How I celebrated my day

I actually spent most of the day by myself since Bryan's job is working him 50+ hours a week. I slept in as long as I wanted to :) When I got up I decided to go to the craft store and create something I found on Pinterest. So I bought some acrylic paint at Hobby Lobby and an old picture frame Goodwill ($2). I took them home and spent most of my afternoon working on my craft. It turned out nicely. It seemed difficult to paint the ornaments and I later learned that I should have modge podged paper strips to the ornaments first (which makes sense) I thought it was more difficult than it should have been to paint them. All and all it turned out cute. It's more difficult to paint and do detail work now with prograf tremors in my hands. I will probably re-do the ornaments on another day when I am feeling motivated to do so :) This is the final product~

When Bryan got home from work he insisted we go out to dinner (I could have stayed home, but he wanted to take me out) He took me to Johnny Corino's since Italian food one of my FAVS. I had Spicy Shrimp and Chicken. . .I ate too much as usual. I actually weigh 105 lbs which is more than I have ever weighed in my life!! It must be all the pasta I've been eating lately. LOL.

So I enjoyed my day. I got to get my craft on, make a mess and be creative which is something I just don't enough of lately.

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4 year transplantiversary

Another Year of life with CF free lungs has come and gone. Today is my 4 year transpalantiversary and I am full of gratitude. I am thankful to everyone who played a part in saving my life. It took my family supporting me. It took my community donating, it took everyone who said a prayer for me. It took my husband Bryan loving me enough to do whatever we had to so we could find and get to a Hospital that would treat me. It took all the nurses and doctors from Portneuf Medical Center to keep me healthy all those years before my transplant. It took Paul my coordinator working extra hard to get me listed. It took a surgeon, Dr. McCurry to have the skills and experience to take on such a high risk surgery. It took Dr. Pilewski to see how badly I wanted and needed a second chance at life. It took my Donor who at some point in her life made the choice to be an Organ Donor. It took God to make it all come together.

I talked with Bryan last night. It's like pulling teeth with him to get him to talk about it much. I can only imagine how hard it is for him to relive the days before my transplant and the 13 hour wait while I was in surgery. He never includes much detail. He did tell me that when I was put on the ventilator I was not "peaceful" as I imagined I was. He said it was hard watching me because I would try to cough but couldn't with the vent, so my face would turn really red and I would jerk. . .then the respiratory therapist would have to come in and put a tube down the vent that would suck out the mucus that was clogging my airways. He said it was hard because I put on "Zombie Juice" so I didn't respond to anything he said or to his touch. I was that way for 3 days before he got the call.

My recovery was difficult. I have plenty of scars that are reminders of that. I went through more pain and suffering I ever thought I could endure. . .but that's the beauty of it, with God we can endure more than we ever could alone. I could not have survived without healing prayers, blessings, and angels sent from heaven to watch over me. Every day I am thankful for that.

My Donor. I didn't hear back from my donor family. I don't know much about her except that she was middle aged and petite. I also know that her and her family made the ultimate sacrifice and saved many lives. I know that her lungs are strong and they have given me 4 years of wonderful life. I know that one day I'll be able to thank her in person in heaven. That will be a reunion I am looking forward to someday. I know that as all my friends and family are congratulating me and celebrating with me that my donor's family is reminded that 4 years ago they lost their daughter, sister, aunt, wife and even maybe their mother. That is the hardest thing to deal with. Another family's suffering so that I could live. That is why I take care of her lungs. I take my meds, I exercise and I live life like the miracle and gift it is every day. I feel like the greatest thing you can do in life is save another life. Being an Organ Donor and saving up to 8 lives with the selfless act of giving your organs to those who need them when you are called home to be with God and no longer need your physical body, is the ultimate hero. That is my definition of HERO.

Today I celebrate 4 healthy years I have enjoyed and I also celebrate the heroic life of my donor.

*Also I want to say "Happy 3 Year Transplantiversary" today to Nancy! We both had Cepacia and we both got our transplant as UPMC in Pittsburgh exactly ONE year apart.

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4 yrs ago 'The ICU'

Today is a day to celebrate and reflect. I'm just 3 days away from my 4 year transplantiversary. . .this is the day every year that I think about what was my last few breaths I took on my own. On 12.10.07 I was to the point of dementia. I didn't really understand my surroundings but I knew one thing, I was in pain. I remember being really tired and wanted to sleep. I also remember feeling very thirsty and Orange Juice sounded so delicious. I was scared. I knew that no matter what happened I had done my part. I had done all I could. I didn't give up on me & I am glad Bryan, Dr. Pilewski, the surgeons, the nurses, and friends and family didn't give up on me either.

4 years ago today I talked to my dad on the phone. . .possibly for the last time. He asked me if I had carried my burden long enough. . . .
I answered "Yes".  . .

I answered yes to that question for the first time in my life. I was willing to bear my burden for as long as I was asked to. I also believe we are never given more than we can handle. I had finally reached my end. I had carried my burden as long as I could. On this day Four years ago my faith and the faith & prayers of others was seen and heard by God and answered. I could no longer carry my weak, sick and diseased body for one more breath and I didn't have to. The ventilator could do it for me. . .
When Bryan was approached about putting me on the ventilator, it was a decision he didn't want to have to make. . . and definitely not make it alone. He says I told him to do it that I told him it was the right thing to do. I don't remember telling him that, but I must have had an insider tip.

The Transplant team met & decided my life needed to be saved. Most centers would have listed all the many reasons I shouldn't be a transplant candidate, but UPMC doctors looked at my case and said "Why Not?" Paul my pre-transplant coordinator began working on getting me listed and by the end of December 7th 2007 I was listed at the TOP of the transplant list. I was listed with a Lung Allocation Score of around 90. . .most people are listed  in the 30's.

I was in the ICU and the Ventilator was now breathing for me, I was resting peacefully . . . and the wait began. . .

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