Miracle On Order.......Miracle Received

(edited, January 14, 2011) Reflections of a CF Mom... I am the mother of a 29 year old daughter with a double lung transplant. Anna's old lungs gave out due to cystic fibrosis. On November 22, 2010 Anna received the miraculous gift of new lungs. We are adjusting and recovering from the end of life battle with CF and the intense transplant surgery. I am watching Anna heal and begin a new life with her strong and healthy new lungs. NEW LUNGS, NEW BREATH, NEW LIFE

Friday, December 3, 2010

The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow

Doing A Little Jig.......
That Day Will Come Soon!

Day 11 post transplant.....

This morning Anna is doing better. She was never able to move out of the ICU yesterday because there were no rooms to move to. There is one today though. Right now she is having a 3 1/2 hour dialysis here in ICU before she moves. She was able to sleep in fits and starts last night. That is a very good thing. She says that she is doing better. The weeping of fluid from her arms and chest has slowed and her mind is very present even though she is very tired. She ate eggs, toast with jam, cereal and milk and OJ for breakfast. That is the Anna I know. So looks like this is a better day.

Must say her dad was so wonderful last night. After a difficult long day in the ICU with all of Anna's issues he looked in her eyes and said, "We are going to do this and we are going to help you. You have to power through and we will support you. We will not give up or leave you." That is what someone in her position needs to hear. There is a reason you are evaluated for transplant. If you do not have a strong support system you will not be accepted. It is crucial and it would be impossible to get through without loving constant support. Yes Doug, We Will Get There! Also, Doug remembers how much Anna loved the musical Annie when she was little and the the song, The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow! And when it does, we will all be dancing that little jig.......

1 comment:

UnknownDecember 3, 2010 at 1:34 PM
Go Anna Go! Go Anna Go! Go Anna, Go Anna, Go Anna, Go! (Imagine me yelling this at the top of my lungs like a certain someone did last weekend!)
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What does it mean to have end stage CF and then to receive a successful double lung transplant? What is the difference in life style and quality of life?

With end stage CF Anna • is tied to oxygen 24 hours per day • doing at least three vigorous hand percussion treatments per day and many aerosols spending about 5 1/2 hours per day on respiratory therapy and dependent on a family member or friend to deliver the necessary care • coughs that rack her whole being and cause her to loose her breath • is also dependent on family assistance with daily chores such as groceries, cooking and housekeeping • has lags of energy and little general get up and go • manages all medications including ordering and scheduling O2 deliveries • cares for CF Related Diabetes and her high calorie needs as best as possible • must be regimented and scheduled in eating due to the percussion treatments as food must be digested prior to therapy, no food when she gets up, must wait until after morning treatment, eats lunch if there is time in the afternoon, and dinner at 6PM so that evening treatment, nebulizer sterilizing, etc. is done in enough time to get to bed before midnight, late night snack is allowed • go to appointments, see a friend, do something fun, go for a walk usually only between 12 and 4 in the afternoon and some down time available from 7PM to 9PM • this all changes if her lungs are exacerbated and she needs to go into the hospital for two weeks with round the clock IV schedules and 4 treatments per day.

After A Successful Double Lung Transplant Anna • will be able to breathe with normal lung function and no need for O2 or percussion therapy • will need to take immuno suppressant drugs religiously forever • will need to be vigilant about germs • will have to deal with adjusting to the new medications • will need to visit the hospital if she is ill for viral agents and antibiotics as needed • will still deal with her CF Related Diabetes and CF intestinal issues • will no longer be dependent upon family for care • will be able to begin a new life with energy • will be able to go and travel where ever she chooses • will feel more normal than she ever has in her entire life............. can I say more?

Guarantees: There are none but statistics show that there is nearly a one hundred percent chance that lungs will be available for Anna in time for her. Success depends on an excellent medical transplant team, Anna's vigilance in self care, the acceptance of the new organ by Anna's immune system, and the continuation of Anna's story.