Hello, I have some news to share with you.
This has been an extraordinary year for everyone in the world. There have been so many shocking and horrific events throughout and still. Some of you have had terrible hardships and some have been helpful and hopeful beyond words.
I left 2019 with an uncertain future and days to live at the eve of a new year and of an event that would change the world to be the challenge of all our lives.
I am here to share with you the extraordinary news that after the re-gifting of life through the work of hundreds of physicians and staff of Piedmont Hospital & Transplant Inst. and the kidney and liver of a generous and unknown donor’s family – I am in fantastic health. That family’s loss was given as a gift of LIFE and should be an example that directs all of us, an example so many reading have extended to me with such unexpected support. I am thankful.
The news though this year after a couple common problems, my 1 year checkup shows everything is working well, and I have gained most of what I need to get to the welcome work of my second life. The persistent issues are manageable and I have nothing to complain about.
I’ve been working with a friend to build a Drone Technologies educational company producing programming for private companies, online delivery and organizations like the FAA.
I’ve also been working to realize a dream that sparked around 2004 that has revealed itself through this transformation…that dream of experiencing life on the sea. My dream was to pile technology onto a boat and do what I like in a locale free of the distraction and noise of here.
I’ve come to understand reflecting on the past, I had lived to work. I was given good tools and opportunities from my parents. I also recognized good opportunities. I had accomplished and built great things with many great people. We grew many families and launched great careers through our work together. My creation however kept me bound to it, and not LIFE. I am proud of my first life and discovered that I’d like something more important, to simply Live. 5 Years ago I started this shift selling my home and hit the road with a concept “180sq/ft, My Journey to a Simpler & Sustainable Life”. This shift has served me well enough and I’m closer to my goal to sail into a new experience as soon as I can, not to sail away from anything or anyone but to sail into LIFE to simply LIVE.
What then makes a successful life? The quantification of success for me is not financial or how many ‘likes’ total up but success is to know you’ve LIVED, sometimes under your own power AND with the assistance of an invisible but REAL force. This sounds magical to me and just as I can teleport to this scene in my mind, it is real and I will live the extension of this experience soon enough. The parallel irony is not lost on me…if you ask the question I expect from these comments.
I Thank All of You. I Thank You for your words of support and concern, I thank you for a fleeting thought you may have of me, I thank you for your financial support to the medical fund that still provides me a medical safety net to flex when needed to overcome insurance failures. I THANK YOU FOR BEING KNOWN TO YOU AND FOR HAVING KNOWN YOU.
As a kid and through my life I’ve wanted to know how things work in totality. I’ve seen so many things and have disassembled and reassembled much in my life and of it to see people and things as they are. I appreciate all of you and your contribution to my LIFE.
This year has been challenging for some and tragic for some. I know you have all given this year as much as you have to give. You have shared hope with me. We must keep giving to our friends, families, and most of all we must continue to GIVE TO ALL THAT ARE UNKNOWN TO US. It’s with such magic and generosity of humanity that we will turn cynics of reality, strengthen our futures, and all enjoy the simple act of LIVING…these are the joys we create today to remember tomorrow.
I am glad to be able today to say through your help, kindness and guidance, through ‘the ride of my life’ I will see you when I see you-I will be happy when I do.
Thank you all. Be kind, be helpful, be happy, & LIVE FULLY.
Regards
dave2.0
ballard
P.S. I have come to understand the cost of LIFE in the manner I must live now. It is extraordinary. Now with a minimum of daily maintenance medication the list price of my persistence is in the thousands, EVERY MONTH. I have been fortunate to have Medicaid cover this for a period of time but it is a challenge to shore up financial resource for this ongoing.
I would ask any assistance you may wish to put to a good cause, I would ask you to continue to consider me in your thoughts and contribute to my Medical only fund at The Georgia Transplant Foundation.
To donate to my campaign, please goto:
http://client.gatransplant.org/goto/dballard
or mail checks to the: Georgia Transplant Foundation, 2201 Macy Drive, Roswell, GA 30076, and enter my name in the memo field of your check. For more information please contact the Transplant Fundraising Program at 1-866-428-9411 or 770-457-3796 or by visiting www.gatransplant.org. Thank you!
