We Are So Blessed

Five Women, Blessed By Life and Its Gifts, Japan, Oct. 2009

Our week began with celebrating the January birthday of our twin friends, Ana and Isa. We were treated to a traditional Japanese new year dinner made by them. It was fun and delicious. It was also Anna's first evening outing. And even more importantly, it was the first time after getting out of the hospital that Anna and Ana and Isa did not have to be concerned about CF cross infection issues amongst each other as there were no infected CF lungs in the room that could pollute the party atmosphere. This is a very monumental shift for them and their friendships.

Our gathering was a celebration of the miracle of becoming 39 years old for Ana and Isa and the miracle of new life and a new year for Anna and our family. In the photo above I am in Japan with Ana and Isa and two other CF moms, Rumiko and Mrs. Adachi. Sadly, Rumiko's daughter was unable to receive the blessing of transplant before she passed away from CF. Rumiko celebrates the miracle of her daughter's life everyday and is involved in the CF community in Japan carrying the beauty of her daughter with her as she reaches out to others. Sitting in front of me in the photo is Akihiro's mother who on Christmas Day, 2010 was the first CF patient to receive a double lung transplant in Japan. The Adachi family is experiencing this miracle now and we send our love and prayers for continued healing.

At the party we learned more about the completion of the the film, The Power of Two. (A powerful and excellent documentary about Ana and Isa as double lung recipients, organ donation, Japan's cultural issues about transplant and the miracle of transplant). Ana and Isa just returned from a private showing for the music artists whose songs are in the film. Most of the artists did not know anything about the film prior to the showing. The feedback was very, very positive. It was considered engaging, moving and informative. Anna Modlin was considered a central figure in the film as she is shown pre transplant suffering from her lung disease waiting for her miracle gift. Everyone wanted to know how she is doing and they want her to travel with the film as it goes to film festivals. Time will tell if she will be able to do so.

I wish I could say, it will be opening on a certain date and time to direct everyone to see it but we must wait for film festivals and other opportunities to open up for its debut. But, please watch for it in the next year. At the private showing two artists performed songs that are in the film. One is by Sara Melson. We were emailed this song while Anna was in the hospital. We had heard it once before when we saw a preliminary viewing of the movie but did not remember it all. It is an amazing song that is tied to Anna's appearance in the film. When we could really listen to the words we realized it sounded as though it was written just for her. We had deep cathartic cries while the IV's beeped, the nurse interrupted and the hospital thing kept going on. We could feel it coming...... She is so honored to be able to associate her story to this song. I have included a link to the song for you to hear and see the music video. Click on this link.

Sara Melson, Feel It Coming

To learn more about the movie, if you have not seen this before, here is a link to the current trailer for the movie.

The Power of Two Movie Trailer

We are so lucky and so blessed by life's gifts........... Isn't it all so amazing?

Happy Birthday Ana and Isa and again, Happy New Year Everyone!