This is one of those posts that has nothing to do with kitties, bunnies or chickens, but it’s my blog and I’ll play with it any way I want!  🙂  The occasion of visiting my sister, JoAnn in Ochsner’s Medical Center in New Orleans seemed a worthy topic.  Jo has been a type I diabetic for most of her life.  The toll this took on her poor bod required that she undergo a double transplant.  She was on the transplant list for almost a year when a donor became available about two weeks ago.  It was touch and go for a while, but it looks like she will recover and have a brand new life without dialysis, insulin and constant pain.  Her new kidney and pancreas are functioning well and for the first time in over 40 years she is living without insulin injections.

Hannah visits her beloved “Aunt Jo”.

Jo’s husband, Tim has not left her side since she’s been hospitalized.  She’s had many family visitors and some of my female cousins have driven my parents to see her several times.  (Thanks, Jeannie, Faye, Elizabeth & Vickie!)

Leaning over Jo’s bed for a rare family photo.

JoAnn is one tough cookie and I’m not sure any of us could have braved the rigors of transplant surgery as well as she.  We’re all ready for her to get well, get out of bed and get on with the business of being funny & feisty Aunt Jo.

Although our visit was for a serious reason, we took advantage of being in such a great city by having some fun.  Fun for our family always involves a good restaurant or two so we over-indulged as one is wont to do in the Big Easy.  On the morning of our return, I, however, was the only Burlingame to drag myself out of the hotel room for some breakfast and people watching at the Old Coffeepot Restaurant next to Pat O’Brien’s.  I had a book to keep me company and a great waitress who belted out a couple of songs for our dining entertainment.

Sing it sister!

I asked a tourist from NYC to take a picture of me being irritated that my family was too lazy to join me.

I think I got the “irritated” look down pat!

To add even more fun to our trip, I had arranged for Hannah’s BFF since 6th grade show up to surprise her.  Rachel lives in Lafayette, LA and teaches 6th grade history in a Catholic girls’ school.  She spent the night with us in our hotel room and dined with us at a few great restaurants.

Despite Rachel’s trim and athletic build, THE GIRL CAN PACK AWAY THE CHOW!  Sorry Rachel, you know it’s the truth.  🙂

Hannah is a cook here in Montgomery and works at two nice restaurants downtown.  During her visit to NOLA she decided to make it her goal to eventually move to New Orleans and cook in one of the top food cities in the world. I hope she makes it happen too.  It’ll be just one more excuse to travel to one of our favorite places.

A final thought…Jo’s organs came from a generous and thoughtful person who had a donor card in his wallet.  I wish we could thank his family for his act of kindness.  It’s a very easy matter to get a donor indicator on your driver’s license the next time you visit the DMV.  (Stepping off soap box now)  HAPPY FALL, Y’ALL!