Holiday Surprise!

The surgery went well and I'm back in Wichita recovering. My lungs took a dip, which was expected, so I'll be on IV antibiotics for another week.  When we pulled into our drive way I saw my aunts' cars there and assumed they wanted to see how I was doing (and check out my neat incisions).  What we found when we walked in the door were poinsettias, a decorated Christmas tree and holiday music playing!  Some of the family had gotten together while we were gone and decorated our house for us! It was such a wonderful surprise, and really cheered me up, along with Mom and Dad!! I'm so glad to be home for Christmas! 

DVT

My arm today, the day after surgery (in the mirror). My left arm is almost double the size of my right arm because I have a blood clot (Deep Vein Thrombosis) near my PICC line.  They're going to start me on Lovenox injections (for 3 months) which REALLY hurt, and remove the PICC and place one in the other arm, since I'm not done with my IV antibiotics.

surgery day

I'm getting my gall bladder removed today at 3:30. I had my lungs tested this morning and was shocked - my function was 32% and my capacity was 62%!! I haven't had this good of a result in over a year. All of your prayers might just be working!!

just a hiccup

Transplant is on hold again - I'll be going up to Omaha next week to have my gall bladder removed at UNMC where my pulmonologist is, so that they may monitor my lungs and would be prepared to deal with any complications, should they arise. I will be re-activated on the transplant list once I am back in Wichita and fully recovered from the surgery.

More Ink

I got 3 more tattoos today.  Gotta get 'em while I can!

The two words mean Truth and Justice in Latin and were stolen (yeah so sue me... but, really, don't) from the cult classic movie, The Boondock Saints, one of my all-time favorites.

 

The circle with the triangle inside stands for unity, service and recovery. 

The one on my back is the most meaningful and I got as a reminder and to bring awareness to others about Cystic Fibrosis.  I am just one of 30,000 Faces of CF in this country.  My struggles aren't unique and are not the worst.  There are so many who have not been as lucky as I have to be as healthy as I am.   I don't want to forget that.

loaded update

 I've had a busy past 10 weeks! I did NOT have H1N1! Since my last update I've been on IV antibiotics, traveled to Omaha to see my doctor, traveled to Minnesota for another biannual pre-transplant evaluation and been re-listed on the transplant list! I've also learned that I have gall stones and am waiting (not so patiently) to hear back from my doctors about whether they will remove my gall bladder before transplant or wait to do it during my transplant. I have been told that I'm "very callable" and that "there aren't many people ahead of me" on the list. This is exciting news! I am preparing to receive a call any day. Please pray for my donor's family, as they will be experiencing a great loss just as I am given a new chance at life. Hopefully the next update will be news about a call!!