You can be sure that God will take care of everything you need, his generosity exceeding even yours in the glory that pours from Jesus.
~Philippians 4:19 MSG
February was a month of blessings. I was overwhelmed by the outpouring of love from family, friends, colleagues, and people I do not even know! It was so hard to receive, because most of us are on the giving end. I had to come to the realization that God would bless this, and that it was being done in the name of Jesus. In addition, it honors my donor.
While I was in the hospital, my dear colleague and friend Dr. Cathy Ammerman brought a huge bag full of practical items- one particular was a soft blue blanket- it was so nice to put this on my hospital bed. Another friend, Shelley Williams, brought a basket full of items for our apartment.
The day after I came home, my friend Betsy Taylor brought frozen homemade soups and casseroles! Along with Betsy, the chefs were Emily York, Honey Wage, Beth Dubis, and Jenny Pagoaga. Our freezer was full of comfort food.
In the College of Nursing, we have faculty and staff known as the "Elves." They are anonymous and do all kinds of nice things when they see a need. I was the recipient of their kindness. The "Elves" gave us an old fashioned "pounding." They sent huge containers of food and supplies to stock our cabinets. They also included my favorite snacks, cleaning supplies, remedies for my dry mouth, and things I probably have not seen yet!
My friend Patsy knows me well. She sent the softest throw I have ever seen- and I am not sharing it. She also sent bags of my favorite candy, soup mix, and a Panera card. Charlotte sent a beautiful soup mug/tea mug and book, and LeAnne brought a snuggie and a candle. The undergrad students and faculty sent me the most awesome poster.
Dr. LeAnne Wilhite came on Sunday and brought another load of love!
The next weekend my friend and fellow transplant patient brought her daughter Kyndall all the way from Texas to visit me. I don't know how they fit all of this in their vehicle. My favorite was the drawing by Kyndall. I love how the lungs are happy and strong.
We went to the transplant floor to take our picture with "the sign." As AA says, this represents four lives and two miracles. Kleenex, please.
Michael gave me an awesome gift and it was just what I needed!
Our friends and colleagues Jim and Dr. Joyce Snyder came by. I loved listening to their mission trip stories! They brought a fancy teapot and yummy tea!
My colleague Dr. Jay Bernheisel, who had a liver transplant at Vandy, came by to visit. He reminded me that there are four genomes in this picture!
Chelsea brought one of the best gifts ever- a visit from Willie! Way better than medicine.
Do you see my chipmunk cheeks? Of course you do (but pretend you do not - and please do not tell me that my face "looks good fuller.") Ladies, there is one upside to the prednisone "moon face." No botox or fillers needed!
Christy painted this for me. More kleenex, please.
My friend Shannon, who along with her family is taking care of my dog, designed and sent this mug! She also sent me a book written by the wife of a man who received a lung transplant.
Here are some pictures of our "city house." We are so grateful as it is just across the street from the Dayani center, where I go for rehab. It is also just across the street and down a half block from where I go to get labs, X-ray, and see the transplant doctors. On pretty days we can walk. The apartment is furnished, and all utilities, satellite, and internet are included. Thanks to gifts from friends and the clearance rack at Marshall's we have made it warm and inviting!
Steve and Debbie Wilson brought this oversize recliner all the way from Jackson for us. It has come in handy! I know you won't believe this, but Michael found the table you see beside the chair downstairs to be thrown out. What can I say? He has a gift!
The throw is just on there for the picture. No one is allowed to touch it but me!
Each one of these drawers is filled with medicines and supplies that I use.
The bed became much more comfortable when we purchased a feather bed. I feel like the princess and the pea!
Michael is taking care of the laundry. I have no clue where anything is.
It's not my house, but it is our home until late April. I am grateful for our little city house!
Interesting that I should title this post "showers" of blessing. I think it has rained almost every day in February. There has been devastating flooding all over the south. On one warm day we spent a little time outside. Don't worry, I only took my mask off for the pictures.
My quads are very weak and getting up from this position was quite comical!
Chelsea had a milestone birthday on February 21. That Saturday the entire family came and we went to Maggiano's to eat. If you go there, be sure to get the family style meal. You will be painfully full, and have days worth of food to take home. We are all crazy about Italian food, and it was delicious.
This is just the entrees. The antipasta, salad, and appetizers are gone! Dessert is yet to come.
Dig in!
Mee Maw and the great grands!
Christy is into the game. If you have never played "Hearing Things" you should get it now!
Chelsea is looking confident because she and I are winning.
We also played Five Second Rule, and of course Skip Bo. It was a great day.
One day we had to make a quick trip to Walgreenes. We noticed this. Each full sized stuffed animal was 69 cents. Do you know where my mind (and heart) went?
Five minutes later.
If you guessed "Dominican Republic" then you are right. We bought every one of them for $62. Four huge sacks full!
So, lots of fun things this month. Also I had to swallow some pride and accept showers of blessing.
Amidst all of this there was the transplant stuff........
The weeks are busy. I am doing VERY well, but it is hard work. Twice a day we still do all the vital signs and breathing tests. I am still taking over 30 pills a day. At least one day each week I have labs, a chest X-ray, breathing tests, and I see the doctor/nurse practitioner. Then I go to rehab. That is a full day. Sometimes I have to have extra tests- for example, they have had trouble regulating my tacrolimus this week so I have had labwork every day. Last week I had a CT. There are additional things that come up, and I am in rehab every single day.
I actually like rehab. It makes me feel good to move. That will probably change as they push me more! I started my third week this week, and I am walking 30 minutes on the treadmill at 3 miles per hour, with a 2.0 hill program. I do leg weights every other day, and the seated elliptical on the other days. They add exercises and intensity each week.
I saw Jean the nurse practitioner the day after I came home from the hospital. I was 20 pounds over my pre-transplant weight. The swelling was terrible. She put me on a diuretic. I had fluid in my lungs and around my heart. She made an appointment for me to have the pleural effusions drained. Later, after I left, she called and said Dr. Robbins wanted me to keep up with my intake and output, and to take 100 mg of prednisone for the next 3 days. YIKES! He also wanted me to call him on Saturday.
On Monday I saw the doctor who was going to drain the effusions. He talked to me for a long time about why he did not want to drain them. He felt they would resolve on their own. He also wanted me to take 80 mg of Lasix. He called Dr. Robbins and they agreed.
When I was in the hospital they started me on this horrible medication called Bicitra. I cannot describe to you how awful it is and I am not sure why I was still on it- possibly something to do with my kidneys but who knows It is a liquid that must be diluted and swallowed. It tastes like a really bad grape sour patch kid, except it never gets sweet. It is taken twice a day. Each time I took it was worse than the time before.
I saw Dr. Robbins and begged to have the Bictra stopped. He said he would stop it. He is my favorite! He also felt it might be adding to the swelling. Finally, the swelling began to resolve, and my kidney function also got better. It took about a week. It felt so good to have all that fluid gone and to be myself again.
Monday I had my first bronchoscopy to check for rejection and.....
NO REJECTION.
All glory to God! He is faithful.
Another praise is that I took my last dose of Lovenox last week! No more shots! Maybe I will lose the lovely shade of purple that has taken over my abdomen.
I saw Jean last week and she removed half of my staples (week 5). My appointment with Dr. Bacchetta for my one month post-op was last week. He was very pleased with my progress. He removed a few more of the staples and said the rest could come out week 6. Yikes! Maybe I will just keep them. I should have saved them all- the would have made an interesting piece of jewelry!
Look, he is smiling!
I have been so busy with the tasks of recovery that I still have not wrapped my head around the fact that someone else's lungs are in my chest. I should know this because I can breathe better (FEV1 84% last week). But it is odd. I do think about my donor and his/her family, but I do not think the full realization is there. Sometimes I still think that others were "sicker" and more deserving. When I see patients with oxygen in clinic and rehab, I wonder if they should have received these lungs. Don't judge me, I know that God meant for me to have these lungs, but I am just being honest.
I can sleep in the bed now, but usually wake up in the middle of the night and have to move around due to stiffness in my ribcage. One night I woke up and realized I did not have my oxygen on. For a few minutes I felt a little anxious about it. So many emotions!
But on that note, I am also thinking toward the future. What can I do with healthy lungs? I love to travel, and it will be easier now. I want to reschedule the beach trip we had planned for this month. My niece is getting married in November of 2020. I can't wait to go to Connecticut WITHOUT my oxygen concentrator!
The day I got home from the hospital the first time, this came in the mail:
Coincidence? I think not. What a wonderful way this would be to celebrate my transplant. One summer when my father was stationed in Italy, we took a month and camped all over Italy, Germany, and Switzerland. I remember visiting many of the places on this tour including Oberammergau. Of course we did not see the Passion play that year. It was also right after the 1972 Munich Olympics. I think Michael would love this trip. Now to convince him........
Henry is here for a visit. I was so excited to see him!
So, this has been a very busy month, but God is still in the miracle business. I am progressing so quickly and well that the doctors just smile and shake thier heads. I know that the next two months will be even harder, and I am all in. Bring it! There have been a few bumps in the road, but God is still in control. I trust him fully and have complete peace.
Here's my heart Lord, take and seal it, seal it for thy courts above.
Come thou fount, come thou King; come thou Precious Prince of Peace
Hear your Bride, to You we sing, come thou Fount of our Blessing.
