Day 73

Wow, it's been 73 days since I received the gift of two lungs.  I feel really good and blessed to have this second chance at life. I had a clinic visit last Monday, which includes blood being drawn and a visit with the Doctor and a breathing test.  All lab results were very good, and Dr. Haddad was pleased with my progress. I received some medications via mail and along with the meds was a lot of information about post transplant. I keep reading to expect a rejection within the first year. Now, that gets the mind wondering what to expect, like what will be the symptoms? I sometimes wake up at night with a pain in my chest or excess congestion. I used to not worry about it but since the transplant you start asking yourself, is this a sign of something? How bizarre is that.  I don't let it bother me, I haven't gone off the deep end with worry, I just wonder. Went out to Firehouse Subs yesterday for Mother's Day, with Linda and her Mom, Agnes. I haven't eaten in a restaurant since before the transplant. I guess this is progress. I can't wait for the day that all of these things I used to take for granted aren't such a big deal. It's been really hot and humid here, so I haven't really wanted to get out much. I'm getting cabin fever.I think I'll post a more recent photo of myself to let you know I am getting healthy and gaining weight. The last picture looks like I already died. Not that I ever took a good photo anyway.  They never did call me pretty-boy. Life is good with me. I am able to control the mood swings, so Linda's life has got to be better. Today's lesson: call an old friend and catch up. See ya!

History VII

Everything in the surgery went very well, except that I suffered a stroke that affected my right side. I am still fighting back to regain full functions on my right side. Most of the rest of this post will be second hand information from Linda.  They wheeled me out of the Operating Room and into ICU. As they did Linda had an opportunity to see me and wave to me.  As she did the nurses told me that she was on the other side of the window and that I should wave. Now remember, I just had a double lung transplant and was severely drugged so I don't remember anything. I understand that I somewhat sat up, smiled and waved. Linda thought that was incredible that I had the alertness and ability to complete this feat. Later she asked me about this incident and when I told her I had no idea what she was talking about she was extremely bummed. The day after the surgery the nurses want you to get up and walk. Wow! Well, we did just that, we walked. Not far from the bed, but we walked. I was in ICU for 4 days then I was moved to the Transplant Floor.  I was in the hospital for a total of 11 days. In that 11 days I had Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Pulmonary Therapy, Xrays, blood drawn every few hours, and pills. Oh, the quantity of pills would amaze you. You don't go to the hospital for rest when you have a transplant! You are woken up every couple of hours for something.

Day 62

Wow, I have passed the 2 month mark. The doctors say that at 3 months I will feel a dramatic improvement. I can't wait. A few days ago I overdid it and walked 7 to 10 miles and really struggled to get back home. It took me 3 or 4 days to recover. I'm better, but not as good as I was. I will stick to smaller bites each time. Food taste bland, but starting to taste again. My stroke stricken right side is still weak.Getting better, just not quick enough for me. We had an offer from a friend, who just relocated to Louisville, Kentucky, and bought a big house, to come live with them. What a wonderful offer. I can't leave my doctors for a while yet, as I have to go for follow-up visits and tests bi-weekly. I am trying to stay busy at home, but it's tough and boring. Good news, still gaining a little weight. I'm up to about 164lbs. My great neighbors have been cutting my grass because the doctors don't want me to do any gardening or be outside while people are doing yard work. Eventually, I will be able to do these mundane chores. With the immune system being shut down to prevent my body rejecting the new lungs I am more susceptible to diseases, spores and bacteria. A small price to pay, believe me. Anyone have any ideas how to keep the mind busy, please leave some comments. Actually all comments would be welcome.  I would just like to know that someone is actually reading this blog. Don't be afraid to tell someone that you Love them. You never know when they may not be around anymore.

History VI

So, I put my 1/2 banana away, threw out my cereal and coffee, and waited.  You can imagine the thoughts going through my mind at this point.  Will the lungs work? Will I be able to finally get off of this nasty oxygen? Will I finally stop coughing? And how about, will I survive the operation? Does the surgeon know what he's doing? And I wait.  Susan calls about 2 1/2 hours later to say they are still running tests but everything looks good.  She will call back. About 3p.m. Susan calls again. She says," OK, are you ready?"  I ask her ready for what?  She says everything looks good, come to the hospital.  WOW! I am now scared to death, but remain calm. I called Linda, whom I've been updating via text messaging, e-mail and phone calls.  I told her they want me to come to the hospital, and ask her if she is ready. She is now out of her mind with nervousness, she says yes and asks me what she is supposed to do. We had a plan in place, that we had discussed previously. She was so nervous, she couldn't remember what to do. I told her to take a deep breath and calm down. Then, I told her to meet me at her mother's house and the three of us would drive to the hospital together. I too, was nervous. It seemed like I was running around the house in circles trying to figure out what to do. I met Linda at her mother's house and the three of us drove to the hospital, which is about 45 minutes away from our home. After being admitted they take us to a hospital room to prepare me for surgery.  We met Kim and Susan, nurses on the Transplant Team, in the room and they told us that it is still a waiting game up until the surgeon comes back with lungs in hand and is satisfied everything is a go. At this point, they are asking me questions and having me dress in hospital gowns and laying in the bed. I am having , what I consider, an out of body experience. I am there, but I am watching from a far, at them asking questions of my body.  Weird, really weird. I'm not sure of all the details from this point on. I do know that they said the surgeon had arrived and he was pleased with everything and gave the go ahead about 8p.m. Linda tells me, they didn't wheel me in until after midnight. The surgery was supposed to be 10 to 12 hours long. I was done in 8 hours, I guess that's a good thing.....................