Hey Everybody,
It's been a remarkable 30-35 hours, and I'm still in a bit of a stunned state. I think Greg has told people about the dry run lung trip, which probably sounds terrible. It was actually the best thing that has happened to me in a long time. I didn't realize how stressed out I'd been for the last year between losing 2 Moms and 2 dear pets. I also didn't realize how unprepared and flat out scared I was. I had a shirt-tailed cousin who was transplanted about 2 years ago that just died, which, of course, made me worry about my decision. Mind you that this is a decision that took a lot of soul searching to make because there is a real risk involved. Doubt and fear are not a great way to start this journey.
When I got the call, I (can you believe this?) was speechless! I couldn't find my bag, I couldn't think. Thank God for my girls. They ran and grabbed stuff & I grabbed some stuff. Greg and I flew out the door in a matter of minutes, notepad in hand for whatever we forgot. Then I really started to worry about details left undone at home like Jessie's info I needed to fill out for next year, a new will, taxes to be filed, insurance information...the list is 4 legal size pages long. I was totally panicked by then, and was getting a jaw ache. Without thinking about it, I took some of that adult candy, Advil. Dumb move…this drug lowers your platelet count, and I knew I couldn't take it post-op, but didn't think about pre-op.
When we got to U of W, I was told to go in through ER (and this is one way that strengths my faith). I told the desk that I was there for transplant, and she loudly said "A transplant in ER?!!!" Then someone behind me said she could take me there. I turned around and smiled and realized there were 2 women standing behind me smiling. The older woman had on a mask, but her eyes twinkled (not tinkled—tee- hee!) She asked me if I was there for a lung transplant (Hmmm, could it be my R2D2 I carry around that tipped her off?) and when I said yes, she told me she had been transplanted 15 years ago, which is when U of W started their program (Okay facebookers there must be an easier way to tell a long story.) She went on to say, "Honey this will be the best day of your life. It will change your life in ways you can't even imagine yet. You look healthy and you will do very well with this procedure. I just know you will do great! And, of course my eyes started to leak.
I felt like a 20 ton block had just been lifted from my shoulders. I told her that I had always wanted to meet a long term transplant patient. Before I knew it she and I were hugging. She was my sign and my angel. She is now on the kidney transplant list from the effects of a much higher dose of cyclo., an anti-rejection drug, but that she would be fine. I just wish I knew her name so that I could drop her a note of gratitude for lifting my burden. Her daughter took me up to the check in desk, while Greg was having an adventure of his own, that I was listening to at the security desk while I waited for him to go to ICU with me.
When I got to ICU, I got into the lovely garb they provide thankfully with some pants that I put on inside-out because the light was burned out in the bathroom. Then began several hours of testing, listening to the risks, signing, signing and signing. At 3 am I got the word that the lungs were almost there, so it was time to go to pre-op. Off they wheeled me with Greg's new I-Phone. Man, did that get the poor guy moving in the wee hours!
Next were more introductions to the transplant team, an arterial cath. put in to match the IV cath., redundant, but important questions asked like, why was I there? DOB? What procedure was I having (I think I'd like that tummy tuck now, or, for sure, a boob lift since that's the area they'd be in anyway....
1 comment:
Shirley have you happened to see your angel from your trip to ER you talk about in this blog? So glad to know you are finally breaking out of there and going home.
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