Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Teach Me How To Fly

There are things I can’t hope to achieve
By the time I see my final sight
I alone won’t cure all suffering
Can’t hope to win every righteous fight
I can’t provide for those in poverty
Won’t feed all the hungry
I know that I will never learn to fly
Try as hard as I might

Hey we are alive
Though with some truths that we cannot deny
We are alive so why sit back
And watch life pass us by?
Then there is that which has to wait until the next life
Be assured that when I get to Heaven I’ll be asking,
“Teach me how to fly”

I wish I knew a cure for the deaf
Or how to give sight to all who are blind
I can’t bring about peace by myself
Or believe I could save all mankind
I won’t achieve all that I would like to
I’ll sing this song in lieu
I can’t escape the limits built into my earthly design

Teach me how to fly

Friday, October 17, 2008

because You are much greater than my pain

I can count a million times
People asking me how I
Can praise You with all that I've gone through
The question just amazes me
Can circumstances possibly
Change who I forever am in You

Maybe since my life was changed
Long before these rainy days
It's never really ever crossed my mind
To turn my back on you, oh Lord
My only shelter from the storm
But instead I draw closer through these times

So I pray

Bring me joy, bring me peace
Bring the chance to be free
Bring me anything that brings You glory
And I know there'll be days
When this life brings me pain
But if that's what it takes to praise You
Jesus, bring the rain

I am Yours regardless of
The dark clouds that may loom above
Because You are much greater than my pain
You who made a way for me
By suffering Your destiny
So tell me what's a little rain

So I pray

Holy, holy, holy
Holy, holy, holy
Is the Lord God Almighty
Is the Lord God Almighty

~MercyMe - Coming up to breathe (2006)

Friday, October 10, 2008

Stacy's gifted legacy

Through two wonderful organizations, Stacy has been able to give the gift of hope to many for their physical needs. Her skin, bone, eyes and heart valves were gifted to Life Gift and her corneas were gifted to the Eye Bank Association of America.

Please consider organ donation and state your wishes to your family while you are in good health. Better yet, have a living will and a statement of intent regarding your final wishes. It relieves your family of having to make decisions at a time when the emotional turmoil of losing you is at it's highest.

When our brother Scott died in 2001 at the age of 42, we were able to give the gift of a new beginning to those in need. Out of our tremendous loss, others have and/or will gain health and wholeness. We are privileged to be able to give others hope for their future through the grief of our loss. Knowing that Stacy and Scott have given the ultimate gift of life to others comforts us in our sorrow. A part of them lives on in many others.

Please consider your legacy of life after death. Thank you...

____________________________________
There is a critical shortage of organs in this country. More than 96,000 individuals currently await a lifesaving organ transplant in the U.S. Of those, more than 7,000 are Texans and 2,500 are listed in the LifeGift service area (109 Texas counties).

This year alone, close to 6,000 people will die this year awaiting an organ transplant; that’s 17 people who die daily because an organ did not become available to them.

A person is added to the national organ transplant waiting list every 13 minutes.

The generosity of an individual donor can save up to eight lives through organ donation and enhance another 50 through tissue donation.

Last year, more than 28,000 organ transplants were performed in the U.S. Organs used for transplant include: kidneys, heart, lungs, liver, pancreas, and small bowels.

Close to one million tissue transplants are performed each year. Tissue includes skin, bone, heart valves, veins and corneas. Skin is used to treat burn patients and individuals with cancer; bone can be used to treat orthopedic injuries and cancer patients; corneas can enhance and restore sight.

Registering to become an organ, tissue and eye donor helps ensure your wishes will be carried out after you die. Tell your family about your decision.

For more information go to:

http://lifegift.org/

http://www.restoresight.org/

Additional links of interest:

http://www.organdonor.gov/

http://www.donatelife.net/

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/organdonation.html

Monday, October 6, 2008

Stacy Dawn Donelson ~ May 26, 1963 - October 6, 2008

Rest In Peace

You are loved...

stacy by you.

Memorial Service
Saturday, October 11th
2:00 pm

Second Baptist Church of Galena Park

1913 18th St
Galena Park, TX 77547
(713) 672-9232
Get directions

Obituaries

Stacy Dawn Donelson

Published:

Wednesday, October 8, 2008 11:18 AM CDT

Stacy Dawn Donelson, 45 of La Porte,
passed away Oct. 6, 2008.
She was born May 26, 1963 in Chicago.

She was a La Porte High School graduate of 1981
and electrician by trade for 27 years.

She was preceded in death by
her father, Robert Edward Cichorz,
brother, Scott Cichorz and
nephew, Jason Cichorz.

She is survived by her mother, Barbara Cichorz,
~ her two daughters ~
Heather Dawn Donelson Fisher (husband~Ted)
~ and ~
Stephanie Dawn Bellew (special friend Alex)
~ many sisters ~
Deborah Shelnutt (husband~Danny)
Sherry Bell (husband~James)
Robyn Lyn
Vikki Cichorz
~ and brother ~
Keith Cichorz.

She had many memories with her best friend,
Crystal Ryan and daughter, Elaine Ryan.

Stacy leaves behind her pride and joys,
~ her grandsons ~
Jordan Spurlock and Joshua Fisher,
as well as several nieces and nephews,
other family members, lots of friends
~ and the love of her life ~
Sugar Bear, her Yorkie.

A Memorial Service will be held on Oct. 11, 2008,
at 2 p.m. at Second Baptist Church of Galena Park, 1913 18th St.

Friday, October 3, 2008

Stacy's update for Thursday

My sister's daughters requested a feeding tube be inserted. The doctors told them it wouldn't help and could actually end her life sooner. There is a real possibility of her aspirating since she has lost the ability to swallow.

Stacy spiked a temp through the night and the docs said that pneumonia is the reason. She was finally put on morphine which has helped the pain tremendously. Her new air bed finally arrived also, which helps for her back spasms and bed sores. She no longer is able to sit or stand. She is still coherent but barely able to whisper responses and most of the time we can't understand what she's saying. She is hallucinating a lot. The doctors said that was due to the toxins in her body building up in her bloodstream and brain. Her whole body has swollen up and her stomach is huge from the fluid buildup.

Thank you for all your prayers. We don't know a time frame but the doctors said she's "end stage" and there's nothing more that they can do for her except try and make her comfortable. All we want is for her pain to stop. I'm sorry I'm not returning calls right now. I do appreciate all of them and the e-mails. It is simply too difficult most days for me to talk to anyone without crying. I feel bad when you call and all I do is weep. Please understand.

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

a message from my friend Sandy about the Red Cross

"You and Cathy might suggest donations go to the Galveston affiliate or Greater Houston Chapter of the American Red Cross. As a board member of the latter, I know that donations made to national go to hurricane relief in general, not necessarily to Galveston (which badly needs it) or to Southeast Texas and Louisiana."

The Red Cross delivering hot meals and cold water with a smile and a word of encouragement to my street and neighborhood on Monday, September 29th:

IMG_5476-1.jpg picture by hediisike