April 29, 2022

On 04/18/2022 I was blessed with another grandson. Because of a selfless Donor and donor family, I have a chance to watch these beautiful boys grow.

I have had more than my share of setbacks through the double lung transplant but I have not let it interfere with a positive and grateful attitude. Seems I get more and more doctors too see but they are who keeps me alive and has my back always!

Hopefully tomorrow I will get my cast off of my leg and I will be able too wear a brace and start moving on with finally being able too strengthen my lungs and body.

I will try too update more but it's very busy being a lung transplant patient and trying too balance my everyday tasks.

April 1, 2022

I went to see the surgeon on March 11 and I broke my ankle and leg along with pulling tendons but the good news is it was a stable break and did not need surgery! I went home with an aircast and told to stay off of it and come back 2 to 3 weeks. I also had my appointment with lung doctor that day and they gave me yet another pill because my blood levels showed low on that particular test. I guess one more added to 41 isn't so bad.

March 11, 2022

Today I was feeling really good and went to step outside to get fresh air forgetting I can not walk steps without holding on too something and stepped up and down I went! I heard a bone snap and instant pain. So now on top of broken ribs from the double lung transplant I have a broken ankle. I will be seeing a orthopedic surgeon tomorrow

March 7, 2022

I am getting a bit stronger every day, I am still having a difficult time taking deep breathes but I believe it's because of the broken ribs. I finally got all my staples removed which was painless, I even got to keep some. I could never be more grateful for the hero I never met that saved my life.

February 24, 2022

I had my double lung transplant on 01/28/2022 the surgery went well. I have had a lot of minor set backs but getting through them. I did have to go back and get re admitted 02/16/2022 into the hospital the day after I was

released. It was a bit of a blow going back that quick but I couldn't keep my oxygen levels up even with oxygen. Great thing I did go because I have a blood clotin the lungs. I am being treated for that now at home with giving myself injections along with all the other medications I am on. 02/22/2022 was a bad day for me, I was sick to my stomach and throwing up. I had already had an appointment for clinic set up the next day and they were on the boarder of admitting me again however they said right now they will treat me out patient to see how that goes 1st. Had a four hour magnesium treatment today. So far it has been a great day! Thank you to my donor because without you I didn't have a fighting chance!

February 8, 2022

Well I was blessed with a double lung transplant on 01/28/2022 alot of ups and downs but will explain more when able just need recovery. Thank you could never be enough for the donor, donors family, everyone that too care of me and all your support ❤️

January 27, 2022

Well, I received the phone call this morning they have a lung offer for me. I am at Northwestern now being prepared and if all works out should be having surgery between 8 and 9 pm. Please keep the donor and the donor's family in your prayers along with my team.

January 16, 2022

Yesterday went to Northwestern Memorial and had another Blood gas test, Spirometry test and another 6 minute walk test. I was moved up on the UNOS list due to my walk test as of today and should know the results from the rest of tests by Monday. Still not feeling 100% but better than the last three weeks.

January 11, 2022

Steroids and antibiotics are working, feeling much better and hopefully will be able to reschedule blood gas test and walk test from last Friday to this Friday. I have been moved up a bit on the UNOS list.

January 7, 2022

Update from below... They are sending me for chest x-ray and starting me on a steroid along with antibiotic. Hopefully I will be feeling better soon.

Today I woke up feeling even worse than I have been feeling, it has now been over two weeks. They called and canceled my appointments at Northwestern because I have the Rhinovirus but because it is not going away they asked me to call my pulmonologist to see if I should get a chest x-ray or be put on an antibiotic in case it has turned into pneumonia. Waiting for call back and we will reschedule tests when I am feeling better.

January 7, 2022

I have been having a harder time with my breathing and way more phlegm and mucous in the lungs along with sleeping more and more. My antibodies have went from a 4 to 54 to 58 since I was listed 11/24/21 so today my team sent me to the urgent care for a infection screen panel to rule out infections and tomorrow on 01/07/22 I will be headed back to Northwestern Memorial Hospital for another walk test and another blood gas test so hopefully we can get some answers as to why I am not doing so well in such a short time period.

January 5, 2022

On September 1, 2021, I had my 1st appointment with a doctor and a couple nurses from the Lung Transplant Team, On September 3, 2021, I found out they were going to evaluate me for testing for the Transplant List. Two long months later on November 24,2021, I was actively listed on UNOS Transplant List.

January 5, 2022

On March 25, 2019, I finally got my answers, and I was officially diagnosed with Pulmonary Fibrosis on top of COPD. However, I had a good oxygen saturation level, and because I am not on oxygen that was another issue for me. I looked healthy from the outside and no one took me seriously that I was ill. I try not to complain and just keep going and staying positive. I was actually doing pretty well until I contracted Covid-19 in early 2020 and then a second time months later in the year. I noticed things were getting harder and harder on me and I started sleeping more. I had my CT scan and it

showed disease progression. I'm pretty sure that was from Covid, as this is usually a slow progressing disease. My pulmonologist said unfortunately there is nothing else they can do for me except refer me to the lung transplant team. So, I said, “Well I want to LIVE so do it!”