Someday an answer will find me....

It has been a long winter.

Lately I've been having a couple of blood problems. Too high of this. Too low of that. I still have blood labs done twice a week and generally although I check the results online, I don't hear much from the transplant center unless something is way wrong.

I heard from them last week and they ordered several extra blood tests for me to have done this past Monday. I heard from them again this morning with the news that I have an active blood virus that they are a bit concerned about.
Concerned to the point of quadrupling my medicine and restarting the IVs that I had received once a month for three months in the fall. Now they want those IVs to be done everyday for the foreseeable future. They briefly told me that they will put a long-term use IV line into my arm and then I will have the fun of giving myself the IV each day.

My next clinic appointment wasn't suppose to be until April, now they want me to come up in two weeks for a "major" blood work-up and consultation to see where things stand. 

That's all I know for now. I'm sure more will follow.

It has been a long winter.

Done Vida

A beautiful painting of the Gift of Life symbol that Kara made for me for Christmas.

              March is National Donate Life Month.

                                               Read up on it.           Think about it.

Gift of Life Donor Program                                            United Network for Organ Sharing

                                                    Facts About Organ Donation

                                                             Blurring the Lines...

This is a repost of an interview of  the March 19, 2012 episode of NPR's Fresh Air program with Terry Gross.

It is incredibly thought provoking and extremely informative. 
To give equal opportunity to all sides be sure to listen to the whole episode.

And check out this Pinnacle video on the right side of the page here: 
http://www.pinnaclehealth.org/transplant.aspx

Countless thanks to any persons who have donated or intend to donate life saving organs.

Seven

SEVEN months ago today, at this moment, I was in surgery with machines doing my breathing for me, machines pumping and cleaning my blood, machines monitoring my heart, my lungs and my brain activity.

Machines making sure I was alive and some damn fine doctors doing their best to keep me that way.

Now seven months later, by their genius hands and by the grace of God, I remain that way.

Although no one knows exactly which day has their name on it, I've been advised by the same doctors that I most likely wouldn't be here this day without that day seven months ago.

And so......I remain v e r y  thankful. 

'Seventy times seven times' thankful.

The incisional hernia fix was a month ago tomorrow and although things are still not feeling all copacetic in that region, Dr. Yang assures me it's "all fixed."  Time will tell. 

It's been a crazy, rocky road but as of  late things have settled down into a post transplant groove that will serve as my "normal" for the future. The sudden changes, unexpected events, and all the daring drama seem to have faded for now or perhaps it's just the excitability of the patient that has calmed.

Either way, this blog is obviously starting to wind down as it has successfully served the purpose for which I intended it. I've been asked to speak on a transplant panel in June and I hope to see if this blog could continue to help anyone else and so I will keep it going for the time being and post when I have something new to report.

Thank you for continuing to check in here.

Like a Phoenix......

Well.....got through yet another one.

All went as planned and now CaseID 321918 is back in his comfy home this snowy evening.
It was questionable early this morning if we would even be able to get to the hospital with the ice and snowy weather. Dr. Yang's office even called to see if I would be there, as north bound route 83 was completely shut down for a while. (Thanks to several of you for the ride offers.) But we left with plenty of time and Nick got me there and we were even early.

2/3/1014 - 2:23 pm

FRM:orstatus@pinnaclehealth.org

MSG:CaseId: 321918, Patient has arrived in the Operating or Procedure Room

________________________

FRM:orstatus@pinnaclehealth.org

MSG:CaseId: 321918, Surgery or procedure has started

________________________

FRM:orstatus@pinnaclehealth.org

MSG:CaseId: 321918, Surgery complete; preparing patient to leave the room

________________________

FRM:orstatus@pinnaclehealth.org

MSG:CaseId: 321918, Patient is in the Post Anesthesia Care/Recovery Unit

________________________

FRM:orstatus@pinnaclehealth.org

MSG:CaseId: 321918, Patient has been discharged from the surgical area

The doctor continued my pancreas incision making it a bit longer. Which, although a little more than uncomfortable, I guess is better than a brand new cut because with all the surgeries I've had over the years I'm really beginning to look like some kind of thingamajigsawpuzzle.

                                                                          Dr. Yang

Things are true to what the doc said - 

I'm pretty sore this evening and he's collared me with several limitations (grrrr) like:
NO snow shoveling, No lifting any weight at all, and No driving for a while.

So if you see me thumbing along the road of recovery stop and give me a lift. Will ya?

I've got good stories. 

I promise it wouldn't be a boring ride.

Thanks to all of you for all your support and for checking in here.

This is Worth My Attention......

Today, it has been six months since my surgery. This is kind of a milestone in the transplant world.
I was reminded by a very good friend last night, as I was watching the Penguins game, that six months ago I was in a very different place, thinking very different thoughts. I fell asleep last night reliving those moments.
All in all, it's great to be here.
Six months ago, at this moment, I was just about half-way through my transplant surgery.
Tomorrow at this time they should just be finishing up my incisional hernia surgery and then it's back to the now familiar road of recovery.

I certainly appreciate all the good wishes and offers of help, and to the people who observed this 6 month date with me. It brings a big 'ole smile to my face. Thank You!
I'll post tomorrow after-the-fact to let you know how it all goes.
Thanks for checking in here.

Another step on the road.....

The hernia fix is scheduled for February 3. 

Before that happens I need to have a new EKG and another chest X-ray. 

Evidently the ones I had done five months ago aren't valid anymore.

I had all the preliminary bloodwork done today.

Although I've had hernia surgery before, and would prefer to have that doctor do it again,  Dr. Yang wants to do it himself at Harrisburg just so no one is messing around so close to the project that he has been overseeing for almost six months now.

The doc seemed happy with my overall progress but made no real mention of  me hitting what he termed earlier as "a major benchmark" of 6 months post-op.

As I've said once or twice before, if you want info from Dr. Yang you have to really be extremely assertive with questions. Then you have to be particularly cautious that he knows you are not questioning him but rather asking questions for the want of information.

The subtle nuances of dealing with transplant specialists.

Thanks for looking here.

Next....

So, since this incisional hernia is the big pressing problem that I'm dealing with physically right now, the tx staff have moved my six month post-transplant clinic up 14 days to tomorrow.

I hope to find out how they are going to handle this and more importantly how soon.

Details to follow.