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Her story…..
Laurie Boyd is awaiting a second chance for her life. In 1966 she was diagnosed with asthma and in 1972 she contracted whooping cough. As a child, teen, and young adult she experienced severe Bronchitis infections. In 2003 she tested positive for Tuberculosis. Her lung capacity continued to diminish over the years and by 2011 she needed to be on oxygen at night time.
Updates (5)
July 9, 2021
Happy Birthday to myself
Laurie Lynn Boyd
The best birthday ever!!!!!!
My first birthday with my new pair of lungs. We had just finished breakfast and were dressing for the day and making the bed when we received the call on June 24, 2021 at 9:39 am. The caller asked if I was Laurie Boyd and I said yes. The caller said We have lungs for you. She finished giving me my instructions and said I’ll let the Vanderbilt Transplant Team know you are on your way.
So many joyful tears. Tears of sadness for the family that just lost their beloved one. Gordon walked in and ask what was wrong. I told him….. we got the call baby……. We got me some new lungs. So many last minute details to tie up. So many family members to call. So many other people to call but we had a plan of action (down on paper. The ole memory isn’t to good either). Suite cases packed and ready to go since the listed date of January 29, 2021 4:56 pm….. ummmm that’s eastern time. My transplant team is on Central time. Not easy to juggle that one. It’s almost the end of the month. I better pay July’s bills. Focus Laurie focus. That darn fly keeps flying by the electric kitchen faucet and turning the water on Really…… are you that thirsty? Babe…… better turn the water off in case I can’t get the fly under control. Packed and ready to go we are on the road by 11:00. am Eastern time. We need to arrive in Nashville by 3:00 pm their time. Jeez there’s that time thingy again. Better change the car clock to Vanderbilt Nashville Central Time. Family’s called. Neighbors called (actually our second family. They just love all over us). Churches called. Gods Will will be done. Smooth sailing. ETA plus or minus bathroom breaks 2:40 pm Nashville time.
Lenoir City- check
Harriman – check
Crossville- check
Cookville-check
Wait…….what the……. Whoa!!!!
Why is traffic completely stopped. 15 minutes…..20 minutes….. 30 minutes. 1 hour. Babe the car is overheating. Look at the steam. Nope it’s not. We just lost our air conditioner. But it’s like 90 degrees outside. The car fumes are awful. Looking around to see what we can use to fan some air. One hour and thirty minutes into stopped on the interstate we realize we are going to be late. Nooooooo not today devil. Here comes a wrecker. Here comes a state trooper. Ummmm yes…..that’s it. Call state patrol dispatch. They will help. Dispatch answers. Ha! This is her first. She locates us tells us there’s an exit just ahead and gives us instructions on getting off the exit and driving through the country. Fifteen minutes later we are back on the interstate heading to Nashville. Take that devil. Better call transplant coordinator and update the tardiness. It’s all good!!!! No reason to panick until the sevenish o’clock hour.
We arrive an Hour and ten minutes past our original arrival time.
Check in- check
Transporter arrives to take us up to transplant.
Transplant starts with the paper work …..yeah…. Yeah I already know this stuff…..wait the tube could damage my top front bridge but how will I eat corn on the cob. Oh well. Don’t sweat the small stuff. You will be able to breathe.
Surgery if the Dr likes the lungs will happen at 2:00 am. Sooooooo all of this could be a dry run. How exhausting!!!!
Update the lungs are being flown from Missouri and there is a weather delay. Nooooooo. Not today devil. New update no new lungs yet. Now my transplant team is worried about the viability of the lungs. All we can do is wait and see!!! My stephanie bear has arrived to hold my Gordys hand even though we got this babe!! What do you mean Laurie’s two sisters and a niece from Indiana have arrived. No way not my niece Holly from Alabama and my great niece Chloe. And now my favorite son is here too!!!! Hold on is Jenn my baby bear coming too? Yeppers as soon as she hears if the lungs are a go she will head this way. Gorilla glue ain’t got nuttin over our family glue. I am ready. The sooner we start the sooner we can get over with. Lungs arrive it’s a go! See you in a few. Well things didn’t go exactly as hoped for. The ole ticker gave them some issues unexpected but the team was up for the challenge. I think I heard around ten hours from start to finish. Should be off the vent in 24/48 hours. More so than not you probably will need a tracheotomy. I remember hearing Gordys voice and then Damian’s. Squeeze my hand Gordy said. Squeeze my hand Damian said. So I did. Thumbs up. Folded hands thanking my Savior pull the vent tube and say something. Go VOLS. What those are my first words. Hope UT picks up on it. Surely Payton Manning will visit me.
Time for loved ones to rest. Gordy won’t leave so Steph won’t leave. Oh noooooo what’s wrong. Every Dr. in the building is in here. They escort Gordon and Steph out immediately and asked for the crash cart. So glad I did not remember it. 2 hours later they allow them back in and said I just needed to find my sweet spot. I am so very sorry I put you through it. And for you Greys Anatomy watchers….. no I did not go walk on the beach. It was the family and friends and friends of the family and the thousands of church members and youth groups all sending prayers up. I can never, ever, thank you enough. I am trach free. 10 days post double lung transplant and have been told if my bronchoscopy looks good on Tuesday they may kick me over to an apartment by Thursday July 8, 2021. BTW…. Happy Birthday Gordon. My rock my everything. I love you mostest. May God bless all of you for taking time to pray for me and my family.
Yes… yes…. Happy Birthday Laurie.
Breath….. just breathe.
March 21, 2021
Well, it’s official!!! As of January 29, 2021 at 4:56 pm I was placed on the UNOS Transplant list. Bags are packed and now we wait for the call. Thank you to all who have stopped by and donated as well as left words of encouragement in my guestbook. Please continue to check in and write new messages or leave your favorite Bible verse. Thank you for hanging in there with me on this journey. Please keep me and my family in your prayers. I Love you all! God Bless you for the many blessings you have given me!!!
Photo Galleries (2)
Guestbook
July 11, 2021
I had been praying for you as has my SS class. I have pulmonary fibrosis and it is manageable but I so value to ability to breath. I will continue to pray for your health. God is so wonderful.
Larry Ellis Maryville
April 17, 2021
Our thoughts & prayers are always with you!
Cathy Yarnell
February 13, 2021
We love you and are praying for God's healing hands to wrap around you. It is by Jesus stripes that we are healed and I declare today for your healing and restoration!
Jill Gerth
February 7, 2021
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