Greetings, friends!

Yes, I know it’s been a long time since I’ve written here, but I hope by now you know that I received a life-saving liver transplant on June 2, 2015. Additionally, I have been cured of hep C, though not until after the transplant.

Currently, my health is so good that my hepatologist and I spend our twice-a-year checkups catching up on personal things, after having a laugh at how good my blood labs are.

I’m playing music regularly again, and hope to draw these writings here into a longer form, namely, a book. Many people have asked me to do so, and I feel like I’m at a point where I can take that on.

So, I hope you’ve sent me a friend request on Facebook (Dan Palmer) and followed my professional page (Brother Dan Palmer), as that’s where most of my postings occur.

As I write this, I’m preparing for a concert tonight, and looking forward to the first week of August, when I’ll attending the Transplant Games of America. I’ll be emcee’ing the Lyrics for Life competition, and enjoying the camaraderie of 8,000-10,000 others from the transplant world: recipients, donors, donor families, and assorted friends and family.

The further I get from the transplant, the clearer my mind seems to be getting, the clearer my perspective is as the emotional distress, evidenced at times in this blog, dissipates.

Life is good. I’m alive and flourishing.

Thank you to all of you for your love and support through this process. The process does work, though it’s fraught with difficulties. I have somehow managed to survive. Now, it’s time for me to share my experiences with the world, if they want to listen. I’ll be working steadily here for awhile. Yes, you’ll be able to find me out and about as I play music, but much of my creative energy will be devoted to this next phase of writing.

I hope all is well. I hope that my journey will encourage others: those who are going through similar journeys, and for more people to register as organ donors.

If you’re a patient or loved one of a patient, please know that even when times are dark, there is hope. I’m living proof of that. It’s not easy, but dang, it’s worth it.

Please keep in touch, drop me a note sometime, come share some music with me, and wish me luck in this new endeavor.

I love you and wish you peace ...

Dan

Editor’s Note: This post originally appeared on Caring Bridge, and Dan has given permission to reprint it on Hepmag.com.