The Evaluation...

It's been a while.  Last week my support staff and I took on BJH.  It was a long 3 days of testing, but we all came through it eazy-breezy.  We had tons of laughs, at Mom's expense of course, and have never had a better time waiting around. Mom hit up the hospital gift shop for an outfit for Bodie Dale's wedding, but came away with only a lousy pair of emergency underpants, appropriately named, "Oops!"  In all seriousness, I am blessed to have family and friends who would literally give me their very last breath.

As for the evaluation, it looks like the docs aren't ready to list me yet, as I am too "healthy"...I use quotes because I just had to sit down to rest after putting sheets on the bed.  Anyway, my lung capacity is 50% and I have been sentenced to using oxygen if I'm active for more than 6 minutes at a time {insert confused silence here}.  We did ask if there was a "magic" number my vital lung capacity would reach before I was listed and the doc said no.  Long story short, when I do get the new lungs the timer will start ticking.  Realistically, I will have between 5 and 10 years.  Obviously, I could have more or less, but I'm known to shoot for average.  So, that said, I really need to suck every last breath out of these babies before I trade them in for a new model.  Until then, I will continue to see my docs here and organize my pretty little pills.  I need to lose about 25 more pounds, but I'm learning to cook healthier and am enjoying getting in shape.  No, really.

So...cheers all around!  I'm in good spirits and am learning quickly, that the little things don't matter.  None of us are guaranteed tomorrow, so does it matter if the lid on the trash can has coffee stains all over it or the blanket on the couch never gets folded? Yes, because if I don't have tomorrow, I don't want my mom see my messy house.

I often think about what allows us to walk by faith and not by sight.  It's all of you and I thank you.

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.   

James 1:2-3

The Call...

As some of you might know, I received a call from Barnes Jewish in St. Louis telling me I have been accepted into their transplant program *BIG SIGH* and I've scheduled my initial appointments.  Now, my sister can fixate on issues that will arise with my visit to STL in May...where everyone is going to sleep, what we are going to eat and when, what chair Dad is going sit in, how she can get me to shoot apple cider vinegar...

On May 23, I will begin 4 days of tests; Monday and Tuesday they will check all my parts and Wednesday I will get a heart catheterization.  From there, the test results go to the transplant team and they will assign me a number from 0-100.  If I'm on the higher end, I will meet with the transplant team, dietitian, financial department and lung-recipients.  If I am on the lower end, they will postpone the rest of the intake procedure and ask me to come back later, say in 6 months or so.

I am still enjoying every beautiful day, and the dreary ones, too.  I feel great and am still exercising everyday with the help of small oxygen tanks and Sir Mix-a-lot Swass.  Yes, there are stares at the gym, but I'm not near as interesting as "that one guy".  You know him, he just walks around and looks at himself in the mirror, not really doing much of anything except flexing and talking to pretty girls.

Thank you for your continued prayers and constant encouragement.  Enjoy the beautiful day.

Worry...

It seems to occupy me most of the time.  After hearing Pastor Eric's message yesterday, I've decided that it's time for me quit wringing my hands and roll up my sleeves.  If you have time, listen to Eric's message...you will feel like a weight has been lifted.

Click on the link below. Yesterday's message is Week 15 of the book of Matthew.

http://www.thejourneytn.org/messagecenter.aspx?parentnavigationid=10003

First Day-Hike of Spring...

It is said that gals are 6 times more likely to exercise if their spouses join them.  Today, with Dave faithfully by my side, the first day-hike of spring went down.  It was a beautiful day, clean trails and nice people.  God has done some great work in Eastern Tennessee.

A Sigh of Relief...

Since 2007, I've wanted a deep breath...like the one that most people take when they laugh, cry, nap or dance.  One that doesn't hurt or come with the changing of the laundry or walking to the mailbox.  One that doesn't help with getting through a sentence or singing in the car.


We've spent the last few years asking "why".  In January, I was diagnosed with end-stage idiopathic fibrosis. A lung disease associated with autoimmune disease which causes the healthy lung tissue to harden, not able to fill with air.  The cure?  A double-lung transplant followed by a lifetime of organizing brightly colored pills.  For my family, that was the best news we could hear, a chance for a sigh of relief.  After months of unanswered questions and the fear that there were not answers, we could now begin asking "what".  What do I do to make this second chance count? What is God's plan for this body? What can I ever do to repay my family and friends for rearranging their lives to be my support system? What in the world has my husband gotten himself to?


I'm ready.  I'm ready for my sigh of relief.  My deep breath.