Merry Christmas From our Hearts to You

I am sorry it has been so long since our last post. Can you believe we have been home for 17 days? Most of them have been hectic, trying to get settled back into our Charlotte home, getting ready for Christmas, and for me going back to work. We celebrated our 31st wedding anniversary on December 17th, by going out to dinner. It feels so good to do things like share a leisurely meal together, and just laugh and talk. Not to have to think about anything except our lives ahead.

Alan has been taking me to work and picking me up, so he could have the car. We were planning on buying Alan a truck when we got home. Our daughter, Traci, found him an S10 truck for sale by a private owner in Mooresville. We went to look at it on Saturday. It was exactly what he was looking for, so we bought it. God continues to answer prayers for us in so many ways. He is very excited about his truck.

He is going to the fitness center at Presbyterian Hospital to work out 3 times a week. Around the house he is working like a crazy person. He rarely stops, a real energizer bunny. There is definitely something to be said for being able to breathe.

This morning I was getting ready to leave for work, and I walked by the hall bathroom. He was in there dancing in his sock feet on the tile floor. He could really slide and move and comb his hair all at the same time. I asked if he was excited about Christmas, and he said "NO! I am excited to be alive." My heart melted. I thought about that moment all day today.

On December 29th he has to go back to Durham. Traci is going to take him, because I have no FMLA, sick days, or vacation left. We initially thought he was supposed to have a stomach wrap, because one of the last tests he had before we left Durham, showed that he had acid reflux at night. The stomach wrap would keep the contents of the stomach from aspirating into his pristine new lungs. But yesterday, he spoke with a transplant coordinator and asked her why the appointment said to come to clinic instead of the hospital. She said it was a consultation with the doctor to decide if they were going to do the stomach wrap. So, maybe he will have the stomach wrap, maybe not. We will let you know.

On January 14th and 15th we have to go back for a bronchoscopy and more pulmonary function tests.

As we move ahead, we want to give back in some way. We want to always remember how precious the gift of life is, how emotional and draining our journey was, how faithful God was and is, how blessed we are, the love and support we received from our family and friends, and how very humble we feel after such a life altering experience. We want everyone to know that God gave us this second chance, and we want to glorify and thank him. When you have no control, and you let go, God does his most beautiful work in and through us.