Celebrating, Do You Know Happy?

Celebrating February 22 2011, three months post transplant, November 22, 2010

We had heard the magic of three months. Well, we also know that this magic is not for everyone. There are others who are continuing the struggle after three months to get their feet under them. Our friend, Steve landed back in the ICU about two weeks ago with a terrible infection and is home now on continuous meds. He is four months post. We think of him every day and send good vibes. Anna constantly reassures me, "Steve will get better, it will happen. He has to and when he does he will forget about these hard times." Steve we can not wait to see when your magic timing of turn around will be.

But, for Anna, the magic of three months is true. This week seems even more different. She is more in touch with getting on with it. The beginning of driving, spending some time alone, building confidence is strengthening her. This week I will only spend three nights in the apartment. We are weaning. It is hard as we are such fast friends enjoying time together, lunching, shopping, Oprahing, healing. But, we need our independent lives and new directions.


We had to celebrate this date so of course Anna chose lunch at Yakko's, our celebration restaurant this year. Temptation roll, a bento box, and a big smile for Anna. We then drove to pulmonary rehab at Sequoia Hospital. Anna's getting so strong. Steve is not there any more as he is home healing but today a new rehab buddy appeared. He is three weeks post transplant after his second double lung thransplant. He rejected his lungs that he received 5 years ago. Amazing to see how incredibly well he is doing. He is a CFer too. So now as I slip away even more, Anna has this new buddy to keep her entertained.

Update on my "other knee". Remember the HELP button in the elevator at the orthopedic surgeons office? It was still there staring at me. I did not have to push it this time as he declared, no surgery at this time! His conclusion, there are tears and degradation with arthritis as the main culprit for my knee swelling now. He told me to lie down while he drew his syringe of orange stained fluid from my sweet knee and shot in some cortisone. "Rest the knee for ten days, use ice and then get back into exercise slowly." OK, will do. A much better outcome than last August.