Ana and Isa’s blog

Dear Friends,
It is time for another update on our lives. Thank you for your ongoing interest.

After a week of staying at home while my immune system recovered from heavy duty steroids, Ana and I went to a CF education day at California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco on Saturday the 23rd. It was truly a trip down memory lane. We met Dr. Hardy, whom we hadn’t seen in nearly 15 years! We also saw a favorite nurse from LA Children’s Hospital, DJ, whose support group we used to attend as teenagers. DJ and Ana and I remembered a few precious friends who are long gone. I appreciated my new friend Rich coming to see us speak, and our connection is amazing. Ana and I spoke to a handful of families, and enjoyed to see two young teens meet and learn more about CF. Truly life is repeating; there are others fulfilling their lifestories now, learning, growing, becoming their own people while managing their CF.

Ana and I are privileged to both be healthy enough to have our first of three road trips the day after, on Sunday. We drove to Orange County; next week we head to Seattle, and we continue to plan our cross country book tour road trip in April-May!

The little Honda was packed to the rim for a 3 day road trip. The bickering has started already. On Sunday, after three hours of driving, we switched drivers, and an hour or so later, Ana yells, “Shit! The gas light is on!” We were on one of those remote areas of highway 5, and the accusations started: “You should’ve told me the gas was low!” “You’re the driver! It’s your responsibility to notice the gas level!” “You are too focused on talking on the phone!” “We should’ve gotten gas earlier!”

Then we burst out laughing.

This was 400 miles. What will 6000 miles be like?!?

Thankfully, after a few detours we found a gas station just in time.

Along the ride, Ana and I spoke to a few long lost friends. I called Denise, my former CF camp counselor, to invite her to our reunion. She couldn’t make it but we reveled in how long it has been. Denise was my age when she was a counselor for “The Famingos”, my cabin. She was thrilled to hear that we had made it, and I hope we can stay connected. Ana also learned that her camper from CF camp’s (who died in 2001) mother was engaged to a man who works with a friend, and learned about the book. Ana called this mother to reminisce about this camper. What miracles!

Six hours later, Ana and I spent an hour at home, visiting with Dad briefly. Dad happily reported about his jury duty experience last week. It was the first time he served on the jury, and he spoke with energy and enthusiasm that only a recently naturalized citizen could have! Meanwhile, my Mama was also called to jury duty and was just as passionate. “I hope they call me! I hope they call me!” she kept telling us. Oh, the pride of being American!

Then we head to Seal Beach for a precious “Cystic Fibrosis Summer Camp reunion”. We reconnected with some of the 50/60 year old-plus men who created and sustained our Heaven on earth when we were kids. Since 1968 or so, CF camp was the most sacred place to celebrate friendship, freedom, and life, and cultivate depth, trust, hope, and love while sharing a tragic illness. We saw a few friends we hadn’t seen since the camp closed in 1995. Our book has allowed us all to make that extra effort to reach out. We spent 5 hours eating and laughing and drinking beers, reminiscing about the old camp days and all the friends who came and went. It seems that 90% of those kids and young people, as far as we know, have died. There are so few survivors and I don’t know why we are so lucky. But I think our friends were happy to see us alive and well, along with Denise, who is 11 years post -transplant. These guys worked their butts off for 30 years to raise funds for camp and prepare to offer a free week of respite from disease that these kids so desperately needed. They spoke of the old CF- where kids died so young, when they suffered immensely from chronic diarrhea and coughing, when we didn’t know a thing about cross infection but only knew camp was the most healing environment these kids would ever get. Besides all the interesting characters who walked through that camp, we laughed about the ‘death hike’ and the skits and the behind the scenes insanity that would be impossible in today’s legal world. Most of all, we remembered my hero and role model Bob Flanagan, for who he was, not what he did. These friends talked about how, for many of these kids, CF was only one challenge in their lives, but they faced so many other social and personal problems. The one consistency in their lives was the loving care and dedication of the CF camp staff. These men gave blood, sweat, tears, and pure and utter exhaustion year after year to make sure the CF kids had one joyful week in their lives to live for. That night, my heart expanded to a whole new level as I finally realized how these men exhibited an immensely godly level of love for these kids. They made a difference. And we’re still here to tell them that. And we shared that with the world through our book.

The next day, we joyfully hung out with our cousin Britta’s inlaws, the Hirsches, in Seal Beach. We shared so many compatibilities and enjoyed the conversation so much, I felt like I was talking to lifelong friends! I took a jog to the beach, and struggled with my muscle weakness, but sprinted along the water! The air felt fresh, even in Long Beach. We shared a meal together and prepared for a book club gathering in the evening. Mrs. Hirsch has been a member of her book club for 20 years, and about 15 people came, most of whom had read the book. I was especially grateful that my other cousin Julia and my friends Sally and Ethan joined the event as well. I felt so grateful for the Hirsch’s hospitality, openness and generosity to host this event.

Ana and I spoke for about 25 minutes and then opened up the gathering to questions. Although I am getting very tired of talking about myself and my disease and my transplant and my life, I appreciated everyone’s interest and sincere questions about CF and transplantation, which is the reason we wrote the book- to educate! People also seemed interested in the characters in our book, and the family dynamics. Ana and I tried to split the discussion and talk as naturally as possible, which is always a challenge, but the comfort of the group made it easier. All of the friends were so loving and supportive, and seemed to genuinely like the book. I love how some people feel more comfortable talking about their health issues or family problems because our honesty in the book has given them permission to do so.

Late at night we drove to our parents’ home in Pacific Palisades to sleep. We woke early to spend some time with Mama before she rushed off to jury duty, and Dad to work. We shared the events of the weekend happily. Then Ana and I packed up and drove back north, passing green hills and fields, and the peach, plum, almond orchards of the Central Valley just started to burst with blossoms. The sky was blue and the sun was shining, we had plenty of gas in the car and we felt so uplifted by the love we had been part of with these very special people in our lives. How fortunate!

We truly recognize that the greatest gift of this book has been reconnecting us to all sorts of people from each day of our lives, creating a reason to reunite. We are all the same people as we were back in 1983 and 1990 and 1995 but just our outsides have changed, and now we have courage to talk to each other at a different maturity level. I feel we all have a deeper awareness of life that allows us to relate more authentically, without fear of judgment. It feels to great to grow older, and to learn where people have been in their ‘memoir’.

Ana and I drove home and went straight to the pool to swim. We swam together for the first time in over 13 months. It was amazing! Ana is just slightly slower than me, and I am blown away by the miracle of her recovery. It also means I have to train like hell because I have serious competition now. She coached me on butterfly and managed to swim 10 laps without stopping just shortly under my time. Amazing! What a celebration. I thank God, her donor, and the spirit of Ana!

I wish you all a beautiful week. Please take care and thank you again for all your support for our book, our blog, and our lives. May this spark an interest in you to reconnect with someone you miss… Yahoo People Search does wonders!

Isa

Dear friends,

Though Ana gave this a mention, I wanted to write a belated entry to thank everyone who supported our book signings in the last 2 weeks! We had a signing in Pacific Palisades, our hometown in Los Angeles, on January 3rd, and in Oakland, as a fundraiser for California Transplant Donor Network on January 7.  We also had a book gathering at our friends’ home, the Wagners.

The Palisades book signing at Village Books was absolutely PHENOMENAL. I kept thinking, Why are we so blessed?!?!!

The first person who came early, I recognized right away from CF camp. She was a “pink lady” - the older girls cabin- and I thought they all died out. But she is 11 years post-transplant!!! Wow, what hope. She had driven all the way from San Diego just to attend! We reconnected and will meet up at the end of the month! I am sure she has stories to share. It delighted me to know that the guy she met at a bar back in 1993 or so, whom we met, ended up being her husband of 14 years! What a keeper!

Then it just got better and better. My math teacher and his wife came, in a tshirt and sweatshirt that I had painted for them back in high school. So did my Spanish teacher who bought over 10 books! Another couple came bearing a humiliating prom picture with Josh and their son Steve, who rode our limo with us with his date. A girl named Leah from our 8th birthday party came, whom we hadn’t seen in 28 years was there, all grown up. Our old doctor came from the CF Center in L.A. came all the way from the Valley.  Our friends’ parents attended, and friends of friends came to support us.  A few neighbors attended. A USC CF nurse came and cried the entire time. The Palisades local newspaper advertised so there were a few random people with CF connections that we didn’t know. At least 3 CF parents attended. One brother of a deceased sister attended and was in tears. We established a great connection.  He is good friends of Boomer Esiaison and is working on a CF Realty Program to donate funds to CF. Tons of my parents’ friends came, people I didn’t recognize but who were sooooo supportive anyway. The room was packed with standing room only. Even the camera crew from U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, lead by our newest dear friend Donald Coleman who is making a film on minority organ donation, could barely fit, but taped the entire event. The door was left open and people were piling outside, including my parents who gave up space so others could hear us inside. My mom prepared appetizers and wine so people mingled outside until 9:30pm. Some friends bought multiple books, which is really expensive! We ended up selling 74 books (they stocked 80)!

I was so pleased to see so many people from my past.

My dad was a great sport because we read a passage that sort of put him on the spot. But then we shared our gratitude for how emotionally mature my parents are about our book and my mom’s famous slogan, “We are too old to care what people think anymore!”

The next day a major storm hit and we felt so lucky it was pleasant that evening to have some mingling outside.

Two days later, we gathered at Marlene Wagner’s Century City home for an intimate book gathering with her closest friends and colleagues, as well as those of my best friend Josh. People listened to our long and relaxed talk about the why and how of our book writing process. Many of the attendees were social workers from USC so our talk catered to that crowd. We sold 23 books and then drove straight home to Northern California. Thank you Josh and Marlene!

Two days after that, Ana and I had our grand finale, the Jack London Square Barnes and Noble book signing and fundraiser for California Transplant Donor Network.  It was a dark and cold night, and we worried that many people would not come. Close to the start time of 7PM, barely anyone was there. Fortunately, the queen of CTDN Cathy Olmo was there to lead the show. By 7:15 or 7:30, we were amazed to see our friends from all parts of our lives: our elementary school friends Rachel and Mieke who moved up to the Bay Area, our CF Retreat friends, our Transplant Games friends, our precious lung transplant friends Lara, Joyce and Nahara, our college friend Rosa who had just given birth two weeks earlier, CTDN staff, Andrew’s friend Stephen, a new friend we met once at a Bill Clinton fundraiser, whom we supported for her South African mission trip, a UC Berkeley Social Welfare instructor and another professor from Ana’s genetic counseling program, and a whole host of Kaiser Genetic Counselor friends of Ana’s. Oh, the list goes on…Sorry if I missed you. Even Allison who couldn’t make it bought 9 books and had the store ship them to her home. What support!  The greatest joy for me was to see the enthusiasm of the BN Community Relations Manager Barbara T., who greeted us with a smile, made PA announcements so several stragglers in the store joined. She was so supportive of our story and truly cared. She introduced us, and sat down in the audience to listen to our speech. She bought a book too and two days later, wrote “As I am reading your email, I can’t stop my tears! I took the day off work today just so I can finish reading your extraordinary book! … For the past eight years, I have hosted many events, but your event will be my most unforgettable event yet. You and your family are truly special beings.” Look who’s talking, Barbara! 

Then she wrote, “I love everything about your book…it’s just brilliant! One minute I’m laughing out loud and the next minute I’m sobbing…You two have a wicked sense of humor…and I love it! You two have touched my life in a very deep way, and I want to thank you for sharing your story…I’m sure your story will touch millions more, too. I am also placing your book on our “Staff Recommends” shelf!

I have been blown away by her support. This is the first person outside of anyone we have known through our CF/transplant/family/friends connections that has been touched by our book…. and this is someone who reads constantly and works in a store with 85,000 books on the shelf! The best gift from Barbara came several days later when she wrote, “After reading/finishing your book, I will never, ever, take a single breath for granted again. Your story is so amazing and I found a couple of extraordinary things about your story. You see, I’m also an ordained minister, based on the teachings of A Course in Miracles, and your story, for me, just reinforced two of the most important teachings:          

Dear Friends,
Thank you for your support of our book and our blog! A week has passed since our busy book signings, and Ana and I continue to revel in the joy of being knee deep in book matters. We are so grateful for kind words, enthusiastic reviews, and many more emails than what we can respond to about our book activities. We appreciate people who are keeping their eyes and ears open for special opportunities for this story. Ana and I volunteered for CTDN this week, which was wonderful. We have also been busy with Heroes of Hope, Rose Parade preparations, doctor’s visits, planning a political fundraiser for Larry Byrnes, baby showers… Life goes on. Just in this week, our friends have graduated, had babies, and experienced other life changes. How grateful we have the energy to be part of the activity around us.

The greatest event this week was going to the track with Ana and our dear friend Lara (double lung transplant 1.5 years ago). We practiced 100m sprints! What a celebration to see Ana run! And to see Lara beat both of us (despite having her muscles give way on her 2nd sprint- we had to all laugh at how our minds and lungs are sometimes stronger than our muscles!). Well, we are already practicing for 4 x 100m women’s relay run at the 2008 Transplant Games in Pittsburg on July 11-18, 2008! Needless to say, we were all extremely sore and I could hardly get up and down from a chair for a few days. I sure have some muscle-building to do!

It is countdown time for the holidays, which just adds to our busy-ness. I put the germ free fake Christmas tree up and covered it with ornaments we’ve collected from our travels. I went to a fabulous concert featuring Ed Kinney, and attended my first holiday party with my pipers, and baked 4 dozen cookies for that. Tomorrow we attend 2 more holiday parties. My parents visited briefly and we had a meal together, and took a family portrait together. How wonderful to still be a family of 5 (plus Andrew!), which would never have been the case without her 2nd lung transplant. We have so much to celebrate- my parents’ 40th, our book, Ana’s transplant, Andrew’s and my upcoming 10 year anniversary, and so much more. I can’t believe I’m growing old with Andrew.

Our book has almost sold out the first print run and another run is planned! This is so exciting for us! Thank you for all your support and love.

I wish you all some calmness and relaxation at least a few minutes a day. I need to heed this advice. So now, I stop, take a deep slow breath, exhale, and say ahhhhhhh.
Stay warm and feel our love for you as you read this.
Best wishes, Isa

Dear friends,

Thank you for keeping posted about our book signings. Last night was a dark and stormy night, but still a very dedicated group of friends attended our book signing at the awkwardly-located Stanford Bookstore.  Oh, how many times I remember between 1990-1994 being breathless walking up the store with my arms full of textbooks!  Who would have imagined that we’d be here, breathing easily, in 2007, signing our books! We were nearly out of seats, with over 50 in attendance! I truly appreciate many of you who came. Again through the faces in the audience I had a glimpse of my past: my Stanford taiko friend, friends from the Disability Resource Center, my freshman dormmate, my favorite professor, Andrew’s political and work friends, and representatives from various student associations.  What a blessing to be remembered after all these years! I loved to see my ‘repeat offenders’- those who have already come to a signing, and just came again to hear us speak and buy more books! Ana was thrilled to see practically the entire genetic counseling department!!! The greatest gift was the arrival of Catherine C., the Director of the state newborn screening for CF, who came all the way from Sacramento with her colleagues to truly support our efforts with her smiles and enthusiasm.  Ana’s genetics connections shined!

We were thrilled to sell 67 books despite the fact that Stanford Bookstore only had 20 in stock! Thankfully with emergency overnight delivery, we brought ample supply- learned from Tuesday night! Each of these opportunities offers a chance to learn about ways to improve our approach.

Now that this busy week is over, we can take a deep breathe and sigh with some relief. Ahhh! But right now, I started to plan our next events. Talk about shameless self-promotion. That is the nature of the beast.  If any of you have ideas for book signings, please let me know!

We actually needed respite from book talk and book thought so Ana and I went on a 7 mile hike (1900′ incline), the last hour in the dark… What an incredible unreal experience!

With the holidays approaching, I do want to slow down and reflect on our gifts this year. This frenzy is part of them, and having the energy to do all of this book publicity has been the greatest gift of all.

Today, I was practicing my bagpipes in the local park, playing Amazing Grace in the icy wind. (I have a final concert at Broadmoor Presbyterian Church (Daly City) at 3pm on Saturday 12/8.)  An old frail man passed me, stopped, and said “Not yet. Don’t need that now. Not underground yet.” Ha! He had no idea how much I could relate to his words!

Our publisher reported that we’ve sold 1134 books so far. Today is the one month mark of it’s release! Hooray and thank you goes to YOU for your support! I hope for a second printing and third and fourth…. etc. Might as well dream!

Now for the big news, discovered this evening: We are in PEOPLE Magazine! The December 17 issue (exactly 17 years after Karen’s death … read the book) with the perfect babe Jennifer Love Hewitt in a bikini, which doesn’t hurt! Of the thousands of books released this month, it is such an honor to receive a three-star review!!! I was pleased with the wording, not too melodramatic or cheesy. 

Have a wonderful holiday, everyone. Thank you for your ongoing support and blessings. Take care, Isa

Dear friends,

I just wanted to thank everyone who attended our very first bookstore book signing event at Books, Inc. in Mountain View. How can I possibly share how you made us feel tonight?

I left the evening with a grand Oh my God, Oh my God feeling!!! The event was a great success thanks to the support of nearly 100 friends from all parts of our lives!! There was standing room only, and to my great disappointment, the bookstore sold out of books before we even began speaking at 7:30! We are very sorry for the poor planning. I am sure people were disappointed if they went home empty-handed, after coming all the way in the rain, some from as far as San Francisco, others following a long day at work, and some even coming straight from the airport! 

I think back to my prophesy before my transplant (see Chapter 33: The Miracle), when I kept saying over and over “There’s going to be a miracle.” Well, my friends, my transplant was one big miracle, Ana standing next to me tonight looking so healthy was, of course, another major miracle, but tonight was another miracle!  To publish our book AND have so many people who care about our little story was simply indescribable, even for an author.

People from every walk of life were at this event: my childhood friend Naomi and her mom Akie (who are in the book), my long lost Stanford friends, my nurses and respiratory therapists from Stanford Hospital, countless parents  from the CFRI community (including those who’ve lost their kids- how brave to come!), CFRI staff, volunteers, even famous Rich D., a USACFA Board member, a nurse from the ICU, friends from my former writing group, Jazzercise friends, my former therapist, my political friends, Andrew’s massage therapist, work colleagues, my transplant friends, and brand new neighbor friends! This was like a beautiful dream. Someone said “This is like your wedding!” and someone else said “This is like the [CFRI] conference!” There was so much love in the room, I thought I’d explode.  So many people to talk to but so little time as Ana kept yelling ”Hurry!” in Spanish, as we scribbled illegibly in books. We kept people waiting in line for a long time. We appreciate everyones” patience while I had a chance to write brief but heartfelt sentiments in each book (you know I could’ve written so much more!)

 The most meaningful visitor tonight was from Jon R., whose face and name we did not recognize. He introduced us as a former employee in the Dean of Admissions’ office at Stanford. He said that back in 1990 he read Ana’s and my application for admission to Stanford, and he chose to admit us both. Some days ago he was browsing through the bookstore and found our book, and somehow recognized our names and CF story. He opened the book up and read the Stanford section. If you read the book, you’ll know how we felt during our Stanford years about being students there. Tonight he told us, “You were meant to be Stanford students.” Wow. 

In short, we sold 60 copies and 10% of all sales at the store between 7:30-9:30PM will go to CFRI. How wonderful.

We are basking in the joy of what God is allowing us to do. It is humbling. It is amazing. It is love.

Yet, I must mention that today, a long lost friend called in tears because she is end-stage with CF and was in despair for a transplant. This reminds me that our story is not only about us, but it describes the lives of so many we know, who cannot write right now. The trials and tribulations with our CF really represent what is still happening to many people with CF. Life repeats. I define true success of this book as giving hope to these people walking in our footsteps after us.

We are debriefing to prepare for our next signing at Stanford Bookstore on Thursday.  If you are local and already have your own copy of the book, just bring it from home if you’d like us to sign it.

Speaking of Stanford, I am so pleased Stanford won Big Game! I cheered as loud as Camp Isa did (see page 274). Another miracle!

Thank you for your interest in our story and we wish you pleasant reading.

Best wishes, Isa

Dear Friends,
Thank you for your continued interest in this blog!

We are happy to report that our book, “The Power of Two: A Twin Triumph over Cystic Fibrosis” has been out for one week! Our labor of love for the last 4 years is finally a material product, open to the world to see and judge. Whew. Deep breath.

This Saturday, I went to Houston, Texas for their CF Education Day, thanks to the magic hands of my dear friend Beth Sufian. The very generous parents of Charise Wessel donated books to all the families who attended. I was quite nervous to finally have this book in the hands of the “general public.” I enjoyed to give a talk about therapeutic writing, and I feel so thankful when people are interested in what I have to say. I loved seeing the parents of Hayley, a young woman who died whom we wrote about in the book. Talking about her made her seem like she was very present- a beautiful consequence of writing about people we’ve lost. After the talk, I gave my first book signing. My hands were so nervous, at first I forgot how to write my own name. I also wanted to write something sincere and original in each book, which on the spot made me freeze. Thank you to everyone at Texas Med Center for making this possible

On Sunday, Ana and I gave the message at our church, First Congregational Church of Redwood City. It was National Donor Sabbath and across the nation people honored the organ donors who have given life to people like Ana and me. I had a chance to play Amazing Grace on my bagpipe. I was so nervous! Then afterwards, we had another book signing, and really appreciated many supporters who came just to purchase a signed book. Thank you to those who attended!

Last week, people who ordered our book from the University of Missouri Press received it promptly, and we mailed copies to a few people. The first copies went to our parents, who have to be the best parents in the world. They are so loving and emotionally stable, that they completely accept everything that is written in the book, recognizing that “Well, this was your perspective at the time.” Thank you Mama and Vater. My mom said she was speechless when she held the book in her hands. She was so grateful that even her father’s photo is memorialized in that book forever.

Also, the first copies went to our donor families.

We am very grateful for the select friends who received the book, and read it up until the wee hours of the night. We truly appreciate your kind words and validation for our efforts. Ana and I cannot convey the relief and incredible joy we feel when someone shares their reviews like these:
“This is the best CF book ever written.”
“Wow. What a powerful, moving, and “real” work!”
“Had to tell you how very much I enjoyed reading your most beautiful book. I feel I lived it with you.”
“I thought it was excellent. Congratulations! I believe it will appeal to a larger audience other than just CF.”

I appreciate when people say the book makes them laugh and cry. That was our intention: to share all range of emotions and experiences with our readers. We want people to empathize- feel with us- in our CF journey. We do not want sympathy- feeling sorry for- our CF experiences. They are what they are, and have left us with incredible opportunities.

I feel bad that the truth of CF which we convey so openly is shocking to some young parents. I want to promise that our struggles will not happen to their children, but there is no use promising that, except to reassure them that we were born in 1972 and so much has changed in CF medical management. Our intention with our story was never to hurt people or make them feel bad about what might happen to them or their children. The last thing we want is to create anxiety. But our writing about the hardest parts of CF (which are not necessarily a significant part of the book) are what they are. I hope readers can see that the struggles with CF happened while we were enjoying life goals like college, graduate school, relationships, travel and other life-fulfilling activities. Other parents who have lost their children share how this brings it all back, to the point where one mom woke up and thought it was time to give chest physical therapy to her kids who are long since gone.

Well, I just wanted to share what this week has been like. Fortunately, Ana and I are both stable, although we are exercising a bit less than our usual obsessive levels. Nice to obsess over something else!

Our wish is to pace ourselves with the excitement of the book release, recognizing that Ana’s health is precarious only 4 months post transplant. But, man, what a great feeling to be both well enough to witness the release of our book. Thank GOD.

That being said, we are off to Sacramento now for a signing at Sutter’s CF Education Day. After that, we can settle down for a few weeks until our next signings in early December.
We hope you have all been healthy and enjoying life. If you read our book, I appreciate your support tremendously. Please feel free to post your genuine comments on this blog. We are very open to all feedback.

With love, Isa

Dear Friends,
I hope you are all well and have plans for a fantastic weekend.
I just wanted to share some great news: In my hands today, I held the very first advanced copy of our book, “The Power of Two: A Twin Triumph over Cystic Fibrosis”!
It’s real! It’s happening! The book is out! Dreams come true!
I was quite moved that 4 years of hard work has materialized into a real book! What a great honor that the world felt this story was worthy of publication. Really, though, it is the University of Missouri Press that believed in the story and has worked so hard to bring this story to the public. Exactly one year has passed since UMP accepted our book for publication. It took that long to produce a quality product.
I felt so patriotic, all of a sudden, that only in America, can a random person have goals, work towards them, and have them fulfilled, without regard to race, gender, or status. This is true freedom. God Bless this Country!
I am especially grateful that Ana has survived to see this goal realized. She was so eager to see it; I was running errands and she drove to meet me at Trader Joes, and I met her in the parking lot to hand over this sacred first book. I said, “This is why you held on! This was your goal!” and she corrected me, “No, I have other goals now.” What a breath of fresh air to hear her say that, no pun intended.
I want to thank everyone for all their encouragement and support to make this day possible. It is truly moving to think about how this book is a product of a ‘village’ and you are in it! Thank you.
First and foremost, though, Ana and I signed our first copy for the person who deserves it most: my loving husband Andrew Byrnes, our editor, cheerleader, late night support, even our financial assistant. He has sustained me emotionally and physically, to allow this dream to be realized.
We believe there are higher spiritual forces at work here to allow us to witness this moment, so our gratitude to a patient and fair God is beyond description. When Ana held the book for the first time, she exclaimed, “Praise the Lord!”
Amen.
The rest of our advanced copies will come next week. I believe bookstores should be stocking them in several weeks.
Thank you all for helping to make this dream come true! I can’t wait for people to read the book and get to know our dear friends who’ve shaped us, who are long since gone.
Hugs and love, Isa

Friends:

You can’t order the book yet online, but the University of Missouri Press Fall/Winter 2007 catalog is out and the online version has a really nice page on “The Power of Two,” Isa and Ana’s memoir. The “official” launch is still set for October 2007.
http://press.umsystem.edu/fall2007/stenzel.htm

The publication of Isa and Ana’s memoir has always been something really exciting, particularly for family, friends and the CF and transplant communities more generally, but it is even more so now with Ana’s miraculous second transplant and rebirth.

Andrew Byrnes
 

I just wanted to share that our book will be coming out in October 2007. The book jacket looks great and hopefully will entice readers. We are grateful to the Univ. of Missouri Press for all their hard work in preparing this book.

We are very excited and it has been quite an adventure to edit and create this life story.