Hello all. It’s me, Mark. I’m excited to finally get the chance to share my thoughts with everyone while Glo has kept you all up-to-date since the beginning of the year I thought that it was time for me to share my thoughts. While you know I will not be anywhere near her eloquence in writing. 
First I’d like to thank every single one of you that’s on this CaringBridge list and those that are not on this list for all the outpouring of gifts, calls, texts, food, snacks ,visits, cards, flowers and prayers. 
Without offending anybody, I want to name a couple people who had a large impact.  While of you were fantastic. I wanted to mention a couple of people that made everything happen. I got a visit from Dwight and Amy Jones and they delivered me the mini army statue of one of the soldiers on D-Day.  When the doctors and nurses came in, they assumed I was in the military. I would say “I was not in the military however I’m going to win the war“. Another visitor that made me very emotional was Pam (Parrish) Struxness. Pam visited me after losing her husband, Miles, and my great friend. Pam had been through a lot and for her to take the time to visit me was beyond words I felt bad that I was not able to attend any of the special gatherings for Miles so it made me feel good to see Pam, she’s a very special person. Miles taught me baseball but also taught me about life. After she left, I cried. Another person who had a large impact on my recovery was a gentleman who I am not going to name because he does not want to have the notoriety. He is my mentor and he had everything to do with saving my life and setting me up at the University of Washington hospital. He’s an amazing guy and he dropped everything for me and I will always be thankful for that. Also, my son Brooks was amazing.  Not only did he drop everything and fly to New Orleans (with Dave and Anna) he brightened my spirits.  He was pretty much by my side the whole time except when he had to work on his computer or when he was running the streets.  We watched basketball (on a 20 inch hospital TV) and even placed some bets because it is legal in Louisiana.  Inslee should take some notes.  Brooks changed my sheets and brought me ice chips. He even helped me with the colonoscopy prep.  He also held gauze on my neck for close to an hour when it would not stop bleeding. THAT is a real champ.  He never complained-even when he ordered a Po Boy and it turned out to be alligator. That's my boy. I am very proud of him.

If you will indulge me, I would like to tell you three things that I believe saved my life. 
Number one was the doctors and nurses and technicians and surgeons and administration at the University of Washington and at the hospital in New Orleans. I have found it getting a transplant is no easy thing and I wanted to make sure that I recognized everybody that helped me along the way Currently I’m feeling almost healed about 90% but I continue to do physical therapy and strengthening. At one point, the nurse That was supposed to be guarding my room in the ICU reminded me that there was a two visitor rule. At one point, she counted 11 people in my room she gave me a wink and a smile.
Number two, was the amount of prayers that I received and still continue to receive. I had prayers from all over the world, including California, Alabama, Oregon, Vietnam, Louisiana, Arizona, Tacoma and even the Philippines I believe very strongly in the power of prayer. Thank you all for your prayers. It made a huge difference and I felt them.
And finally, the number one reason why I’m alive today is my unbelievable wife, Gloriana. I can’t tell you how important she is in my life and that the many many many times she lifted me up when things were tough.  She took notes she understood everything and I counted on her for all of it, and I would not be here without her , you know she’s an amazing person. She fought for me with Insurance with doctors with nurses and I couldn’t do it myself so she stepped in and she made everything happen. She was not gonna take no for an answer. While most of you know her already those that did not know her know her now. She is an angel and she is my ANGEL. Everybody needs a Gloriana in their life, but you can’t have her :-). Now it is time for me to take care of her as she lost a lot of her life takeing care of me. I love you, babe.

Do not forget the power of prayer. I love you all. 
Mark