August Update

I have been home now for 6 weeks, and it has been amazing!  I have done so many things that I haven’t done in a long time.  I have gone to dinner with my family, I have gone shopping IN stores–not online–(what a miracle!!), I have done many parks and so many fun activities with the boys.  I just cannot say enough how much each day feels like a miracle!

At my bronchoscopy 3 weeks ago, it showed that my rejection cleared up!!  That is great news for me!  I am so happy about that.  I have another bronchoscopy this upcoming Tuesday and I hope it shows the same.   One great thing about this Transplant Program is that they really stay on top of these things.  For that, I am grateful.  I am having a complication with some of my medications b/c I found out that I have a fungal infection inside my lungs.  It is not a very good infection to have, but we are treating it aggressively and hope to keep it dormant.  The medicine used to treat this infection is pretty brutal and is totally counteracting my immuno-suppresant drugs.  This has been rough on my body, that is for sure.  A few weeks ago, I drove to Iowa City 5 days in a row b/c I had to do blood work so they could monitor my immuno-suppresant medicine levels and keep a close eye on me.  I am feeling much better right now, but it was a little rough the past few weeks.

Other than that, I still have my local doc appointment once a week, I go to Iowa City once a week, I have pulmonary rehab 3 times a week, and I am starting to go to the YMCA the other days of the week.  As much as exercising is not fun, it is pretty critical for a lung transplant patient to be very active and keep those lungs in tip top shape!  So, I have been doing pretty well in the exercise arena.  I am able to walk at 2.5 speed for 30 minutes straight.  That is SUCH a huge jump for me.  I still can’t believe it when I am doing it.  Even just walking through the store at times, I find myself just smiling b/c I know that 3 months ago, I never could have DREAMED that I would be just casually walking through the store.  It’s the little things, I tell you!!!  🙂

I am getting stronger!  Still very shaky, can’t lift more than 5 pounds, and still get exhausted easily.  But, I am breathing and living life as best as I can and to the fullest!!!  Still a long road ahead of me, that is for sure.  But I am ready for it.

I also would like to say that I get excited about EVERYTHING.  It still has not worn off yet.  I hope it never does!  I have such an appreciation and love for life, and I just can’t get enough of it.  Jay and I were driving home recently from somewhere late at night, and we had the windows open and were just enjoying the night air.  He looked at me and told me that it was one of the best days ever and that he hopes we never allow moments like that to pass.  We just felt so normal and so good just to be enjoying life like everyone else and not worrying about  a thing.  Just the small moments like that are so amazing to us.  We can’t get enough of the simple things.  I love that Jay has that same appreciation for life and all of our moments in life that I do.  🙂

We are just so blessed.  So many amazing people around us, and I am so happy to continue to get stronger and get to see more of our friends that we haven’t seen for so long.  And to be able to do things that we haven’t been able to do for so long.  Blessed is what we are, and we won’t forget it.