2019 In Review

 Or, The Adventures of 2018 continued:

Merry Christmas!  Happy New Year!

This year was a tough one, with a lot of lessons learned.  But through it all, I have been supported by a host of prayers, and I thank each one who has blessed me in this way.

I don't remember much of December 2018 or January, though my son Bronson kept a journal of days when I couldn't communicate.  My recovery from the double lung transplant was slow with many complications. There were numerous tubes in my chest, a respirator in my throat, a feeding tube in my nose, IVs in my arms, a catheter, a port for dialysis because my kidneys weren't working , and I also had to take heparin and insulin in addition to the post transplant meds.  Hospital days started with 4 am chest X-rays and 6 am blood tests. And what does a person do all day when they can't eat, drink, talk, or even hold a cell phone or tablet?

Apparently one loses weight. You could say I am half the woman I used to be. Marcel joined me in Vancouver the day after the transplant, after making arrangements for the care of our house.  We had expected a few weeks in ICU, a few more in hospital, then staying in Vancouver 3 to 6 months. But I apparently am not an average patient. I had a couple months in ICU, a couple more in hospital (with a few relapses back to ICU just for fun). Milestones like having a tube taken out were special days and passing the swallowing test was fantastic, as now I could eat solid food -- even on a low sodium, reduced liquids diet, this was a real treat!

In March I was moved to GF Strong for rehabilitation of my de-conditioned muscles. I learned to drive an electric wheelchair, then advanced to a wheeled walker, and finally resumed walking without support. Dialysis was finally reduced from 3 times to 2 times a week.

Yet still we had to stay in Vancouver for pulmonary rehab exercises twice a week, transplant clinic visits once a week, and hospital visits in June and July (no one figured out what was wrong with me). We stayed at Easter Seal House which was inexpensive and convenient to VGH, but lacking air conditioning and hot water, abounding in bugs. Our 2 burner countertop stove broke down a few weeks before we left and was not replaced.

However, after the long weekend in August, we were free to go back to Vernon and only return to VGH for monthly transplant checks. Air conditioning! Hot water! No bugs! And our own king-sized bed!  We also made friends with the neighbours' cat (they had moved in while we were away), who likes to sit on our deck chairs and loves to be cuddled!

How is life after transplant?  Breathing is really great! I have to watch out for infection, rejection, and contagion. The first 2 are more subtle, and I wear a hospital mask when I'm around people with colds/coughs/potential flu. Unfortunately, it also precludes substitute teaching in schools and teaching Sunday School to preschoolers.  I still have a lot of medical appointments, especially this past month leading up to my one-year transplant anniversary.

What do I do besides appointments? I go to quilting, try to get to LungFit twice a week -- I'm supposed to exercise more. I am also knitting baby things as I will have 2 grandchildren in the spring -- Anthony & Emily are expecting in March and Katrina & Tyler in April. Quilting, knitting, crocheting, Facebooking, and reading.  Marcel is looking forward to retiring soon, so we should be able to go visit the babies regularly (in Terrace and Surrey). And I only have to see the transplant doctors once every three months.

I realize more all the time how miraculous my surgery and recovery have been and how blessed I am with family. A husband who spent 8 months in Vancouver learning to advocate for me. Bronson, who took time away from work and school during many of my health crises. He is enjoying every boy's dream of working for a video game company, and endured his dad staying with him for 5 or 6 months, as well as hosting both of us when we are in Vancouver for transplant clinic visits.  Anthony & Emily visited me in hospital from Terrace several times and I was so blessed that his boss had told him "I have a job for you -- go down and put a smile on your mother's face!" Katrina & Tyler's visits were always special, as Katrina is busy teaching high school French and Tyler has many responsibilities in his pastoral role at their church. My mom braved riding down the interior BC highways in winter with friends and family to visit me as well.  Friends came to visit me in hospital and cared for our house in our absence. My doctors in Vancouver were very caring, and I have been blessed with Christian doctors in Vernon. My church family and those of my kids upheld me in prayer and I never feared death, though there were many times that was a possibility.

So, I am looking forward to 2020 and all of the mysteries it holds in store. "Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow" could be my motto (taken from the Thanksgiving hymn Great is Thy Faithfulness).  Coming through Vernon? Come and see us!