Update on my house

So I went to the bank at the starting of last week to see what my options are. Basically I got none. They said they can try and refinance for a lower rate but cant do that till I get up to date on my payments :( They asked why I was having a hard time and I explained I have had a hard time catching up since I was off work for so long because of transplant and such. The lady I was talking to was very compassionate and was asking me about my transplant as her friend "jamie" that lives in T.O had a dbl lung transplant due to CF. What a small world. I inquired on his last name but seeing as he was a friend of a friend she couldn't remember the last name. So I have weighed the options as I cant even sell. And I don't think there is an option of just signing it over to someone without lots of legal fees which I do not have the money for that. So as it is i am just staying for a couple months without making payments to save for first and last and find a place all inclusive to rent. I have been looking around Barrie and area as Midland/Penetang has nothing really keeping me here anymore. Barrie is close enough to commute to work every day and I will be able to hang out with my brother more. I am not too sure on how foreclosure works but I guess I will find out. And lets face it you cant get blood from a rock. This whole situation has been playing heavily on my mind the last couple of days and results have been getting headaches so bad I haven't been able to go to work, which in the end doesn't help the financial situation. I feel I really have no one to turn to to help but really its something I have to do for myself.
So any of you that read this know of a place coming available in the Barrie area let me know, I'm ideally looking for a house with at least 2 bedrooms and hopefully at least a single car garage.

Holidays done along with assesment

Things have been going pretty good. I met a wonderful woman, Things are going great between us. This I can truly day is the first time I have felt completely in love. Its an odd feeling, don't know if any of you readers ever get or got the feeling that when you met a person it feels like you have known them for years. Well that's exactly how we both feel. Holidays were nice. Spent it at Rainy Lake with my brother where we had spread my dads ashes. Fishing wasn't the best but was still nice and relaxing. Girlfriend and he 2 kids spent the weekend with me there but they had to leave Monday cause she had to work. Then my brothers partner came up Monday with his daughter and stayed till Friday. It didn't rain at all up there. Was a little cool and windy for a few days, but the last couple days it got hot which was great.
Saturday packed up and headed home. I had to quickly unpack and and pack another bag to head to my girlfriends for the weekend and Monday and Tuesday.
We went to her Aunts Birthday party in Burlington where I got to meet alot of her family. I had a great time. We headed back to her place Sunday. Monday we all went down to TGH for my first day of my 1.5 year assessment. It went great and got lots of compliments from my Dr and also the physiotherapist in the treadmill room. I had my 6 min walk test, which I did 695m, I was above average of a perfectly health person non transplant. The predicted distance for a person healthy is 630m! Plus I managed to do it in Flip flops hahahaha.
My clinic was great. Dr said you would never know I was a transplant recipient. And she kidded on why I was even there lol. Tuesday was my bronch. They seen nothing and said it looks perfect in there.

I am still deciding how to unload my house. It is kinda stressing me out lol. Like I figured I will be making my mortgage payment late this month as the money just isn't there :(  So hopefully I come up with a solution.

What a challenging few weeks

Well these last few weeks have really challenged my mental state. I recently broke up with the girl I was seeing who had moved in. only after 2 months of dating. It was kinda a spare of the moment. She needed to find a place so I had suggest well hey lets try. Well I was horrifically wrong. Things were fine for only a short amount of time before things started falling apart. I have learned that dating and living with someone is 2 totally different things. I broke things off with her but cause she had 2 small children, I told her she could stay in the front from for a month or 2 till she saved for first and last. Well things just got worse from there. I seen no real motivation in finding or saving for that matter and it just lurked me. I talked to a couple of people and got some advice on my situation. I was told to go see the police and talk. Which I did and found she had no right in being there and cause it was my last resort had her removed.
Now only two weeks prior I was kinda seeing a girl that I was getting to know. I thought things were going fine. We were having fun and enjoying each others company. Then I found my so called best friend slept with her. I was crushed and deeply hurt, not cause she did it but cause my so called friend just did it with no thought in outcomes and such. In doing this he hurt a few relationships. I sadly had to let our friendship go.
 With all this that has happened I have decided to just date the odd time but in no way I'm going to be getting into a relationship anytime soon, let alone let someone move in with me. I am just going to try and enjoy my life. Cause life is too short to worry about the people that hurt you. You have to let them go and move forward!
Almost 2 weeks from now me and my brother will be heading up to our usually cottage for a week. I am hoping to just relax, don't worry about a thing and fish like hell!
Although when I do get home I have to seriously figure out how to get rid of my house. Right now I feel trapped and not able to get out. I'm sure in another 1-2 months I will not be able to make my mortgage. I may make it but in exchange not be able to pay any of my bills :( Just that is very stressful. my house does need work but I got no money to get it up to par to get hopefully what I paid for it. Sometimes I think of just walking away but in reality where would I go? I have alot of stuff that I have to take with me.
So ya right now I'm kinda lost in what to do booo :(

Just an update

Well hello everyone,
I cant believe come July 25th I will be 1.5 years post transplant! Where does the time go? I feel its going by way too fast. I have been very lucky and have not had any complications or illness. I have had a couple colds and a nasty ear infection. But other then that no iv's or hospitalization. I still think about my dear friend that lost her battle this month. It really puts things into perspective on how valuable life is. They have booked my assessment for Aug 27-28th Its the Monday and Tuesday after I get back from holidays. Thank god I no longer have to do the Gastric Emptying test anymore! Its just my regular day Monday (blood work,pft's. chest x ray and cat scan,6 min walk test and then clinic) They have booked my bronchoscopy for Tuesday. A couple of my other transplant friends also have their assessments too so will be nice to see them and catch up :)
Its less then one month till I head to the cottage for a week of fishing and enjoying the peace and quiet of the north. I am so looking forward to it!
This coming long weekend im gonna go up to my sister and brother in-laws trailer for a visit. They have it on the Magnetawan river which is just north of Point au barel. Havent decided if im going just for the day or a couple, we will see.
This Saturday the 28th with sadly be the 12 year anniversary of the passing of my dad. I father and a best friend to me. Like I said earlier time goes by way too fast! Me and my brother are planning on driving up and just sitting on the shore and have a visit. We are hoping some friends are at the cottage and we can say hello. We haven't been able to our cottage the same time as them anymore.
Life for me has been going. I have been sorting things out and finding out what I really want. To enjoy my self and experience life. I had to let a best friend go this past week due to certain circumstances. It was sad. We did alot together and had some fun together but when a person crosses a line and breaks trust its hard to ever trust or forget about what happened, I no longer want negativity and doubtfulness in my life. Life is too shorty to have to deal with that!

I will try and update in a few weeks.

Its time for a change

Have going thru a life saving procedure and having no idea how long it will extend my life, makes me think of certain things. After loosing a close transplant friend and seeing how fast things can go down hill and hearing news of others that are having several problems and possibly facing a second transplant is one thing that is always in the back of my mind. Its hard not to think about it having gone thru it. I always longed for a relationship and such, but now I just wanna go out and enjoy my life, simplify my life, have nothing tieing me down and do my own thing. Although I will/did hurt feelings along the way I have concluded I have to just worry about me. Its my life and the only life I will have. Who knows what will happen next year or on. I too have loved and gotten my heart broken, but I pick up the pieces and move on. I believe everything happens in this world for a reason.

Long Time No Update

Well well, things have been going great at this end.  No complications or anything...knock on wood. I'm enjoying the beautiful summer weather, that is when I'm not working lol. In the next couple of weeks I will be challenging myself along with these new wonderful pink lungs, where I will be participating in the Warrior Dash at Horseshoe Resort. It should be fun and certainly an experience. Also end of August me and my brother will be heading up to the cottage we rent every year. Looking forward to floating around in the boat and doing some fishing. Haven't gotten out much for fishing. Weekends are always so busy. I have already been to Canada's Wonderland twice this summer and it was a blast and planning on heading a few more times before the end of the season. Gotta love season passes :)
Here is a video taken by a participant in last years Warrior Dash. So you get an idea what I'm in for hahaha.http://youtu.be/O4kz6poULio

I am also booked for my 18 month Post Tx assesment the monday I get back from holidays on the 27th. I still cant believe its already been a year and a half. Time is just going by way too fast. Sometimes I wish I didnt have to work so I could enjoy it a little bit more.

Great Strides May 27th

Hello folks,

Ive been pretty busy with life. Nothing really in particular just work and stuff around the house, getting my car on the road.
I have been seeing a wonderful women for the last month and things seem to be going great!
Last week I did my first public speech on CF and Transplant. I was a little nervous at first but got thru it. I seen a few tears shed so I'm hoping the message got out there that there has to be a cure found. I have been helping out with organizing the second annual Barrie Great Strides Walk for CF on May 27th. We are dedicating the walk to my dear transplant and cf friend who lost her battle this march.
Last year my teams goal was $1000 and we raised over $2000, so this year I set our goal to $3000 so hopefully we can make that and surpass it!
If you would like to make a donation, any little bit makes a difference just click on the link below.https://secure.e2rm.com/registrant/welcome.aspx?EventID=85905&LangPref=en-CA&RegistrationID=1352464&Referrer=direct%2fnone



This is a news clip from last years Walk. Allison and I were both interviewd.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flOatfAKBsA&list=FLsUvh30HdeNbLauTF8xECzg&index=3&feature=plpp_video

Reflecting on the past week.

This last week has been very tough for me and can only imagine what the family is going thru. Thursday night was the visitation of a friend, cfer and transplantie. It was a very emotional night for all. Allison was truly loved and had lots of friends and family.
Friday afternoon was the final goodbye for Allison and to let her go to a better place where she can now breath easy. The church was filled with no seating left. The service was very beautiful. So now the healing process starts.
Like I was telling my brother today. Some people think yes I just lost another cf friend. But She was more of just another cf friend. She was a true friend! And cause of that this has really hit me hard.
Its so hard to think she is gone. But like her family told me to not take life for granted. Cause you never know when you might not be here. Like Allison's boyfriend said she did more in 1 year as a couple that many people do in 2 years. She was a true inspiration and will live each day to the fullest just for her!
Another thing my brother said when I told him I was glad that I didn't go to Florida this past week cause I would not have gotten the chance to say a final goodbye to a wonderful person, He said "everything happens for a reason" meaning there was a reason I wasn't meant to go to Florida.
So hope we can all heal our hearts and souls and think that Allison is looking down on us. I am not a religious person but am beginning to think there has to be something up there to look forward to.
You are greatly missed by all Allison Reid, You were a true friend,Daughter,Sister and Girlfriend! Breath Easy beautiful angel.

Today we say good bye to a good friend

Today has to be about the worst day I have had in a long time. I woke up really late for work and had to rush out the door with no breakfast. Later on in the morning I learned that a good Cysta had lost her battle with an infection she had been fighting over a month with. She recieved her double lung transplant a week before me. We had met off a cf website previous and attended the same cf clinic. We also lived up north of the city in the same area. We created a bond and helped out each other thru things. I was her support through her waiting for her call as she was for me. I was so happy to hear that she had gotten her call and a chance at a new life. She was yound and deserved it! Then I week later I got my call, how amazing! We both recovered together on the transplant ward and did your physio rehab.
That may we both did the Great Strides walk in Barrie and were asked to be the ribbon cutters for the start of the first annual walk for cf.
She met a great man and fell in love. I was so happy for her. She got to go back to college and get backing into her nurse schooling. She did get to experience alot of things she didnt get to before transplant in such a short time, but indeed it was a short time and deserved longer on the earth. She had and was a true fighter and never gave up even at the end. Although I dont know the final details of what happened and am gonna leave it at that, her family has enough to deal with at the moment of loosing their twin daughter/sister. She is now up looking down on all us sending us her strength she showed and breathing easy.

With all this happening, it shows how short life can be sometimes. I am just in awe and has really scared me. What to say this could happen to me today,next week or months from now. It can happen so fast. I know know why when im meeting someone to date and I mention I have CF they just turn and run. There is not enough strong women out there, what ever happened to love triumphs all?
I wish I didnt have to work and be able to just go out and enjoy life and explore new things and new adventures instead of wasting my time working 5 days a week.
I just dont know anymore, feel like life is passing me by and that anyday I could not be here or get so sick that I cant do anything and wish I could of.


RIP Allison I will always remember the times and talks we have had, you can now breath easy beautiful women.

Time to celebrate

It is now officially one year since I got that call on a February night. I got the results back from my bronchocopy and it show no rejection at all. So they lowered my prednisone again to 7.5mg. All my other tests I imagine were fine as they would of contacted me if anything wasn't good....well at least I hope they would hahaha. That's about all on the transplant side. Life has been going pretty healthy with no complications.
In other news, I held a huge party on the 25th to celebrate my 1 year mark, my 36th birthday and my brothers 33rd birthday. There were tons of people here and was a wicked night! i am so lucky to have such wonderful friends!

As I mentioned in the blog previous that I had to bow out of the trip to Florida. But I did get to box the cottage at Rainy Lake for the second last week of August. I have to at least get away somewhere this year lol.

Such a stress filled day!

Today was my last test for my 1 year assessment. Wow 1 year where does the time go? I had the solid gastoric emptying test today. Its kinda nasty test. They give you a microwaved egg white which they inject radiation into. They then take an image at the 1 hour and 2 hour mark then the last one at 2 1/2 hours after the 2 hour mark. So it was a long boring morning. You cant eat or drink anything till the test is over. Tuesday I had my bronchoscopy which my favorite dr did. That went fine, was awake for the whole thing which I like alot better. Monday was all the small tests such as blood work (after they got my paper work) Pulmonary function test which was an amazing 96%, chest ct scan, 6 min walk test which I also did amazing with too. Then clinic. It was truly a long day didn't get out of TGH till almost 5pm.





Today I got the dreaded awful news that my good transplant friend Allison who's blog can be found here : http://allisonswaitinggame.blogspot.com/ She was transferred to Toronto from up here cause of fevers, today I heard she is now fighting for her life on life support. It is so unreal. We were both recovering in hospital after transplant as she got hers a week before me. I am truly praying she pulls through. I am so not ready to say good bye to another transplant friend. The world can be so mean sometimes. I remember her excitement that she was able to return back to school for nursing and she met the man of her dreams. She was living life to the fullest. Its just so unfair!!!
On another note I was suppose to be going to Florida with my brother, his partner and family. But after lots of thought I had to pull out due to financial reasons. I'm pretty upset cause I was looking forward to it so much but such is life.

All I got to say is tomorrow better be a better day, sure hope I hear some positive news about Allison. It is really gonna be tough to sleep tonight!

Wow 1 Year Mark Coming Up!

It crazy that come the 25th of this month will be a year that I received the gift of life. It has truly been a blessing and and so happy that I have almost beaten the first odd. I hope there is many many more years ahead! I am at Toronto General 3 days next week for my assessment. Its gonna be a very long day Monday and then Tuesday and Wednesday are just half days. I am planning a huge party on the 25th to celebrate my 1 year mark my 36th birthday which is the 27th and my brothers birthday which was the 4th. It should be a great time and cant wait for it!

On other news, im still working my ass off. I have signed up for the warrior dash in July and in a few weeks will be heading to Orlando.
I have been deciding on what I'm gonna be doing. As I can not really afford to stay where I am. and then on the other hand cant afford to sell. Seems to be a vicious circle. What I truly need is a nice lottery win, although you have to have money to buy the ticket hahaha.
In actual reality I shouldn't really be going off to Florida, even though I have put some money away for it I don't wanna leave myself short later, but on the other hand I doubt I will ever get the chance to go ever again.

Well I will update after all my tests next week and let you all know how I made out.

2011 has come to an end!

This should of been the last blog of 2011 but its a day late so I guess we will call it the first blog of 2012.

This year has been an extreme roller coaster. The first month and a bit I was still living on 02 and had a pager by my side waiting for my call. I got my first one on Feb 2nd, 2 days before my brothers birthday which turned out to be what they call a dry run. My second call came at 9:30pm feb 24 which was a go and I received the gift of life Feb. 25th, 2 days before my 35th birthday. Things went pretty smoothly with only a couple bumps in the road. Was out of the hospital in a month due to sternum issues and it not wanting to stay clamped together. I returned back to my full time job 2nd week of June only 2 weeks after my 3 month assessment. Things have been good so far. Had a great summer, got my jeep all back together and back on the road. Got a few long awaited things done around the house and yard that I couldn't do while having next to no lung function and on o2. Got back up to the cottage this Summer and also ventured out by Parham to my older brothers cottage for a weekend of fishing. All in all was a pretty wicked summer with friends and family. Had many bonfires too the summer which was nice as I missed that for the past year. Then ending of this year brought some terrible news for my niece and her family and that her little girl would need a liver transplant, same as her older son needed 2 years ago. I have tried to give as much support as I can as I have been down the transplant walk too. And have tried to make it down to Hospital for Sick Kids in Toronto when ever I can. She did receive the gift of life from her father and took place just this past week. She is doing well but still has a couple more surgeries to go thru. I came down with my first illness since transplant. And like I blogged about it earlier it is weird and a little scary. It left me with a ear infection which is not nice and is the first one I have ever had. I had to go to the Hospital here in town and get a script for some antibiotics. I then had to call my transplant coordinator to inform her of what was going on. She said that I may require a longer dose then 7 days cause of my compromised immune system. Well after the 6th day it was wasn't any better so I called this Friday to inform her and see if they could write me a refill as my family dr was on holidays and I didn't wanna go back to the ER. So she did some research and asked me a few questions. She called me back after lunch to inform me that they were gonna change my antibiotics to good ol Cipro. Her reason was cause they found some pseudomonis in my lungs at my 9 months assessment when the did my bronch. What the hell???? I thought they would of been on top of that and got me on something as soon as they found it. I did have some at my 3 month mark which they figure was from my sinuses and they had a picc line put in and had to do 2 weeks of home ivs to clear it up. So I am keeping my fingers crossed that the cipro looks after it. I know before transplant with my old cf lungs and lung infections that the cipro started not doing the trick so not sure if its the same with new pink lungs.

To end the year I held a New Years bash at my house. I was a pretty awesome party and lots of friends came, im guessing there was about 15 drunk people here. Had the coffee table pushed aside and had dancing going on and of course the infamous gathering of drinkers in the dinky kitchen,whats up with that. This year we decided to get dressed up in out best cloths and we all weren't looking too shabby! So now its the starting of 2012, I sure hope is a great year with many great adventures and new experiences, and that its all good health for me, my family and friends. My first adventure for 2012 is a trip to Orlando Florida in March with my brother, cant wait for that :)

Christmas is over finally

I am glad Christmas is finally over. I didn't do anything at all this year except go to my moms for dinner. I have just about kicked this cold but it left me an ear infection.....not fun! I can barely hear out my left ear and it drives me crazy I can hear my heart beat in it and after awhile it gives me a headache. At first I thought it was just a blockage as ive had one before. Went up to the ER in Midland Saturday morning cause I couldn't take it anymore. Usually when you go there your a guaranteed 3 plus hour wait. I was in and out in 20 minutes, I don't know if it was cause they were efficient or that they knew I was a dbl lung transplant recipient and imune compromised so they didn't want me sitting with all the sickies lol, but I'm not complaining. The Dr looked in both my ears and said my left was clear and he could see my ear drum but it looked all red and swollen so he gave me a 7 day course of antibiotics. If it isn't better by then to see someone. So I'm keeping my fingers crossed. Its 3 days I've been on them and haven't really seen any difference :( So if not cleared up not sure what the next step is. Maybe iv antibiotics :(

Easy call called me Friday, well got 2 messages from them, first was that no calls will be taken and replied to after noon and not till the holidays are over. The next was about my blood work the day before, my white blood count was at 14 and it usually is at 7, thank god I still have some WBC left alot of people after TX get it wiped to 0. So they said I must obviously fighting something and wanted me to let them know how I was feeling, WTF? I called them 5 days prior on this sinus cold I had and coughing up a little bit of phlegm. So I left a message leting them know and about my ear and of course they never called me back before noon. So not sure if they will get ahold of me this week or wont be till the new year.

Today I ventured back down to Sick Kids to visit my niece who's daughter is waiting for a liver transplant. She told me that all the tests came back and that her husband is a match, which does take some stress off things, she thought may be on the search for a donor. I have alot of friends who offered to be tested too, I am so grateful for wonderful friends.

Yesterday was my 10 month lungavisary. It was kinda a sad day for me, sure I was happy to still be here but for my precious donor and their family. Not being able to celebrate this Christmas with their loved one. Who knows if they had children who had to try and cope with not having their mother/father there :( I know for me it was really tough trying to get into the Christmas mood after my dad passed away. It just didn't feel the same at all! So I completely imagine what they are going thru. I thought about my donor all day long. Thank yous can never say enough, you gave me my breath and life back! Maybe next Christmas will be a better Christmas for me, like I said before I don't like all the commercialization they have made out of it, being sick at Christmas (this will be the 3rd Christmas sick ) and not having someone special to share the times with. I guess life goes on.

Below is a picture of my nieces daughter Alyson.

Finally feeling better

Its been just over a week now and today was my first day back to work. I still have a partially plugged nose and ears plugging up. It seems to get worse at night when I go to bed. Don't ask me why. Last night I ended up getting up at 3am and sleeping downstairs on the couch and actually got some sleep. I guess its just gonna take a little longer. I gotta say though being sick for the first time is kinda scary and a learning experience all at the same time. At least I know what to expect the next time around.
Well its only a week away from Christmas. I still have no feeling what so ever. I'm sure its not a good thing but really doesn't bother me one bit! Christmas for me has just not been the same since my dad passed away over 11 years ago. Just couldn't really get back into it. Another factor is not having a significant other to celebrate the festivities with. But ohh well guess its what life has dished out for me.
I am planning on a big New Years party at my house again. This year a bunch of us are gonna dress right up for it. It should be fun :)

This past weekend I went down and visited my Niece,her son and daughter. Her daughter was born May 5 2011 and is now waiting for a liver transplant. Poor girl has no idea what is going on. I feel so sad for her. My nieces dad is starting tests to see if he can donate some of his liver. My niece is unable seeing as she donated some of hers to her son back in 2009. If her husband is not a match then the terrible task of trying to find a match begins. I do have a couple of friends who have said they would get tested to see if they are a match which means alot to me! As I was telling my niece that its so crazy that the waiting list for livers and kidneys are so high seeing as they can be a living donation and not from a deceased donor. I checked the list today and liver waiting list is almost 300 as the lung waiting list is at 69. Even since my dbl lung tx I have had 8 friends who have received their new lungs. Its just so crazy!

Today is my dads 77th birthday its hard to believe he would of been that old if he was still here.

Getting sick after transplant...so different

Well come December 25th it will be 10 months since I got the chance of a new wonderful life only made possible by the gift of life from my lovely donor and their family.

Well this past week and a half I have came down with this cold. You never know where you pick it up, I stay away from sick people like the plague hahahaha. It all hit the same time my transplant coordinator called on my results of my 9 month assessment. Everything looked good by my blood pressure was up a bit still so they prescribed me some blood pressure meds. I picked them up at the drug store here in town, the pharmacist went through a few things with me then said that this med may cause me to have a tickle in the back of my throat and cause me to have a dry cough some or all the time....great I put up with 34 years of hacking my brains out! I don't wanna cough anymore lol. She also said it may cause fatigue too...wtf! Sounds like a great med. Especially a person like me that is on the go all the time and doesn't wanna cough anymore.

So anyways I called my coordinator and left a message the Easy Call system on what I should do about this cold. Tell you the truth I was kinda scared. It was the first time getting sick after transplant. I was afraid of it getting into my chest...which is the way it worked overtime before transplant. So my coordinator said to just take things easy and drink plenty of water. I also went and had blood work done just for piece of mind. They called the next day (Friday) and said that my cyclosporin level was high and cause of that my creatin level was up(kidneys) so I have to go back Monday and have blood work done again, if its still high then they will decrease my cyclosporin med level which means one less pill probably.

My brother and I attended a party my nephews put together for my brother and sister in laws 30th wedding anniversary (actual date is my dads birthday Dec 19) It was down in Kitchener. It was fun, got to meet some extra extended family...but for the life of me dont ask me names lol. We left there about 11 pm and drove back to Barrie to drop my brother off then came home. Today has been a write off. Got up to do my meds at 9 then fell asleep on the couch and didn't really get up and do anything till after 3pm. It was nice to be able to just relax and hopefully give my body a chance to kick this colds butt.
With talking with other transplant friends they say they have been sick and it just takes us longer to get over it then a person with and A1 immune system. I do happily still have some white blood cell count, I think it was 9 for my blood work for my 9 month assessment.

Below is a picture of my brother giving my sister in law a ring as his 30th wedding anniversary gift and one of me getting dressed up at my brothers.

9 month assement

Monday I was at Toronto General Hospital going thru my tests for my 9 month assessment of my pretty pink new lungs. So the day went as follows. Was up at 5am seeing as I had to be in the city by 7:30 for my ct scan, that went with no hitch then I was off to blood work which was fasting so I couldn't eat anything the night before or have my morning coffee booooo! When that was done it was off to the pft lab for breathing tests and the annoying ABG (arterial blood gas) The resperoligist had a hard time getting it, after two pokes and poking around in my arm he finally got it, I was so glad when that was done and could finally get some breakfast! That was a yummy bacon breakfast belt on a cheddar cheese bagel and a coffee. After that was my 6 minute walk test. They had 2 students doing it. I did it and seemed to do the same as I did at my 6 month mark. The one physiotherapists looked at the results then asked how I was feeling "fine" I told her then she told me my walk test was down significantly from last time, she then suggested maybe they missed counting a couple of laps and asked if id like to do it again in another 10 minutes and I said fine. So I did it a second time and the physiotherapist did it and just as we suspected they had miss counted and it was actually the same as my 6 month mark 630 metres which is 93% pred of a healthy person my age.

Next was lunch time, mmmm hero burger is my fav! then it was good ol clinic time. I was prepared for a long wait as it usually goes. I got up just after 1 got called in 10 minutes later and then waited in the room, the transplant coordinator came and talked to me, I showed her the article that I had in the circle of friends which she liked. She also asked if I'm doing any awareness stuff for cf and organ donation which I told her yes. I gave her my letter I wrote to my wonderful donor family and asked about my letter I submitted at 3 months and she said she was gonna contact the trillium gift of life to see if the rejected getting my letter so hopefully I hear something. I was out of clinic by 2:30 which wasn't bad at all.

Tuesday was the same early rise to be down at TGH for 7:30 for my bronchoscopy. I stopped in Barrie and picked up my brother to come down with me. I went in for my bronch and was done in about 30 minutes. I was awake for the whole procedure which doesn't bother me one bit. The even had me taking a deep breath when the wanted to take the biopsy clips. The good thing about not being right out is that its very quick recovery after. When I was down me and my brother went up to the 7th floor (transplant ward) and visited a fellow transplantie that was in, she had her double lungs 5 months ago. We then stopped by and visited with a fellow cfer who received her new lungs last weekend, which she is doing awesome and id imagine will be heading home shortly.

I was able to get a cd of my before and after xrays, the first one is of Feb 24th which was the night I went in for transplant the second is my new lungs and was taken on Monday.

We then headed back to Barrie and then I came home. Today it was back to work as normal.

The day from hell

Well I got up this morning and was looking forward to seeing some old faces at clinic and meeting up with a good cf friend.
I had planned on stopping in at my brothers work and dropping off my passport so his partner could sign my photo which he had forgotten to do and was gonna pick it up on my way home.
Well that didn't happen :( I grabbed my coffee at Tim Hortons and headed out of town, the sun was in a real nasty spot and couldn't see crap, all sudden this lady in front of me stopped and I couldn't even see her brake lights.....well you can guess what happened next...yupp whamoo! It didn't do much damage to my truck. So we had to wait for the police and fill out a report. So I never managed to get out of town till 10 :( I managed to make it to St Mikes by 11:30, had to do routine blood work which included an extra vile for a study they were doing for bacteria found in cfers blood and which also affect the lungs. I asked if it was necessary as I have new lungs lol and they said it would still work for the study. ohh well was just an extra vile. Im use to having my blood sucked, I would be a total hoar for a vampire lmao!
After blood work I went back up and had to wait in the waiting room again. I was then call for pfts then back to the waiting room. My friend Michelle and her husband showed up. We got to sit and chat and exchange books :) So we all waited and waited, they left for some food and I followed shortly after for a Tim Hortons run, that was 3:00. I came back to the waiting room and sat some more. I didn't get called into a room till after 4pm. I sat in there till 5:30 when I was finally. It wasn't much, it was the same dr that I deal with at TGH, I was really wanted to see Dr T but this is the second time there and still didn't get to see her :(
I didn't get out of St.Mikes till close to 6pm. They were also gonna give me my flu shot but it apparently wasn't where it was suppose to be so they didn't wanna hold me up any longer.
I didn't get home till just after 8p, What a long long day.
I sure hope tomorrow is alot better!

Just dont know?

Well the last few days I have had this feeling. A feeling like something is missing? I have been back to work now since June and seem to have fallen back to the regular routine before I got sick and had to be listed. Get up in the morning, go to work,home make dinner,do a few things then head to bed only to start it again the next day. I feel I need a change, dunno what. Sometimes I think maybe I should sell my house and just find a small place all inclusive which would free up some of my money and maybe do a little traveling? Maybe a different career? I just don't know! Or maybe I just need some excitement in my life lol. Maybe its just cause I feel alone, not that I don't have wonderful friends just that person that you can share moments in life with. I have been out to a few parties and the bar the last month but I have never been the one to approach a person and strike up small talk. It just seems to be a fatal flaw :( I am sure I have missed out on opportunities and such or missed the "signs" of someone being interested. I just totally suck. I have been trying the online dating but I am beginning to think that's a crock lol.


So ya that is where I stand, I'm sure it will eventually pass.


Although this was kinda difficult for me to write and put out there I figured it had to be said.

Wow 8 months.

Well writing this at 8:30 at night of the 24th marks 8 months since I got the call for a new wonderful life. Tomorrow oct 25th is the day I was wheeled into the operating room at 8:30 am. Its crazy how the time goes by so fast.
I love how inspired people get when I share with them my story. A few I have talked to didn't even know that double lung transplant was possible. Which in other words kinda upsets me. That is why I love sharing my story and raising awareness. I have several cf friends that are now waiting for their call. and some that have received theirs and are on the way thru recovery and a start of a new wonderful life like me. I also have friends that have lost their battle either waiting for the call or after transplant which is very sad and are always in my thoughts. That is why organ donation is so important.
I still wonder everyday if I would receive a letter from my donors family but have yet heard anything. A interview I heard on cbc with a friend of mine and who her donor family found were was great! I am so glad she has that connection with them, I do wish they would change the law in Ontario. As in Quebec as long as both parties agree information can be given, along with some states in the US.
I attended a local CF fundraiser in Barrie over the weekend. It was great to see all the people come out and support the cause. I believe they raised $4000 which was awesome. I also got to meet the 2 fundraiser groups (Barrie Kinsmen and the O'Ryan project) They were a group of great people! I have to start writing my speech as well. I have been asked by the Barrie Kinsmen and Kinettes to speak at one of their meetings in April to educate them on life with cf before and after transplant. As Marc said to me (Kinsmen) he said they do know about cf but don't know all the little specifics and the treatments before and after transplant. At first I was a little worried about doing it, but you only live once and like others told me I should do awesome cause Im talking about something that is close to my heart.
As for life, im still living each day to the fullest. Went out and danced my heat out all night long on Saturday, I use to never get up and dance, but like I told a friend. I really don't care what people say!
November 21-22 is my 9 month assessment so I will post on the results of that,

Till then have a good one :)