This Time It Is Real...Zippity Do Dah!!

This past Tuesday as we were preparing to get Alan to the Fitness Center for his daily workout, we got a call that they were POSSIBLY going to list (activate) Alan. They wanted us to go to the clinic immediately for blood work and to see Dr. Steele, one of the pulmonologists to talk about activation. We went to the clinic, saw the doctor, Alan had blood work, and the transplant co-ordinator told us she would call on Wednesday to let us know we were listed. On Wednesday she called to say they needed a sputum culture and another ct scan because of a nodule they had been watching. On Thursday we were at the clinic at 8am for the sputum culture, then Alan went to the Pespico Fitness Center to exercise from 12:30PM - 4:30PM, AND THEN we went to the hospital for the ct scan. We got home about 6:15pm.

This morning the call we have waited for came - Alan is Activated and in the database for the United Network of Organ Sharing, and the search has begun for lungs that are a perfect match for him. We can't begin to describe all the emotions. Alan has to have new lungs to be able to live, but on the other hand someone will lose their life, and because they are an organ donor, they will save Alan's life. Theirs is truly the gift of life, and we are grateful from the bottom of our hearts. We ask that you pray for the donor's
family, their loss, their heartache. Pray for comfort, strength, peace, and that God will wrap them in his love in such a way that their pain will be eased.

Traci, Lane, Connor, & Anna Kate were with us when we got the news this morning. We shouted, and probably disturbed our neighbors. We are not used to being in an apartment. We also offered praise, thanksgiving, and petitions for the donor family. We had an Activation Party for Alan when he came home from the fithess center today. We had a cake, balloons, and made up a song for him. Please sing it with us, to the tune of Zippity Do Dah. Here goes, ready? Sing....Zippity Do Dah, Zippity Yay, Dude's gonna get new lungs some day, really good breathing coming his way, Zippity Do Dah, Zippity Yay. We are so happy they were here with us to hear this life changing news.

Thank you again for your love, prayers, and support.

Holding Steady, Getting Stronger

We spoke with the lung transplant co-ordinator this past Friday, August 1st. The transplant team will not discuss activating Alan again until their August 26th meeting. We have accepted this and Alan is continuing to go to the fitness center each day, and is working so very hard. His focus and determination is amazing. We did finally have one of the pulmonologists explain to us why the anxiety is such a red flag. It could cause serious complications post transplant.

So, he is working with the psychologist on breathing exercises, relaxation exercises, and finding other ways to help relieve the anxiety. He maintains a very positive attitude and is still striving to do everything that is asked of him. My hero.

He had a test last week for his kidneys to make sure they are okay before transplant, and next week he has a gastric empty to make sure food enters and leaves his stomach properly. We have met with the psychologist several times and the social worker once.

His sinuses have bothered him since the first week we arrived, and last week he finally got to see a doctor and he prescribed some meds for him. It seems to be a lot better, still a little drainage. They are also going to set up a ct scan of his sinuses.

As we said in our last post, we trust God and his timing.

Thanks again for all of your support, prayers, and encouragement, and especially your humor. Alan and Judy

Going in Reverse

Hello Everybody, We have had an emotional roller coaster of a week. At the first of last week they told us they were preparing to activate Alan, then by the end of the week they were backpeddling a little. When we got the call this week, we found out he will NOT be activated. Instead there are more tests to be done. Also, they want him to go the see the Social Worker and the Psychologist. They will work to make sure he has the coping skills he will need after the transplant. I think this is a good idea, the timing is what bothers us. They have been telling us he needed to see them everytime we have been here for an appointment, and Alan told them to set up the appointments and he would be there. So, we get here, have the activation so close, and now we are not sure how long before activation. Maybe a few weeks. Alan is so ready to have the transplant, and this turn of events has disappointed him very much. We have decided though that it might be for a reason. The lungs that will be the perfect match might not be ready just yet, and this is God's way of making sure the timing is perfect.

Lane and Connor went to Bible Camp this week, and Mark had to travel for business, so Traci and Anna Kate came and spent 2 nights with us. We can't tell you how wonderful it was to see them.

They are working Alan very hard at the Pepsico Fitness Center. He goes for 4 hours a day, and he is exhausted when I go to pick him up. His fortitude and determination amaze me. I know when the lungs are ready, that he will give everything he has to taking care of them and healing.

Thanks to all of you for you love, support, and encouragement. We love to hear from you through the blog, emails, phone calls, and cards. I run to the mailbox like a kid everyday.

We will post again as we have news.

Activation Pending.......

We have received 2 calls today saying they are trying to get everything up to date and in order so they can activate Alan next week. We just heard the term activate when we got here this week. It means he will be put in the system and the search and wait for his new lungs begins in earnest.

We both cried. It is very emotional. I can't put it into words. We said a prayer together to thank God, and ask that he continue to be with us. We definitely know it has been his hand at work since this process began. He has not shut a single door, but thrown them wide open, and we are walking through knowing God IS Indeed With Us.

The Social Worker called after I had taken Alan to the fitness center for his part time job as they put it (work out and lectures).
Matt, the Social Worker, asked what kind of support system we had. I told him a daughter, son-in-law, grandkids who are phenomenal and an unbelievable number of family and friends that are praying, staying in touch, encouraging us, and volunteering to come if we need you. All of you are priceless.

The Social Worker did also say that it is good to have people here during the surgery. We will be able to see Alan for a few moments at a time, but that for him to hear our voices and see our faces would be a real boost for him.

Hugs till next post, Judy

We Are In Durham!!!

Hello Everyone, We relocated to Durham to begin the transplant process on Sunday. Traci and Lane helped us move, or should I say, they did most of the loading and unloading and unpacking. What a help! Lane worked really hard. On Monday Alan had an appointment at the Pepsico Fitness Center at 12:30pm. They did an introduction/orientation to let us know what they would be doing and what would be expected of him. Alan will be going Mon thru Fri from 12:30pm - 4:30pm. He will exercise with rest periods between and then attend various lectures. Tomorrow he has appointments at the clinic for lab work and to see the pulmonologist, so he doesn't have to go to the fitness center. He comes home VERY tired.

I went to the grocery store yesterday, and cooked dinner for us last night. Today we feel like we are getting into a routine. We are waiting, hoping, and praying for the moment they say he is on the list. It could be a couple of weeks, maybe longer. They are not real forthcoming with information, it is just waiting, doing everything the ask us to do, and asking God for patience.

We are having trouble with our email. Hopefully we will get it resolved soon.

Thanks to each of you for the phone calls, posts on this blog, and cards. We are grateful for each of you. Please continue to stay in touch, it means a lot to us. Hugs, Alan & Judy

Today was my last day at work until Alan has the transplant and we come back home. I will miss my co-workers who are also my good friends. Alan went to respiratory therapy here at Presbyterian Hospital's Pulmonary Rehabilitation Center. He also made sure his oxygen was delivered to our apartment in Durham, because he will need it immediately when we arrive this Sunday. Our youngest grandson, Connor, will be baptized Sunday morning. After church we will come home and pack up the car and head for Durham. Sunday night we will spend the first night in our new temporary home. Monday morning we go to the Pepsico Center, which is Duke's fitness center. They will evaluate him and determine if he is physically ready for the transplant. We have an appointment with the doctor on Wednesday. Alan is excited and says "Lets Rock and Roll." We will
tell you all about our new home and neighborhood soon. Alan & Judy

We got the call today!!!!

We got the call from Duke to relocate to Durham and begin the transplant process. We immediately contacted the apartment complex where we will be living and set up the week-end of July 12th & 13th to relocate. Alan made arrangements to get his oxygen delivered the day before we arrive. So, we have 2 weeks
to get arrangements made for everything here, close the house up, load the car up and head to Durham.
He will go immediately to the Duke Pepsico Fitness Center and begin respiratory therapy like he has been doing here since January. He will also have to go to the clinic for more tests. He is excited and anxious to breathe again, and I am a little frightened, but full of hope. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers.

I will update again when we get to Durham. Judy & Alan