April: Fun surprises and bittersweet goodbyes

"Yes, the Lord has done amazing things for us, and we are filled with joy."

Psalm 126:3

As I began the third month of recovery from my double lung transplant, I grew weary of being in the apartment and in the clinic/lab/radiology/rehab.  The routine was the same- labs, spirometry, clinic visits, xray, and daily rehab. One pretty afternoon in early April, Michael and I ventured to Cheekwood Gardens.  It was tulip time.

There was also a train exhibit.  Can you see Michael's face in the window?

We toured a gorgeous mansion there.  The people who owned it sold their coffee "recipe" to Maxwell House, and well, the rest is history!

It was a beautiful way to spend an afternoon.  You should plan a trip there.  There are many activities.  

I was so enouraged after this little trip, because I realized that I had done many things that I could never have without these healthy new lungs.  We walked for hours, up and down hills.  We walked up stairs in the mansion.  Never once did I have to stop and rest.  I was able to soak in every drop of the splendor of this place.  Thank you, Lord, for giving us such a beautiful world.  Thank you donor, for making it possible for me to enjoy it.

The second week of April, I was scheduled for GI tests.  Even though I had no issues with swallowing or reflux before surgery, complications can occur as a result of the surgery, so everyone goes through these tests. 

The first test was esophageal manometry, which measures your ability to swallow.  This is my third rodeo with this test!  It is not fun at all, but you can do it- it does not last long.

This is the monitor where the tech watches the data.

If you are squeamish, scroll through the next pictures.  

A tube is inserted down the esophagus into the stomach via the nose.  This tube is covered with a mesh- it measures the force exerted by the muscles of your esophagus when you swallow.

If you remember from my first blog post, my friend and fellow transplant recipient/blogger, told me not to sugar coat anything.  So I will tell you that this is uncomfortable, and maybe a little painful. But it does not last long!  You cannot be sedated because you have to be able to swallow on command.  They do squirt some lidocaine jelly in your nose for numbing.

THis is the tube.  I just noticed that it is colored like a snake!

The insertion procedure.  None of this is ladylike!

Success!  It is in place!  (Oh, I forgot to tell you that you get to wear a designer gown for this test too!)

After it is in place, you swallow small sips of saline ten times, and the machine records the pressure at different places in your esophagus.  I am not sure why it is saline and not water.  Saline is not tasty. 

My husband used portrait mode for this next picture.  How funny.  I guess if you are going to have your picture taken with a tube in your nose, it should be  professional quality!

Finished. This is Karen, who performed the test.  She made it bearable.  See, we are both smiling.

The next test for the day was an EGD with placement of a BRAVO capsule.  Sounds complex, doesn't it?  Not so much.  You might know EGD as "upper GI"- the patient is put to sleep and the doctor passes a tube/camera through the mouth and esophagus into the stomach.  They look to see if the tissue is normal, make sure there are no lesions or masses, and they can take biopsies.  In this procedure, a small capsule was attached to the esophagus.  The capsule somehow constantly measured the pH level and transmitted it to a small box I had to keep with me for 48 hours.  I had to record when I ate and when I slept.  The only bad part was that it took seven attempts to start my IV.  Possibly it was because I had been fasting for 20 hours for this test (it was scheduled in the afternoon).  

Thankfully, all those tests were normal.  They did find out that I have a "jackhammer esophagus" - that means I swallow with alot of force- but it is not causing issues to it is nothing to worry about.  It is a fun thing to list on my medical history, though.

I got permission to go home for the weekend again!  When we got to town, it was about 4:15, but we stopped by campus anyway.  I did not tell them I was coming, so when they saw me at the end of the hall with my mask, they said it was "either Kelly or a robber."  Look at all these smiles.  I love these people!

 Henry was glad to see me.  

The College of Nursing hosted a nurse practitioner conference on Saturday.  I got to go for a few hours.  There were about 80 in attendance- students, graduates, colleagues, friends.  I did not tell anyone I was coming and it was so great to see them!

Conference planners, Dr. Cathy Ammerman, me, Buster the Bulldog, Dr. Cullen Williams, and Dr. Pasty Crihfield.  Yes, we shed some tears!

This is the lady who taught me everything I know about being an excellent nurse practitioner- Beverly McCann.  She was my preceptor in school, and I have practiced with her ever since.  She now has her own clinic, and I practice there one day a week.  She is a dear friend and I hope I am half the nurse practitioner she is!

Two of the many NP grads who were there- Cayce Redding and Kathy Hurst.  They have a special place in my heart, and someday we are going to start that red wagon clinic, right ladies?

More of our grads and colleagues- it was so great to be back with my "peeps"!

April is Donate Life month, and flag ceremonies are held to honor donors. I will be attending the one in Jackson next year!  Michael and I went to the Vanderbilt ceremony on April 16th.   It was so touching.  We heard from donor families and the stories filled us with sorrow and joy.

There was an art exhibit called "The Art of the Scar."  High school seniors worked with transplant recipients on this project.  I loved it.  Here is one of the pieces that I wanted to share.

My birthday was on April 17th.  My first birthday with new lungs- my "breath-day" as one of my students so eloquently stated.  I spent it like no other- I started at the Dayani Center, on the treadmill.  3.2 miles on a random hill program at level 3 for an hour.

20 minutes on the Rex (I call it the T. Rex!) at a random level 4 program.

Three different leg weight machines.

Three different types of arm weights (yes, those are only 2 pound weights- I am a wimp).

  

The elliptical- instrument of Satan.  I have increased from one minute to three minutes.  I do not understand how you guys do this.

I had a Zoom meeting with some of my colleagues at Union in the afternoon.

My good friend Ashleigh-Anne sent me this bracelet that is so symbolic of this journey- HE makes me brave.

Flowers from our good friends the Ashworths, the Seals, and the Austins.

Our good friends David and Tracey Holmes met us for dinner at Maggianos.  We had a great time!

A perfect end to the day with a BIG cup of Earl Gray and raspberry white chocolate cake.

We love all the street art in Nashville.  This is a Donate Life mural that one of my students told me about.  We found it one afternoon on the way to lunch.

The weekend after my birthday was Easter, and I had already gotten permission to go home for the weekend. My church, Englewood Baptist, was having our Easter service at the ballpark.  Sandi Patty was the special guest.  Her music helped me through many of the ups and downs of my life.  She has the voice of an angel, an unbelievable range, and can sing any genre of music. My oldest daughter Christy grew up listening to her on cassette tapes in my car.  She knew every word to every song as a toddler!  I was looking forward to church.  I promised to wear a mask, sit far away, and not touch anyone.

First, we celebrated my birthday at home.  

Chelsea and Willie came home.  You can see that Willie is still not fond of Henry.  In fact, he will not even look at him!

I was so excited on Easter morning.  I had not been to church since January 19th.  Streaming the service is not the same.  When we got to the ballpark, Michael told me they had arranged for us to have a skybox so I could avoid the crowds.  I saw Dr. Oliver, who is the President of Union and our interim preacher- he told me  "Today, just do as you are told."  I thought he was talking about the skybox.  As we waited, Tammy Grant (our choir director) came up and told me to come with her.  I thought it was odd, but we all got in a golf cart with her and ended up on the field.  As the cart stopped, I saw our worship leader- Travis Cottrell, walk towards us with Sandi Patty herself!  I began crying like a baby,  of course.  

What a gracious, sweet, wonderful person she is!  I broke the "don't touch people" rule.  

More tears!  She is so genuine, and I am humbled that she would take time from her busy morning for me!

The whole family!  My dad would have loved this.  

My husband Michael began working on this surprise months ago- Travis and Dr. Oliver got it all in place.  My daughters Christy and Chelsea were also sending emails and working behind the scenes.  

Amazing music, inspirational sermon, and sweet fellowship.  The best Easter ever!

I had my clinic visit the next Tuesday, and was told that I needed to have my bronchoscopy that afternoon, get lab work early Thursday, and then I could head home for good (well, for 6 weeks).  I was released to work half time - I argued about that of course, as I was expecting to go back full time, but I did not win that arguement with sweet Dr. Stephanie Norfolk! I LOVE her!

I have two God stories that revolve around that bronchoscopy.

The CRNA who took care of me was Brett Clay.  We and discovered that we knew many of the same people.  As we talked, his eyes got big and he said "I prayed for you!"  Our mutual friend Dr. Racheal Brown had posted a request for prayer for me during my transplant.  What are the odds of meeting a complete stranger who prayed for you specifically and did not even know you?  I was so glad I had a chance to meet him.

After my bronchoscopy, while I was in recovery, Dr. Tiffany Richburg stopped by to see me.  She asked me if I remembered her.  Of course I did, but I was surprised she remembered me; she is the anesthesiologist I met during my first bronchoscopy.  She was so energetic and caring and I immediately liked her.   Anyway, she said that someone had recently shown her a picture of me wearing a shirt that said "Saved by Jesus and an Organ Donor."  She told me "I love Jesus too."  We had a great conversation.  

The story does not end there.  Tonight I texted my good friend and colleague Dr. Ethan Simpson, who is a CRNA at Vanderbilt, to ask Dr. Richburg's name, because I did not remember it.  He knew right away who I was talking about, and told me that he also had a cool story about her.  It seems we had the same story.  Ethan is the one who showed her the picture of me!  He said that Dr. Richburg remarked "I'm so glad she's doing well, but even more glad that she loves Jesus."  What?  How amazing is that?  God places his children where we least expect them.  

And by the way, Dr. Ethan Simpson is joining our faculty full time in July.  We are so excited!

I was surprised that I felt a little sad about leaving "Vandyland."  There were many bittersweet "see ya laters."

Dr. Robbins photobombed this picture of me with Jen the transplant pharmacist and Dr. Norfolk. He is not as stuffy as he wants everyone to think he is!

Ginger, the clinic nurse. She is so compassionate and knows us all so well!

We went back to the CVICU to see Eric, the nurse that took care of me the first few days.  What a difference 3 months makes!

The team at the Dayani Center (rehab).  They are awesome!

My "lab ladies" Diane and Lysteria.  They are always smiling!

Another dream team- the transplant coordinators.  Erin (pre transplant) on my left, Marla (post transplant)  behind me, and Elizabeth (post transplant) on my right.  They have been and will continue to be my point of contact.  They are so dedicated to being patient advocates, and they are on top of everything!

On Wednesday I went to rehab.  My final 6 minute walk there was 1950 feet- when I started rehab it was 950 feet!  For lunch, we found a great "burger joint" in Nashville.  I am not a burger fanatic, but this diner- style food is amazing.  You should try it!  We went to the one on West End.

Thursday morning we packed up, I had my blood drawn, and we hit the road to Jackson. I got a call later from Elizabeth, telling me that my bronchoscopy was normal- no rejection.  Praise God!  I have to have blood drawn in Jackson and also to keep exercising daily, but I do not have to return to Vanderbilt until June 4th.

Over the weekend, I slept a lot and tried to find somewhere to put all of the "stuff" we brought home from our apartment.  Where did it all come from? 

I planned to be on campus from 10-2 on Monday.  It was so good to park in the regular parking.  No handicapped spot for me!

It was so heartwarming to be on our beautiful campus.  It was like going home. This is not a postcard- it is a picture from my phone.  The Logos, our library, administrative offices, and coffee shop, is the domed building in the back.  The clock tower is a landmark in Jackson.  

Here is my "home."

I took the stairs, not the elevator, for the first time in many, many years.

I'm getting closer----

Someone has decorated my door!

A surprise welcome back/birthday party. Cake and chicken minis- yum! My family.  They sure know how to make me feel loved.  Now can you see why I love my job so much?

Beautiful flowers!

My good friend Patsy had this made for me. I might have ugly cried.

My dear friend Karen brought this to me.  My birthstone is on it, and someday I can add my donor's birthstone if possible.  More ugly crying.

This has been a month of surprises and transition.  Being home is a little strange, and I have had emotions that I never expected.  I still reach for my oxygen cannula when I get in bed at night. Things are different, but I have to remember that  I am not the same person I was when I left here on January 22nd.  I have still not processed all that has happened.  It is going to take some time.  Taking care of myself is still time consuming.  I  still have to do vital signs, spirometry, weight, etc. at 7 am and 7 pm.  There are still many medications to take.  I will be having blood drawn frequently here at home.  I also have to go to the gym every day.  The side effects of the medications are not much of fun, wearing the mask is awkward, and not touching people seems rude, but breathing trumps every bit of that!  

I have missed my sister tremendously through all of this, especially during the last month.  You can tell your sister things you cannot tell anyone else.  She would have been here for me, literally and figuratively. Was my donor someone's sister?  Are they missing her like I miss my sister?  

This was the message in a fortune cookie I got recently.  

I realize it is just a fun cookie, but the message is true. God has a plan. I am so grateful to my donor for the miracle that makes it possible for me to keep walking through new doors.