morning.

I went to a Urologist, Dr. Michael Verni, last Tuesday and this guy knows his stuff. He knew exactly what VATER was and scheduled this surgery immediately. As I only have one kidney, we CANNOT take chances.

Anyhow, I'm actually and sincerely NOT worried about it, because I KNOW in my heart that God will indefinately get me through this as He has everything else in life.

I am a bit reserved about having this done in Las Vegas, by another Dr. who's no Dr.t Michael Harrison. I'm a bit anxious about the unknown as far as the surgeon, nurses, (Claudia, Nancy-I wish you both were here to do this with me-my mom's awesome, but, YOU ROCK!), which is perfectly normal, but I'm not worried about the actual outcome.....

I really don't believe that I will have to go San Francisco, b/c I think this might even be an infection treatable with anti-biotics. At least that's what I'm hoping and praying for. I've already been through a lot and to be honest, as blessed as I am, I'm having a hard time with this one. I don't want to a baby and seem ungrateful or have pitty for myself, but I just don't want to go through this AGAIN.

I KNOW, I KNOW, I KNOW, really I do, I KNOW I'm blessed beyond reasoning and I've already overcome so very, very much throughout my 21 years.

I know it could be a hundred times worse and I can still breathe, walk, talk, sit, stand, jump, pee, eat, move my legs and arms and fingers and toes; I'm not paralyzed or in a wheelchair, I'm not burned or mamed or funny looking. And I really DO KNOW and APPRECIATE ALL of that.

But, this is harder this time because I've been so healthy and "normal" for so long so this is all kind of a shock you know. As for my gullbladder, they don't yet know what's wrong, we'll find that out and deal with it after the kidney. That's more important than the gullbladder seeming as how I can live without a gullbladder, but not without my one and only kidney.

Anyhow, I don't want pitty and I don't want to be told I'm going to fine, because believe it or not, I really do know that. I feel it in my heart!

All I'm asking is that each of you is to pray for me, please. Pray that this surgery goes well, that there are NO complications, that everything goes smoothly and that I can just be put on antibiotics and that'll be the extent of it. Please pray for my strength and already never-ending courage and bravery.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart; with God, my amazing mother, and all of your prayers, I WILL GET THROUGH THIS! I will prevail, and I will come out stronger and better because of it. One more thing to put in that best selling autobiography of mine!

Thanks a million y'all, peace, love and health be with you all-you each remain in my prayers everyday!

Many Blessings & Lots of Love,
-Sarah Liz
"I could've missed the pain, but I'd of had to miss the dance."
-Tony Arata
“Miracles happen everyday regardless of past circumstances or expected outcomes.”
-Sarah E. Doan (aka: Sarah Liz)

I KNOW I'm going to be fine, and I really, truly KNOW THAT. God will only give me what I can handle and nothing more! I HAVE to remind myself that I AM STRONG, I AM BRAVE, I AM COURAGEOUS and most of all, I AM A SURVIVOR and I AM THE LIGHT!

I freaked out about it all week, had that little "pity," crisis and complained a bit. But, that doesn't do ANY good what so ever, even though I have EVERY right to complain, I've been to hell and back health wise more times than I can count! But, all that, it's really just a waste of time and especially a waste of energy. And right now, that's not where I wanna put my energy.

I need to create positive, healthy, grateful, faithful energy. Besides, there are sooooooooo many people who have it soooooooooooo much worse than I do. And I know that!

I'm not bleedin', dyin', cryin', crippled, in a wheelchair, burnt, mamed, legless, armless, sightless, hearless and most of all, I'm not brainless. I hold the power, along with God, and so tonight, as that unexpcted 28th or 29th surgery nears closer, I'm suddenly at peace with the whole thing! I really am!

No, of course I don't want to do it, who the heck would? It's a huge diruption to normal life, but I've lived so long and so healthy and so normal for so long that that's why this is harder now. Because, NOW, I actually know different, I know better, and as a kid I didn't. I just want to be normal (if there is such a thing) and live a normal, healthy, productive life without my kidney (or anything else) failing or quitting or acting up on me. I don't wanna sit on my ass and twiddle my thumbs, I want to LIVE and contiue loving and being loved. Isn't that what we all want? I think so.

However, I've been through much, much worse, survived the worsst, and made it through! And again, I shall prevail. I am not done yet, it's not my time and this is just another test.

And you know what, this is just one more thing to add my testament of strength, faith and willpower.

I AM DETERMINED, I AM POSITIVE and I AM HEALTHY. One more glitch outta the way and it'll all smooth sailing from here on out.

However, God for bid it is my time I want people to know this:

I am happier now, at 21 years old, than ever before. I have forgiven, I have let go and I have learned to LIVE IN THE MOMENT! I am at peace with myself, my strengths, weaknesses, lessons and my life! I have loved, and been loved to no end! I have had fun and been embraced by grace, luck, blessings and family and friends like no one I know. I have my mother, boyfriend, grnadmothers, sisters, father, friends and Nellie cat. I have joy in my life, light in my life and happiness. I do what I want, when I want and I'm generally happy and positive and oh so grateful to still be standing here, alive and well. I have no regrets, I did everything right at the time I did it, everything and everyone happens for a reason, I've learned and lived and loved!
And I LOVE MY LIFE!

I AM SO BLESSED!

God WILL get me through tomorrow just like everything else in my life- together, we CAN and we WILL do it!

I'm happy, healthy and peaceful! So, wish me luck, pray for me and I'll pray for you! I CAN DO THIS! I WILL DO THIS! Piece a cake! LOL! With mom and God, and all the amazing people in my life and prayers going on surrounding-it's quite humbling. EVERYBODY really does care; mama, Hugh, grama, grama, Ellen, Nancy, Betty, Dad, KJJ, even Donnie called tonight to wish me luck tomorrow. You know, we've been friends for 21 years this month, my whole life. Wow! That's amazing, I can't believe it! And we're both still here, alive and kickin' and finally happy with no underlying questions like they're used to be. More on that another time. But anyway, it was great to hear from him and I talked to everyone this weekend-it was wonderful! It's so nice to have such caring, loving, supportive people in my life and it's nice to know they do care! I'm one lucky, blessed and very appreciative young lady! Thanks God, for everything!

GOD, LIGHT ABOVE ME,YOU ARE MY MASTER, THIS BODY IS YOURS, TAKE YOUR COMMAND, HOLD YOUR DOMINION OVER IT! HOLD THIS BODY IN PERFECTON AND PERFECT HEALTH USING ONLY YOUR PERFECT, PURIFIED, MASTERFUL ENERGY!

I thank Thee for answering my prayers! Amen & Goodnight!

Many Blessings,
-SL