The call

 For nothing will be impossible with God

Luke 1:37

Last Friday I recieved a call from Erin, the lung transplant nurse at Vanderbilt.   I could call it "the" call, but it was not "THE" call.  It is probably the first of many calls.  Erin told me that the transplant team had met and agreed that it was time to add my name to the waiting list.  She had submitted documentation to my insurance, and after that is recieved she will initiate the process for national listing.

Wow.  The call.  It's really happening.  How long will it be before I get "THE" call, telling me there is are donor lungs that are a match for me?

Let me back up just a bit.  I've been as busy as everyone else, wrapping up a full semester, enjoying graduation acitivities, preparing for our mission trip, and getting ready for Christmas.

My daughter and grand daughters took Henry to see Santa while I was at graduation.

We will eat healthy AFTER Christmas!

I'm baaaaackkk!  On Thursday I had my regular appointment at Vanderbilt. 

First I went to the lab for bloodwork.  Someone needs to find a way to obtain blood samples that does not involve anything sharp.  That person would be a bazzilionaire.

This is Vanessa, who always gets my blood on the first attempt.  She is awesome!  Unfortunately, on this day it took three attempts.  Ugh.  They check for controlled substances and nicotine at each visit, along with the other tests.  If any of those substances are found, the person is dismissed from the program.

I had a chest xray next.  With the exception of having to hold my breath, this test is easy- peasy.

Once again I had to do breathing tests (just an abbreviated version this time), and a six minute walk.  The breathing tests were no worse but I was not able to walk quite as far as the last time.

Finally I saw Dr. Robbins.  Dr Robbins is the transplant pulmonologist I have always seen, until my last two visits with Dr. Shaver.  It was good to see him again.  He sat back in his chair and asked me how I was doing (fine, as always).  He looked at me and asked if I was ready to be listed.  We talked about this for a bit.  I have thought about it and prayed about it for a long time, and have decided that I am "all in."  If you are going to consider a transplant, you have to be 100% committed.  

Dr. Robbins talked to me about my HLA antibodies, which are at 99%.  That means that 99% of all the lungs from donors with my blood type and body size would not be a match for me.  He said that I would probably be on the list for a long time, and may never get lungs.  I realize this, and told him that if God wanted me to have lungs, I would get them; God is not limited by statistics (or anything else).  Dr. Robbins nodded in affirmation.  The scripture I posted from Luke is so inspirational- the example of Elizabeth's pregnancy illustrates God's power over what we deem impossible.

I believe that this is what God wants me to do at this time.  Things have fallen into place quickly and smoothly, and not by my effort. Transplant was not on my mind when my numbers began to decline.  I haven't a clue what is going to happen over the next days, months, or years-  but it does not matter.  That is all in God's hands. I am sure of this- whatever happens will be for the glory of God.

This is Dr. Robbins.  He is very tall!  Or maybe I am very short.

My appointments were late that day, and it was raining.  I know that Michael and I are getting old, because even though there are many wonderful restaurants in Nashville, we just wanted to get on the road to avoid the rush hour traffic!  We chose a gourmet restaurant on I 40.

That brings us to the phone call from Erin on Friday.  She thought she might hear back from my insurance on Friday, but said that surely it would be Wednesday if not. So on Wednesday I will begin my life within a four hour radius of Nashville.  I should go to the airport now and get on a plane bound for Italy- or at least Disney World!

One of the things Dr. Robbins asked me was if I had given up any activities due to my increasing shortness of breath. I have not been able to push a vacuum cleaner for some time (aww.....) and there are many other things on that list, but I have preferred to concentrate on the things I can do.  However, in chuch this morning I thought about how wonderful it would be to sing again.  Because my disease is obstructive ( I cannot get breath out), my breath support is not so good.  Music has always been a passion for me- band, orchestra, choir, etc.  Fun fact about me- I played a few instruments in high school, and my main one was the bassoon.  Yes, really.  Someday I would like to learn to play the harp.

When a person is sick, or experiencing a tragedy, we often ask them to "let me know if I can do anything."  Well, there is something you can do for me.  Become an organ donor, and spread the word. Here are some statistics for you:

As of this moment, there are over 114,000 people in the United States waiting for organ transplants.  Only 33,431 transplants have been done so far in 2018.  Think about that discrepancy.  An average of 20 people a day die waiting for transplant.  

Only 2 out of 10 sets of donor lungs are suitable for transplant.  Lungs and hearts are only viable for 4-6 hours after they are procured.  Lungs are exposed to the environment with each breath.  

95% of adults in the US support organ donation, but only 54% are signed up as donors.  WHAT??????

You can learn more about organ donation, and register to be a donor at this website:  United Network for Organ Sharing  Just click the link.

On another note, Chelsea is home with our grand dog, Willie.  He is still growling at Henry quite a bit, but there has been no blood shed. Here is the two of them waiting for treats.  This is progress!

Here is one of my favorite Christmas songs, sung by one of my favorite artists.

Merry Christmas from our family to yours.  

Waiting.......

   

I am sure that God keeps no one waiting unless He sees that it is good for him to wait.

~ C.S. Lewis

Advent- a season of "expectant waiting."  Like many of you, I love this time of year.  I spent most of my childhood overseas, without extended family, and we stretched Christmas out to fill the void.  One of my favorite memories is of my father reading the Christmas story from Luke on Christmas Eve, and my sister and I taking turns each year reading "The Night before Christmas."  One year when it was her turn, I memorized the entire thing so that I could recite it as she read it.  Yes, I really did. With my dad and sister gone, I find comfort in keeping those traditions.

This is a nativity that I brought back from the Dominican Republic.  I have given many people these over the years, but never thought about purchasing one for me until last year.  It is in my office and makes me think of the mission trip I love so much.

Here are some of the other things our family does to prepare for the celebration of Christ's birth.

This is the tree in our living room.  We do not use a "themed tree."  There are sweet memories in each ornament, and stories too!

I love the movie "Christmas Vacation." My sister and I often called one another and watched it together, saying the lines with the characters.  She sent me this squirrel for my tree.

I collect the annual Lenox snowflake ornaments.

This is the tree in our home office.  It has an angel theme.

This angel belonged to my grandmother.  The head is made of porcelain.

I made many of these angels in 1989.  The are very fragile now, and I always say "this is the last year for the angels" but I end up packing them away for the next year.

I started collecting these Margaret Furlong angels in the early 1990s.  They are delicate and oh so pretty!

My grandmother always had festive dishes on her table, and I have followed in her footsteps.  We usually eat one meal on these dishes - lunch on Christmas day.  Last year I gave in to paper plates!

Chelsea worked at Pier One for a while.  We may or may not have used her discount.

We found this Willow Tree nativity in a store that was closing.  It was missing a sheep, so Michael got them to mark it down even more!  I know that you noticed we are a sheep short.

New decoration for this year.

Over the years we have collected some snowmen.  The ones going up the stairs are sold in Hallmark stores each year.  This is the last year they will be selling them (or so we were told).

I just love it when someone presses all the buttons and they sing all at the same time  (NOT)!

Another piece from Pier One.  Thanks for working there, Chels!

So in addition to the waiting associated with Advent, I have been waiting on information.  In my last blog, I wrote about the fun and fast breathing tests known as MIP and MEP.  I did not hear from the transplant nurse about the results, so after a week I called her.  The tests were normal, but the team was waiting for the imaging center here to send some scans of my pelvis that were done a few years ago.  I called the imaging center, and they had not recieved the request, so I called Vanderbilt again.  Early this week I had not heard anything from anyone, so I called the imaging center.  They told me that the films were Fed-exed to Vandy on December 5th.  The transplant nurse called on Thursday and told me they were waiting for a scan of my brain.  What?  Pelvis?  Brain?  Easy mistake. So, I am still waiting to see if they need more tests, or if they are ready to put my name on the waiting list.  

I guess I had better get accustomed to waiting.  That said, let me share a God story with you.  The first time Erin the transplant nurse called to tell me the team wanted to list me (before the MIP and MEP results), our conversation went something like this:

Me:  If/when you call to tell me it is time for listing, can I ask to wait until February 1st?  There is this mission trip I go on each year in January.

Erin:  It doesn't work that way.

Me:  Okay, well how about after Christmas?

Erin:  They do not want to waste any time. With your antibody levels, we cannot afford to miss that match.

Me:  Okay, well how about December 17, after graduation.  I need to have a tiny bit of control.  Give me something here.  I want to be there to call the names of the students and see their big smiles!

Erin:  I can understand that, but you won't have that option.

So.......guess what happened Saturday?  GRADUATION!   Looks like I had a little control after all.

Just a few of the 88 undergraduate nurses from Saturday.

Wonderful staff helping to line the students up.  Shannon Blanken, Khadijia Payne, and Paula Karnes.

Undergraduate faculty Renee Anderson, Christy Davis, Megan Pittman, Sandy Brown, and Jennifer Delk.

Sheilla Foster and Shayla Alexander.

Hendersonville faculty Dr. Elisha Hill, Dr. Allison Davis, Ashley Gipson, and Carmen Davis.

Germantown faculty members Jean Crawford, Dr. Anita Langston, and Dr. Linda Billings.

Ms. Joy Watkins, our newest staff member!

Graduate faculty Dr. Cathy Ammerman, Cathy Aslin, Dr. Patsy Crihfield, Dr. Cullen Williams, Dr. Joyce Snyder, Dr. Shari Wherry, Dr. Charley Elliott, Dr. Cindy Powers, and me!

39 graduate students crossed the stage Saturday!

It was a wonderful graduation.  I truly have the best job in the world.  As you can see, I work with people who are not just colleagues, but friends.  I actually had the honor of teaching some of them in their graduate programs. 

Our students are amazing- and on that note, I want to share a really special moment.  The nurse practitioner graduating class had a celebration dinner Friday night.  It was my privilege to serve in the Dominican Republic last year with most of them.  

The students gave a generous donation to the Vanderbilt Lung Transplant Program in my honor!  I was speechless.  First of all, this night was about them, not me. I neither anticipated nor expected this kindness.  Furthermore, these folks have no money- they just spent it on tuition, books, and otoscopes! Everyone saw my ugly cry that night.

I am so proud to have played a small part in their education, and delighted to not only call them colleagues, but also friends.

Did I tell you I love my job?  Who am I that God would allow me this opportunity?

What a weekend- after church this morning, lunch with good friends, and the Englewood Christmas program this afternoon, we felt like this:

Waiting....and counting every blessing.