Another Tube Bites the Dust!

Hi lovely readers:

Today has been a bit of a roller coaster. The great news is that we were able to get blood from my veins - MAJOR step in the right direction. I don't know whether I mentioned my clot on here, but I ended up with a small DVT from the surgery/neck catheter. This wasn't unexpected since I've had clots before and it makes you forever prone. It also hasn't been much of an obstacle, especially considering that I know how to give myself lovenox shots, but it did make for some difficulty getting a good vein because the other arm was being used for a heparin drip. The end result was some painful sticking and an eventual arterial draw that really kind of sucked, but knock on wood we seem over that hump.

The not so great part of today was that my magnesium levels were off and I ended up having really painful back cramps. I went back to two percocet from one every 6-7 hours just because I really needed to stay ahead of the pain. Luckily they were able to identify the imbalance and correct it by early afternoon, so I got in my physical therapy and was able to avoid muscle relaxers. One thing I will say: transplant is a time to push yourself but also to be kind to your body. I love the high I get from walking a little further each day, but I also enjoy not being doubled over in pain. It reminds me of the Kenny Rogers' song "The Gambler" -- know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em. It's also such a great lesson in both pushing to achieve and in not being obsessive about it all. I know progress will continue to come and I feel very at peace with where I am a little over a week out. It sounds funny, but I'm content to do my best and accept my accomplishments, which is a great milestone for anyone anal enough to enter the legal profession!

The highlight of the day, without a doubt, was the removal of my 3rd chest tube. Only one left, and feeling more human everyday, as my friend James so perfectly put it. Much as I loved being half-robot, it's fun to feel little changes as my body returns to its normal state -- albeit a new and wonderful normal. Goodbye, tube, and thanks for the memories. Hope to see you again never!

So there you have it. Loving every minute - well, aside from the painful ones - with these new lungs. It amazes me again and again how precious these lungs feel, how grateful I am for the chance to live. I wake up in awe that God and my donor could bring me such a gift. I go to sleep literally smiling. I feel such gratitude for so many things, it honestly feels as though I might burst. I'm a broken record repeating again and again how happy I am, I know, but I don't even want to try and stop. So instead I'll just thank you all for listening, again.

Amen.

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