Near the end (Layoff). Part I

  Yesterday, I interviewed for the permanent position that I have been working at for the last 9 months in a temporary capacity. Thought this would be a good time to do an overview of the journey that I have been through to this time.

I may be near the end of this part of the journey; a journey that started almost 2 years ago, when after 23 years of very dedicated service, I received the 60-day Warn notice from Boeing. I had no pre-warning that I understood. It was a shock to my system to say the least.

In ways, I was a by-product of the Great Recession, the worst recession since the Great Depression of the 1930’s, this one brought on my greed in banking and finance communities just like that one.

More Learning

When in the OSR Masters program, I learned about Punctuated Equilibrium points.  These are points or milestones in a system where change becomes chaotic and it is no longer possible to predict what will emerge from a system.  At these points, small inputs can have enormous effects in the final outcomes. 

As a system passes through a punctuated equilibrium point,  the foundation of the system—the parts of the system that keep it stable and unchanging—are loosened.  In human systems, I believe this means that changes can be introduced that would normal seem impossible, but which can seemingly be accomplished with relative ease.

Think of people that have gone through near death experiences, some make whole scale changes in their lifestyles and never look back.  After having a Heart attack many people stop smoking after years and years of feeble attempts.  Other people don’t change at all.  They somehow have a belief that the way it was is the only way it can be and this belief informs their choices going forward.  Many people knowing that smoking will kill them, smoke through heart attacks and lung cancer up until the bitter end or until the explosive oxygen they are using to breath precludes them from smoking—else they blow themselves up.

It is almost like the normal laws of cause and effect don’t apply as we go through these punctuated points. 

Day 262 - Transition - Taking Stock

It is the beginning of the year.  For many years I have spent January reflecting on what has happened in the last year and what, if anything needs to change in my goals and behaviors going forward.  It is a time of taking stock and deciding what to focus on in the coming year.

I can’t believe this transition phase in my career has lasted as long as it has.  I was easily prepared to last 6 months, figuring that I would be able to find something in that time.  Even as I was planning this, I was hearing that the average time to find a job was taking 8 months.  Now I’m moving past this mark and not feeling good about it.

In order to last 6 months or more I decided to set my priorities as the following:

Trisha Liver Transplant Support Fund - II

          Trisha and Mark

The Share Life Fund is growing.  Bracelets are now being sold by many people, a local radio station in Billings and a booth will be set up at the Big Sky Gift Show.  Jenny, my niece indicated that they have sold over a hundred bracelets.  I asked that they add these numbers to the chip in gadget so that we can see the change.

We, as her family and friends, have started a benefit account called Share Life! at First Interstate Bank in Billings, MT. Our goal is to raise funds to help Trisha and her live donor with expenses through these coming months. We are estimating a need of at least $15,000 to pay for the immediate necessities for the donor to give this unbelievable gift of life to Trisha. We feel that this magnitude of generosity and unselfish giving should not have a consequence of any financial burden. These costs include 1. Travel expenses for the Donor and Caregivers, 2. Living expenses for Trisha, her husband Mark, and her Donor, including food and lodging 3. Medical supplies and medications not covered by insurance. 

 

Thank You!

Thank you for all those that have already given.  If you would like to give their are two ways.  First is by using a credit card or PayPal with the ChipIn! Gadget below.  The other way  is through purchasing Bracelets.   Just let me know if you would like to purchase or sell bracelets (My Email)  We are also open to other good ideas. 

A Facebook Fan page is now available to join at Share Life Face Book Page.  Please let others know.  

Also have created a Chip In Site.  This gadget can be copied to other websites and blogs.

In Trisha’s Words:

Here is a short video of Trisha, my beautiful niece:

 

Thank you for all those that have already given.  If you would like to give their are two ways.  First is by using a credit card or PayPal with the ChipIn! Gadget below.  The other way  is through purchasing Bracelets.   Just let me know if you would like to purchase or sell bracelets (My Email)  We are also open to other good ideas.

 

 

 

Your gift is deeply appreciated.  Thank You!

 

More information on Trisha

Trisha Wilson is a 27 year old native of Montana.  When Trisha was 9 years old, she was diagnosed with Auto-Immune Disease of the Liver.   At age 14, she was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis, a disease of the large intestine (Colon).

Over the years, both diseases have progressed, leading to her placement on the Liver Transplant List at the age of 18 years.· Because of the progressive worsening of her conditions, and the severe complications the diseases have caused, Trisha and her husband, Mark, left Billings to pursue appropriate care. They moved to Phoenix, Arizona with a "leap of faith" to receive treatment at the Mayo Clinic Hospital.

The Ulcerative Colitis has progressed so severely that Trisha was scheduled to have Colon Removal Surgery (colectomy) on August 25th, 2010, as drug treatment options were exhausted and were unable to control the disease any longer.

In preparation for this surgery, it was determined that the surgery was not possible without first removing her Spleen as it is so enlarged (at least 6 times the normal size) that it is intruding on her stomach and is blocking access to the Colon. However, the spleen is so enlarged because it has been doing the work of the liver for a long time; by removing the Spleen she runs the risk of having severe Liver problems. Therefore, to remove the Colon she must have her spleen removed, and to do that she must have a Liver transplant. Most of her "issues" are due to the progression of her liver disease which has created extreme negative effects on her surrounding organs and major vein structures. As a result of these effects her body has developed a growth of new veins off of the Spleen that also must be removed. Doctors referred to these massive new vein growths that have grown as a virtual " mine field" for the surgeon. Finally, after healing from the liver transplant and spleen removal surgery, she will then have to have her large intestine (Colon) removed, as it is toxic and presents great danger to the rest of her body.

Unfortunately (and fortunately), Trisha is not eligible for a liver from a cadaver because her MELD scores are not high enough (she is at an 11 and most patients don't have a liver transplant until they are around a 20), as set forth by the governing authorities for organ placement in 2002. It is her extenuating circumstances that lead her to the need of the Liver transplant. Therefore, her only option is to receive a partial liver transplant from a living donor; someone who is willing to donate part of their liver, has Type B blood, is physically able to go through the surgery, and passes all the required tests to donate. The live donor will give part of the right lobe of their liver to Trisha. Trisha's body will then continue to grow her liver off of the donor's piece and the donor will regrow their liver to full capacity within 4 weeks time. Truly an amazing gift!

The costs for a live donor transplant are very high, and while Trisha and her husband do have health insurance, there are many costs that aren't covered by insurance.

We, as her family and friends, have started a benefit account called Share Life! at First Interstate Bank in Billings, MT. Our goal is to raise funds to help Trisha and her live donor with expenses through these coming months. We are estimating a need of at least $15,000 to pay for the immediate necessities for the donor to give this unbelievable gift of life to Trisha. We feel that this magnitude of generosity and unselfish giving should not have a consequence of any financial burden. These costs include 1. Travel expenses for the Donor and Caregivers, 2. Living expenses for Trisha, her husband Mark, and her Donor, including food and lodging 3. Medical supplies and medications not covered by insurance.

- Our long term goal is to help bring awareness to live donations and the need to "Share" with those who's medical problems can be helped in this way. We also intend to help support the "Transplant House" in Scottsdale, Arizona, where many transplant patients stay to heal after their surgery.If you are touched by Trisha's story, and would like to help her through contributing funds or spreading her story to others, please share this link.