Update: 07/25/2016

Have you seen it?? Have you seen it?? Here is our TV Commercial STAR Debut!

The Cleveland Clinic Children's called us to see if we would like to be part of a television commercial…

My response (because I am super shy…) ummm where do I sign up???

They told us the time, place and where to be and the three of us (Russ had to work – boo) trucked off to Cleveland Indians Progressive Field to be a part of this awesomeness

They told me it would be a speaking part so the whole week Harper and I pretended like we were going live with cameras rolling and kept “practicing” pretend lines we would make up. One of us would count down and the other would say:

3…2…1… “We love the Cleveland Clinic”
3…2…1… “Go Cleveland Indians”
3…2…1… “Brodie's Good Vibe Tribe”
3…2…1… “Donate Life”

We had no idea what they were going to have us say…

We were so excited and ready to rock when we arrived – we had a hair stylist and make up artist – we both (but especially Harper) felt SOOO FANCY and Brodie – well you know this little guy by now, he was as cool as a cucumber and more interested in any baseballs that might be lying around then all the fuss.

After our beauty sessions we were ready to go – I still did not know what I was going to say – all I knew is that I had a 4 year old and 1 year old who were in tow about to go live on camera and sweet dear God please let no one have a meltdown.

The stands were filled with extras, there was a whole film production team and then came us the “stars” for our little section. I still kept thinking to myself – please remember my lines – please remember my lines…

Cameras rolling… We get situated… It is hot – like 90 degrees hot… Brodie’s on my lap – Harper next to me. Here is my thought process…

“Look, please look, look at the cameras… Please smile… Please look happy… Please no meltdowns… and Traci do not forget the lines… Oh no – I am sweating please don’t sweat Please… Please…” annnnnnnndddd Repeat.

Lights. Camera. Action.

I had two words. Anytime. Anywhere.

Guess what? I remembered them!

HA! And one got put into the commercial – WOOP WOOP! Awesome. And no meltdowns! And both little love nuggets look pretty darn good! ANNND you can barely see my sweating! WINNING!

I overheard Harper talking to a friend after we did this… I wish I had this on video…

“Sooo we went to the Indians Game today and filmed a commercial for Brodie’s Good Vibe Tribe and the Cleveland Clinic… It was like we were Movie stars, but it wasn’t for a movie it was for a commercial – so I guess you could say I am a commercial star.”

Here are my little stars!

This commercial airs during Indians Games! I’m talking baseball – I’m talking Tigue’s! I mean Tribe!!!

#DOnateLIFE #Brodiesgoodvibetribe #sliverofliver #TIGUEtough#thegoodstuff #BGVT #give2live #loveyourlifestory

http://link.videoplatform.limelight.com/media/…

Update: 07/08/2016

Update: 07/08/16 Two weeks ago we were on the coast, in the most magical little beachy town on a FAMILY VACATION.

We made our way down to Emerald Isle, North Carolina and we were able to spend a whole week in the sand with the Atlantic Ocean at our toes, surrounded by family and friends – we LOVED it.

We had a very crazy Saturday with the Transplant Games in the morning and then Harper’s Dance recital in the afternoon – we decided we would drive straight through the night. We left around 630PM from Cleveland and arrived the next morning at 530AM in time for a sunrise and doughnuts by the ocean (we couldn’t find cake – for those of you DNCE song lovers)!

I mean. There was a time (or many times – if I am being totally honest) this past year where I thought we may not be able to go on a vacation again, ever. How could that be possible? For us to go through this and then be able to go on a vacation? Well maybe we would one day, but it might be like in five years…

These thoughts typically happened in my very crazy Mama moments. I am sure it was like at 3AM in the PICU while I was listening to machines beeping, watching breathing and telling myself it is okay over and over….

And then. Here we are eight months post liver transplant. I am very happy to report that my very tiny dreams did come true.

Not only were we able to come down south – but my parents had rented a house for our ENTIRE family – so the whole Robinson Gang, Grandparents, Great Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles and sprinkled with cousins were all under one amazing roof for a week of “Adventuring”.

Brodie loved the beach. He was hilarious. He seemed to have conversations with the ocean as it rolled in and out over his toes sinking in the sand – he would raise his fist and yell and then burst into a fit of giggles a second later.

Big sister Harper as always had boundless energy and no fear. She tossed herself into the waves with reckless abandonment - every time they rocked up she dove in – we had to keep like 10 different eyeballs on this wild child.

With three other little cousins in tow under the ages of 3 we had our hands, eyes and muscles busy the whole week!

All week I literally watched as images took place in front of me that I had made up in my mind in some of my most darkest times to get me through those moments.

Visions of what I told myself “one day – one day Tra this can happen. Just believe. Just believe.”

So that is what I chose to do. Believe.

As the week progressed there were so many amazing moments – one night as our day was ending - I watched Harper sprint down the shoreline in front of me – sandy and salt whipped – laughing like a madwoman, while Russ held on to Brodie’s little hand and patiently walked him down the shore all the while a fiery sunset danced and decorated the background.

It took all I had in me not to crumple into a ball of exhaustion and emotions and become a blubbery mess - we had made it - we were here – this was real!

I stood on my tippy toes and let the ocean wind whip through my hair and the salt in the air blend with my tears and watched as this image blazed its way into a forever memory.

This. This life. Is so unpredictable, it is so unsteady, it is unforgiving, it is relentless. The ups and downs and sense and non-sensicals is never-ending and sometimes mentally and physically exhausting.

In our little liver tale world - Brodie, he is doing very well – liver levels are fabulous – functionality is on point, blood clot is looking busted and everything looks great – so I was a little taken aback when they extended his shots of Lovenox (twice a day) for another three months.

Instead of finishing July 18th like we had initially planned the new plan of action is October 18th – one day before his new liver birthday. My heart sank when they shared with me that we would be on this course and there was not another option.

It took me a couple hours to pull it together – but like I told you all before – suck it up buttercup and move on there are worse things we could be dealing with. This will just make the one-year celebration THAT much more amazing.

There is a lot going on in our world right now. There is a lot going on in your personal world right now.

The only thing I could think to do is to share with you how when my darkest moments were dark, I reached inwards and created visions of where I hoped we one day would be.

When my days were long and bleak, I allowed myself to believe that hope filled dreams may be possible. Hope is being able to see the light despite of darkness.

Look for strength in people, not weakness – for good, not evil. Most of us find what we search for. Let perseverance be your engine and hope your fuel.

Update: 07/05/2016

I had the honor and the privilege of speaking at the Transplant Games of America – at LifeBanc Gift of Life Walk and Run - in the world of public speaking they say there are three types of talks – the one you plan to give, the one you give and the one you wish you have given. I was so excited to share our experience with Cleveland Clinic Children's and address the most inspirational audience you could ever imagine.

Well this talk started in the worst way ever – they called my name and I wasn’t by the stage!

AHHH! I was all the way in the back – the four of us should have been standing next to the stage ready to go – so as they are saying welcome Traci Tigue – Russ and I look at each other and AHHHHHH – weIl we start running, Russ has the double stroller with Harper and Brodie and they are running behind me, booking across the lawn – I get to the stage and run up and they literally hand me the microphone – I am out of breath, panting, literally gasping somehow in between huffs and puffs – and this is what ends up coming out!

Here is the talk that I planned to give:

On May 14th we had one of the happiest days of our lives! My husband Russ and I made our daughter Harper a big sister and welcomed a little baby boy Brodie into the world.

We had no idea that at 4 months Brodie would be diagnosed with Biliary Atresia leaving our only option for cure to be a Liver Transplant.

As Brodie’s mother I was thrilled to be a match and when Brodie was five months and five days we went through living donor donation and I was able to save my son with a sliver of my liver and the amazing hands of the Cleveland Clinic, our Transplant Team, our Liver Team and all of the rest of the army of staff it took to get our little guy well. We did it!

We just celebrated Brodie’s 1st birthday and in a week we will be celebrating 8 months post transplant. He is our little warrior.

You can imagine how excited we were when we heard the Transplant Games were coming to Cleveland Ohio. Our backyard, our city! Our city is so special - filled with spirit, enthusiasm, fight and pride – so similar to the community we have been introduced and welcomed into – the Transplant and Organ Donation world.

Being thrown into this amazing community of transplant has opened my eyes to so many things. The more people I talk to in this world the more remarkable it becomes. The stories that everyone has, the journeys people have taken I find myself wanting to know more, more about all of you and your incredible path here.

When we celebrated Brodie’s 1st birthday – the celebration was focused on LIVING and being ALIVE and not necessarily on tacking another year on or being “older” as we tend to do when we get older.

It made me reflect on how special this life is and how special it would be if we all set out on a mission : increase organ donors, decrease those listed. I think we can – I think we can help the over 121,000 people in the US who are waiting simply – by sharing and celebrating our story.

We have shared our story on Facebook “Brodie’s Good Vibe Tribe” –with thousands – let them in to our ups the downs the ins and outs our tribe rallies with us – we are so proud, so very proud to be here because we LOVE our life story and our strong little warrior.

My hope and our hope is love your life story. Share and celebrate your life story. Inspire other to take action. What an amazing gift we all have - the ability to share our stories to motivate others to Donate and save a Life.

#DOnateLIFE #BGVT #sliverofliver #TIGUEtough #brodiesgoodvibetribe#thegoodstuff #givetolive

Update: 06/27/2016

This stink bug just conquered 7 hours at Cleveland Clinic Children's 2 blood draws today with our favorite vein whisperer Big John who worked his magic as usual!! An appointment with some of the BEST Liver Team - Dr. Radahkrishnan and NP Tichy-Dreher!! Happy to report that everything is looking awesome! Brodie's liver levels are looking fantastic - he is just loving that little new liver!!!!! I owe you all an update and will write more this week.. #DOnateLIFE #BGVT #Sliverofliver #TIGUEtough#brodiesgoodvibetribe #give2live

Update: 06/10/2016

What are you doing tomorrow? Come join us at the Transplant Games of America downtown Cleveland! We will be walking in the Lifebanc - Lifebanc Gift of Life Walk & Run we would love for you to meet us down there - we will be walking with Cleveland Clinic Children's Transplant Team! We are SO EXCITED - BRODIE MIGHT EVEN FINISH THE RACE WALKING OVER THE FINISH LINE!!!! He is so close <3 We are so honored to have over 6,000+ Donors, Recipients and families join us in our favorite City of Cleveland, Ohio and celebrate LIFE in the best way possible!#DOnateLIFE #give2live #BGVT #sliverofliver #TIGUEtough#theGOODstuff

Update: 06/07/2016

Update 06/07 - It has been awhile – I think it is the summer effect. Time seems to just creep by without me even knowing that minutes are turning into hours turning into days and before I know it we are here, in summer, in June – I mean how does this happen?

Life is busy but slow here in the Tigue household. As you all know Brodie turned a “WILD ONE” a couple weeks ago. It was so great you all hopefully saw the amazing surprise that was pulled off by WKYC, Dawn Kendrick Reporter, A Special Wish Cleveland Chapter and Safe and Reliable Limo – awesome. But then we had a celebration in true blue BGVT spirit with family and friends. It was so special.

What a year. What a warrior. What a crazy life.

We laughed, we cried, we sang, we ate cake and then maybe some more (my Mom’s cake is just so delicious)…

We celebrated probably in a way that you don’t usually celebrate at birthdays – if you really think about what a birthday is all about… It is about LIVING and being able to LIVE another year but most birthdays are about turning OLDER and adding another year on.

I think that what I learned the most from Brodie’s birthday was that we take things for granted and it is so easy to forget little things – Brodie’s “WILD ONE” Bash was so much about we made it – we did it – we are here – we lived to tell about it – and we are going to live – LIVE LOUD – another year – full of life.

As we celebrate Brodie’s first year of life celebration – with all of the happiness I find myself at times laced with a bit of sadness and bittersweet nostalgia.

With all of these new-fandangled apps we have these days – I have TimeHop (which I love) – as you all know by now I am a picture fanatic and it pulls all the pictures you have on your phone and any social media apps and it gives you a snapshot THAT exact day on years prior.

As the pictures have started rolling in of Brodie’s first couple weeks of life each day it is like a little wound opening on me as a stare at that sweet newborn face and now have the knowledge that this little, sweet, innocent babe was going to have to fight and fight harder than most to keep his little life.

I look at the pictures of how happy we were and how sweet he was and I know that one year ago our worlds had not yet been rocked.

I look at the pictures of Harper and how innocent she was and how we never knew we would have to put our little girl through so much.

I look at the pictures of Russ and I out on a few date days/nights and think of how sweet the “we-have-a-new-baby-and-we-are-freaking-exhausted-but-we-are-still-fun-we-think” we had no idea.

And sometimes I think to myself what if… What would life be like if… And I stop because I can’t. I can’t go there. And I don’t want to necessarily. I said something when I was interviewed by WKYC Channel 3 - Cleveland at Brodie’s birthday – I said you need to “Love your life story.”

I am not sure where it had popped into my mind or why it did – but I truly meant it. I don’t think you have to be “in love” at every moment with your life but I do think you have to appreciate the hard knocks, the rock bottoms, the pick yourself up and dust yourself off, the suck it up buttercup moments – because those.

Those little or big moments - help you learn about who you are, what you stand for and how this life will continue or change.

When this happened many people said “how are you handling this?” “are you okay” and although I was rocked to my core, my soul was weak, my nerves in shambles, my faith challenged – I couldn’t help think – This is what makes life, life.

We listen to others, we learn from others, we all have stories about someone we know has this or had that happen and we share them with others and we all say “*Gasp* – can you imagine??”

We just never expect that story to be yours and your family. And when it does happen – when the unexplained, terrifying, tale becomes you and your family.

The world sort of stops.

There is nothing that makes it better, there are no right words to soothe you, there is nothing that consoles the endless, continuous ache that your heart has, there is nothing that stops the worst case scenarios and horrors from entering your racing mind, there is nothing that is up with you on sleepless, disturbed never-ending nights.

You are on a wheel. You are running round and round and round and round, over and over and over and over. Can’t stop. Won’t stop. Can’t stop. Won’t stop. Can’t stop. Won’t stop. Repeat.

Nothing can help you. Except for you.

I am so proud that our family has toughed this out. That our family has stuck together. The more I focus on “what” we have been through I recognize Russ’ coined term “Tigue Tough” was so wise and profound – we jokingly put that together and I don’t think that either one of us truly understood the gravity of what “Tigue Tough” would be about.

My Mom used to tell us growing up that we were “Rough and Tough and Made of Super Stuff”

One of my brother's, Mike told me just that, so many times this past year – “Remember what Mom said Trac – you are Rough and Tough and Made of Super Stuff” - You got this. Brodie’s got our super stuff. Harper too. And Russ is just tough.”

Mike was right – and there may have been some nights on repeat in my head My Mom and Mike’s voice kept saying “you are Rough and Tough and Made of Super Stuff Trac – you got this.”

We did the dang thing. We rocked it.

Be Rough and Tough and Made of Super Stuff.

Love your life story.

And celebrate LIVING your Life.

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Update: 05/30/2016

Brodie loved his Memorial Day weekend with his big sissy and some of his cousins. Grateful for the sacrifices of many, the bravery and courage of all and thankful every day! Happy Memorial Day 💈🇺🇸💈🇺🇸💈🇺🇸💈

#BGVT #DOnateLIFE #sliverofliver #Give2Live #brodiesgoodvibetribe #TIGUEtough