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The People News, a free newspaper serving Cleveland Tennessee (TN) and Bradley County Tennessee (Tn).
Of Bradley County Tn.
JUNE 2004
The People News, a free newspaper serving Cleveland and Bradley County Tn.
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by Toneeke Henderson
Editor's note: You will see some strangle looking words in this article, they are not typos but intended by the writer to convey her feelings to the viewer. Regular readers of Toneeke's work will not be surprised at her unusual style of writing.
In the year 2000 a young lady came in my shoppe to relax and chat awhile. Her name is Amanda Evans. Her life really was a bit turmoiled at the time with a failing marriage and unsurities beyond her perimeters. She was a bit clammy looking showing indications of possible health problems. She visited several times and as she did I got to know her even more. We talked about
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her issues and how to handle them. She didn't come in for a while and soon I found out why. She'd had a heart attack and she was barely 26.
By-pass surgery was what saved her life and the little things we call miracles. Amanda had graduated in the class of 92 from Cleveland High School. You may remember her, she was quite a talker as she put it. Amanda is now 29. She is a beautiful young woman who's eyes light up when she talks. It has been nearly six months or more since I have seen her. In the door she walks. She looks radiant, life full of energy and had dropped a few pounds as well. I thought now she is ready to rule the world.
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Amanda began to explain why she hadn't been in, seems like the world is trying to rule her. She had been at Vanderbilt with multiple medical problems. Her legs were purple from a stint they had used to see that her heart was again clogged up, pumping at a 20% rate. She is now at the point of
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congestive heart failure. Unfortunately they do not know if they will operate, one of the reasons being is her liver only has about six months before it quits working at all.
The second issue here is that she has TennCare and it just wasn't letting her get any decisions from anyone to operate. No one wants to give the go ahead. What value do they place on a life... really what is it? If they decide to do the surgery then she can be placed on the organ donation list. If they do surgery they will have to do a heart and liver transplant both in the same operation. That will also make it Vanderbilt's first heart/liver transplant, so I am told.
Amanda has a calm beautiful spirit that is no longer afraid. She has come to that term from her soul and the beauty she has within her. That is a very scary place to be, out in the middle of life with no surety of tomarrow, no decision of what will be in the following months. Amanda simply said "who cares if my surgery doesn't work in the long run, just give me that chance so maybe I can make it through one more miracle."
Amanda went on to say "I feel like I am the "catch 22." No one can make any
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decisions what to do until everyone else decides what someone or no one should or shouldn't do."
Amanda goes back to Vanderbilt in July, by then her liver will only have 4 months left according to the doctors. I must say again what a strong and wonderful young lady Amanda is to carry such a strong spirit with her and have such a moving peace about her soul.
I asked Amanda who she could remember the most from school and she said her teacher "Mrs. Reiser" she was her literature teacher and inspired Amanda to write. Amanda has published a few poems and wondered if that special teacher ever knew how inspiring she was to that talkative and expressive young girl. If she didn't maybe she will now.
You know every time Amanda has been to my shoppe she has always thought of someone else before herself. Even this trip it was for her sister's birthday.
Amanda reminds me of a box of raisins, sweet lemonade, a field of daisies and an ocean wave.
There is an Amanda Evan's Transplant Fund set up at AMSOUTH bank. If you are so inspired to help with fund raisers or anything that would encourage the gift of life.
In summing this one up, I want to say that we are all given a life to have and to hold, to share and grow old.... or at least to have that chance to. You can take a grape and make a raisin that is just as sweet, lemonade is good even without ice, daisies are beautiful and the sign of innocence, the ocean waves are refreshing for the soul. I share my prayers for all those who become like Amanda and perhaps may get that chance to be called a miracle.
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