2nd Dry Run

We just got back from the hospital for a 2nd dry run. We got a call this morning at 8:15am to go to the hospital. She said we would be a stand by. The lungs were hopefully going to a person who was having 2 different organ transplants at the same time, if both organs came here healthy he would get them, but if only the lungs were healthy, Alan would get them. He got them, and we are happy for him, we were only told that he had been waiting for some time. Alan will get lungs when the exact match is ready.

They did say we are at the top of their radar.

We appreciate your prayers, please pray for the others waiting and receiving transplants, and the whole transplant team, especially the surgeons. They are extremely busy right now.

Dry Run

Until last night we had only heard the term dry run. A dry run is when the transplant coordinator calls you and tells you to get to the hospital because lungs are available, and the lungs turn out to be no good. We got the call at 8:30pm last night, Wednesday. We were at the hospital by 9:05pm. We called Traci so that she could get child care arranged if it was a go. Mark's Mom, Elaine, was at their house. So, Traci and Mark decided to come even before we got word that it was a go. They arrived around 12:30pm and the 4 of us waited in the room with Alan. At 4:30am our nurse told us that one set of lungs was no good, but a second set had become available and that is why they were keeping us. We got the call around 8:30am that the 2nd set of lungs were no good, and that we could come back home. The nurse on duty came in and she said this in a very playful way, "They tell me no lungs tonight, right? So, get out. We'll see you again soon."

We came home and had breakfast and fell into bed. Traci and Mark only slept about 3 hours, and they just headed for home. I got up to tell them bye, but I think I will head back to bed with Alan. We both need rest, what if it happens again tonight?????

We will keep you posted. Love, Alan & Judy

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