Alexandra
Lanz – Being Alive!
Alexandra
Lanz is unique. She's young, she's a mother, she's a
surgeon, and, above all else, she's alive! And, being
the way that she is, is the one thing about her that's special! For
her way to where she is now is something that few have encountered.
When
Alexandra Lanz was 14 years old, she experienced a
trauma that stopped her life in its tracks. After collapsing at
school, she was taken to hospital with a suspected
liver complaint. She was to stay there
for the next five years.
Her
stay in hospital was a period of suffering and despair.
It was all about tests and more tests and pain and more pain, and
time that never moved forward. And, worst of all, Alexandra Lanz's
youth, her best time of all, was draining away and there was nothing
she could do. But, she had hope.
And,
it was this hope that gave Alexandra Lanz the strength she needed to
believe. And, she knew she would be better again one
day. And, true enough, her health did return. But, first came the
transplant.
After
many long days of waiting and debating, Alexandra Lanz was finally
given a new life. Her liver-transplant was a perfect success, and,
from that moment on, her life began to come back. But, it was during
her operation that Alexandra Lanz experienced something unique.
It
was an out-of-body experience. She was floating calmly above herself
and watching the work the surgeons were doing. And, this out-of-body
experience was the most wonderful thing she had ever experienced; and
Alexandra Lanz knew that the worst was behind her; her
hope had not
been in
vain.
Alexandra Lanz knew that her life was beginning again.
And,
coming back to life meant other challenges,
too. And, the first was the finishing of her school education. She
had lots to catch up on, and without it, Alexandra Lanz
would never have become the surgeon she is. But, there was one more
miracle waiting for her.
Alexandra
Lanz was told that becoming a mother would never work out. And, again
Alexandra Lanz never lost hope. And, this was good so and the
impossible happened. Alexandra Lanz became the first ever woman with
a transplanted liver to give birth to a child. Alexandra Lanz is not
only a woman of history, but an example for others to follow as well.
Alexandra
Lanz discovered that there is not only a life after life, but also,
and more importantly, a life before death. And now, with husband and
two healthy young boys she is living every minute.
Are
you doing the same, too?
Vocabulary
above
all else – vor
Allem
better
– wieder
Gesund
catch
up – (catch up/caught up/caught up) - nachholen
challenges
– Herausforderungen
despair
- verzweifeln
encountered
– (encounter/encountered/encountered) – begegnet
experienced
– (experience/experienced/experienced) – erlebte
hope
– Hoffnung
in
vain – umsonst
meant
– (mean/meant/meant) – bedeutet
miracle
– Wunder
suspected
liver complaint – Mögliche Leberleiden
suffering
– leiden
unique
– selten
worst
– bad/worse/worst
Questions
How old was
Alexandra when she collapsed at school?
For how long did
Alexandra stay in hospital?
What was
Alexandra's stay in hospital?
What kind of
operation did Alexandra have in hospital?
What did Alexandra
experience while she was having her operation?
Why is Alexandra a
woman of history?
Why is hope so
important?
