People who have known me through the years knew that I was and had been a diabetic since the age of 13.  Yet those same people probably never realized how sick I really was or the gravity of the health issues that I have lived with from the age of 13.  I always tried to press on with life itself, it has always been my therapy.  The people around me have never fully appreciated my devotion and dedication to them and their horses. I take great pleasure in helping them learn about this wonderful animal that I have always surrounded myself with, and feel a great since of pride when they learn something and do well showing.  And at the same time feel immense pain and hurt when I am no longer appreciated. I was always taking students to shows and riding as much as I could.
      In September of 1998, I received the pancreas and kidney of an accident victim.  I was told nothing until the day I left the hospital and that the organs I received were donated by the family of a 17 year old female.  I was devastated, she was so young.  How did she die?  Who was this person, what was her name??  What in life was her passion??  I felt her family's tremendous grief. She was someone who had her whole life ahead of her but had died tragically.   The bravery of her family, through this sadness and sorrow they had so generously brought my family the happiness of  extending my life with my son and husband.   After six months of wondering who this individual was, how and what I could say to the family, how could I thank them enough,  What words could convey my immeasurable appreciation. I felt such a need of easing their grief as well as a sense of guilt that I had experienced so much of life already and their daughter's life was cut so short.  After 6 months of agonizing over this, I wrote a simple letter of thanks, because I could not delay any longer just to compose a noble letter.  As I read the letter,  I thought the words looked and sounded so trivial compared to the generosity and love they had shown, but it was very important to let them know that it was appreciated.  They were so ecstatic to know that their daughter's organs were precious to someone else.   I then found out the name of my donor, Mia Balentine, someone I did not know then, but who is now a very close part of my life.  I intend to devote this page to her memory.