Good News!

  Nothing but good news!! Returned home from Pittsburgh with a clean bill of health! In fact they found me to very healthy. My lungs look great and my pft's were very good as well.  My FVC was 113% and my best FEV1 was 94%. I'm definitely not going to complain about those numbers after almost 5 years. I am just under a month away from my 5 yr post transplant anniversary. . .I feel great, and NO REJECTION.

I had my worries as most of us post transplant patients probably do. I enjoy my post transplant clinic because I get to see all my transplant team members which is always something I LOVE. However, I get nervous that my borrowed time or I guess I prefer my 'gifted time' with my wonderful disease free lungs will somehow come to an end. The thing I am most afraid of is rejection. I cannot deny that my incredible success and health is a miracle. A gift from God. That is the only honest way I can explain why I'm doing so well.

While I was In Pittsburgh it wasn't all business. . .I had some fun too. We arrived a couple of days early because the flights were better earlier in the week than later. We got into Pittsburgh and then drove to see Niagra Falls which was incredible. After that we headed to Palmyra, NY and visited some incredible church history and sacred places. Places I never thought I would ever get to visit in my lifetime. My Donor has given me so many gifts including experiences like this.

We had Clinic on Thursday and everything looked healthy and my Doctor had nothing but positive things to say. He said my blood sugars, liver, kidneys and lungs all looked good. He mentioned he wished all his patients did as good as I do. That's a pretty awesome compliment even though I cannot take much credit for it. There is a higher power and many angels watching over me.

Friday we drove to Philadelphia and had cheese steaks from Geno's and Pats... I like them both! Then we went to Independence Hall and toured some American History. It was incredible and learned a lot. It's really quite a blessing to be able to go to the east coast where there is so many facinating places that are a MUST SEE in your life time. I am so lucky.

Okay I want to spend a little time talking about my "BUG HUG" project. I took my first bag to Pittsburgh. I figured the it was an appropriate place to start with. The place that took a chance and saved my life. I left the bag in good hands though. I gave it Paul my pre-transplant coordinator who has promised to find the perfect patient who's situation is similar to mine and who will really use and appreciate all the gifts. He'll send me pictures of the recipient when he gives it away. I'll be sure to post them when I get them. I'm hoping I can really get the Bug Hugs doing well and give more bags away than I can keep up with. lol.

I'm excited to prepare to celebrate my 5 years of wonderful, amazing, miraculous life! Any suggestions on how I should celebrate?

 Save a Life...Be Someone's Hero...    
 Be An Organ Donor!