Too Long

Hello Everyone, I know I have waited too long to post to this blog. We just absolutely have no news. Our days revolve around the fitness center and then Alan has zero energy left. They did tell us a while back that he would reach his peak performance at the fitness center and then he would start to go down from there. That is where he is right now, getting weaker all the time. We weren't supposed to go to clinic again until Oct. 7th, but they moved it up to tomorrow. They will check his pulmonary functions to see if they are declining. The last time we went he had declined some. Please continue to keep us in your prayers. Thank you so much for all the cards, calls, and emails. We love to hear from you, it helps make the time not so slow.

I hope the next post will be the one with the BIG news. God Bless.

Love, Alan & Judy

Oops

Dad made it all the way to the operating table, and the physicians decided to examine the available lungs one last time.   The doctors determined that the lungs had deteriorated too quickly and were not going to be acceptable after all.   Dad was then brought back to pre-op/post-op to have his IV and monitor devices removed.  He had been back in the surgical area for an hour and a half before Mom got the word.  The doctor spoke to all of us and was extremely apologetic.  We were reminded that even the doctors are not in control - only our God is.  I know it is difficult to understand; we do not understand either.  Dad and Mom live in this uncertainty day in and day out right now.

I'm sorry for not being able to post an update until now.  We did not get in the bed until 3:30am. We appreciate your thoughts and your prayers.  We hope that we will have more news to post soon.

Blessings, Traci

A Blast of Hope

This is it!!!!! I am headed to Durham as we got word that Dad is headed to surgery. We appreciate your prayers. We will post again to the blog as soon as possible.

Thanks, Traci

A Ray of Hope

Dad received another call today around 1pm to let him know that a potential set of lungs has become available. The lungs have to be evaluated and accepted and Dad (and Mom) have gone to the hospital as directed. Dad has already had some blood work and a couple of other tests. It is now almost 7pm and we are still waiting to hear if the lungs are acceptable. Please be praying that these lungs are the ones meant for Dad. We all want God's timing and the lungs God has picked out for him, but the wait is getting more difficult for Dad and Mom both physically and emotionally. We are not sure when we will hear. Mark and I will head to Durham immediately if the surgery is going to happen. We do appreciate the prayers you offer on Dad's behalf. We will post as soon as we can get to a computer.

Blessings to you all, Traci

Wishing We Had More News

Hello Everyone, I know it has been a long time since I posted. We don't have any news to tell you. Since our last dry run we have been waiting, literally 24/7. We trust God's timing completely, however our patience gets a little worn sometimes. God is literally carrying us, because waiting for something that is life changing and not knowing when it will happen is one of the most difficult things either of us has ever had to do. Please pray for patience and God's peace for us.

We have seen lots of success stories since we have been here, and that is very encouraging.

We appreciate all of you from the bottom of our hearts. We know we are covered in your prayers. Thank You

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