Transplant Day

  Two months and a few weeks after being listed for a double lung transplant I had received 5 phone calls for potential lungs.  This morning was my last day living with those congested, broken lungs.

 It was early in the morning, which was the usual time that a coordinator would call.  I was already outside hand washing my Jeep from all the dust and dirt.  Of course having my phone within arm reach and half of a travel bag packed sitting out. While cleaning on my Jeep I get a call from Pittsburgh.  Knowing who it was and what they wanted I still was a little jaded from the other false alarms yet nervous because the more time that passed the greater my odds of getting that perfect set of lungs.  Drying my hands from the soapy water I answer with a casual Hello.  The coordinator on the other end went thru the basic questions they needed to know so we could proceed.  No, I haven't had a fever. Yes, I feel fine, Yes, I am home and can leave immediately.  This time the questions seamed brief and to the point.  For what was to follow was a quick run down of instructions to prepare for arrival and surgery.   This time she had the confidence and authority in her voice that led me to think "this is it."

  My home was 200 miles south on I-79 of the hospital. A mountain interstate full of hills, curves, trucks and traffic.  Which by this time I had known the route well and so I fill up the gas tank, alart my family and friends then took off North to the hospital.  90mph, flashing lights, horn and me behind the wheel.  I had 3 hours.  3 hours to think about life and love.  To re hash my life, find peace and strength for my arrival to UPMC.  Half way was my old college town and best friend who I picked up to be with me.  You see I didnt want support, I had all I ever needed from family and friends but this was my journey.  But the closer I got to my fait the sound of a good friend over the phone was too much to bear.  Shannon joined me in Morgantown and was now along for the ride to surgery and what ever came afterwards.  We laughed, cried,  talked and navigated thru that pittsburgh traffic.  I needed her then, although I didn't know how much at the time I can reflect back and just to have a friend by your side can make all the difference in the world.

Arriving at the ER entrance I was checked in, put into a room and waited   "All that rushing," I thought "I could have took my time and gathered myself better."  But there was no need to deal with a surgery that can potentially kill you the only thing you think of is how invincible I feel now.  Adrenaline I guess, I should know because my whole life I have been seeking those types of adrenaline rushes.  So this one was no different  life or death. Go in give it your all and wait to see the outcome.

  By the time I was prepped for the operating room my parents had arrived and we all just waited.  No word from the staff if this may be a "dry" run.  Everyone seamed positive that the lungs they where preparing for me were the perfect set I had been waiting for.  As time grew near for me to be took back into Anastasia  We all hugged each other, expressed our love and I tried to show the positive attitude and joy I had for this big even.  If I live, I will walk away with a new set of lungs that will allow me to break the bondage of the old lifestyle.  And if I didn't, I feel I did everything I could in life with the old broken lungs that I would have demand respect from any pulmonologist.

  The time had come for me to go under.  I was truly at peace, ready for what ever my come next.  I asked the nurse to just put me out quick, because I didn't know how long I could hold this peace   How long it would be before I understood the brutal realities that are taking shape and I totally loose my cool.  You see, to be facing something like this over and extended period of time you get a chance to think it over and over, you get to see what you have done with your life and what you will do with the next.  All this consumes you and what the statistics, doctors, nurses, PFT's don't matter anymore.  You just feel alive!  So that is where I was, on and off, for weeks leading up to this surgery. Alive!

   After surgery I was Alive. and it was now time for me to do my part to be strong, and positive   Because it isn't like they wake you up and you can breath.  You must now work, work for every breath harder than what I did climbing out of the New River George all those days.  Machines, wires, tubes, beeping, hissing, buzzing.  I felt like I was one of those pedestrians that had a bad encounter with a truck on the highway.  All these people in white and blue tending to my needs and keeping me alive.  We all worked hard, and that hard work payed off.  Time in the hospital was broken down into baby steps.  When I can breath on my own, then I can try to stand.  When the O2 comes up to a particular number then I can walk.  So it went, one thing lead to another each building on one another leading to freedom from the hospital and independence.

   Independence came fast, once I was on my own with Summer taking the role as primary care giver, motivator  friend and a positive attitude to be supported by durring recovery.  It was around this time that I was told I need to "take it easy," Ha "take it easy."   I just got a new lease on life, I can breath and a whole new world has just been opened up to the adrenaline junkie.  Take it easy was a wrong choice of words.  I wanted to take it fast and as hard as I could, There was a Life I needed to Live!!

Adventures in India, local snake charmer