My Updates

Just thought I would give you an update on how I am doing, and have been doing since my transplant. With all the medicine that I take, it depletes my bone density and I have had a stress fracture in both feet, at different times, thank goodness. Wore a cast for 4 weeks both times. Taking a medicine for that also and it seems to be working, my density is improving.

I had a joint in my hip area (sacrum and ileum) pop out of place back in July. Had to do physical therapy for that.

Also I am just getting over having the shingles that I got back in the last of July. That is one pain that I wouldn't wish off on my worst enemy. It has been over 2 months since I came down with them and the pain is still not completely over with. Didn't know I had such "tender" nerves...LOL

As to my right lung transplant, I could not be doing better. It has been an awesome time since April 26, 2003. I am able to do again things that I thought were over for me, like go to church, do my housework, go to the grocery, or just plain go out to eat and all without being on oxygen or having someone help me. Anyone that sees or knows me will know that transplants do work. I am living proof of this great miracle. These ill's that I have had are such minor things compared to what I went through before my transplant. God won't put on me any more than I can stand.

I thank God, my Donor Family, and my great Transplant Team at Vanderbilt Transplant Center every day for giving me a second chance at having a life. And I ask for your continuing prayers that I have felt from the get go.

October 23, 2005

Just a little update on how my trip went on the 18th of October. I had to go to Vanderbilt Transplant Clinic for a clinic checkup. Had blood work and x-rays done and was told that my labs looked good and my chest x-ray was unchanged :) That is great news as I still have a native lung with the COPD/Emphysema in it.

I was able to drive myself to Nashville this time as everyone was working and I am so thankful that I am able to do that for myself. I had no trouble and I was only there one day. Went down early that morning and was back home before nightfall.

I don't have to go back untill April 24th and 25th, 2006. That will be my 3 year anniversary studies and that takes 2 days as they run all the test again.

November 24, 2005

I celebrated another milestone for me today that I would not have been able to do without help from someone before my lung transplant.

I was able to talk by phone with my all my children today, and to drive myself to my son's house to spend Thanksgiving Day with him and his family. To be able to do this without being hooked to an oxygen tank and in a wheel chair was such a blessing. I have so much to be "Thankful" for. I thank God and my donor family everyday for my second chance at a good life.

June 18, 2006

Well I am running a little behind on updating my site. Sorry. Back on April 24th & 25th I was at Vanderbilt for what is called Anniversary Studies. April 26 was my 3rd year anniversary of my transplant. They gave me all the test again, blood work, x-rays, scans, etc., to see how I was doing. I am here to tell you everything is still going really great. This time I had lost enough weight for them to reduce a some of my medicines. We did a lab check on the blood to make sure that my levels of medicines are still in the good range and Thank You God, everything is still in good range.

I had to have some hemorrhoid surgery last month and that has taken me a little time to get over, but each day I am better. Today I was able to go back to Church. It felt so good to be able to sit long enough to enjoy being at Church again. Seems it has taken me a long time to heal, but I guess that is just part of being so immune suppressed.

I was able to go to my great-granddaughter's 3rd birthday party yesterday and really enjoyed being able to get out and socialize with family and friends without worrying about oxygen.

I still Thank God, my donor family, and the transplant team everyday for my great second chance at a good life. And I am enjoying every minute of it.