Christmas Lungs

[Thumper]

So I hope this is good news. A friend of mine has lived with and struggled with CF since I've known him. He's the son of my Tae Kwon Do instructor and like his brothers, is a 3rd degree black belt. I know what it took for me to pass my three black belt tests: the fasting, the exhaustion. I can't imagine doing it with a significantly compromised respiratory system. He came to the test last Saturday, I was judging and running it, not testing this time. He had a portable oxygen pack with him. He looked skinny and gaunt, but I've seen him look worse. I hadn't seen him in several years, he lives out of town. I was glad I got to say hi to him. When I talked to his Dad, he said John was in town "for the duration." He was waiting for the call that there were lungs ready for him and he'd immediately head up to Cleveland for the transplant.

I was hanging lights outside last night when I got a text from his big brother. He was on the road to the North Coast on his way to get his new lungs. His Dr. had already turned down two sets because he didn't think they were healthy enough for John. But this is it. I "spoke" outloud to him. "John, last Saturday was not the last time I ever get to see you, do you hear me?" He's tough. But as a father, I can't imagine what his Dad is going through. His Dad is a doer and a maker. He's not a spectator, sitting around hopeful and helpless.

And not to be lost in this is the pair of lungs. Yesterday they belonged to someone else. Someone's son or daughter, brother or sister....And now they are gone. A whole group of people are mourning an unimaginable loss. And another group is praying and hopeful for a second chance. And I'm sitting here hopeful and helpless. Hoping for good news.

[Swift]

I hope your friend's transplant goes very well.

Don't take your organs to heaven, heaven knows we need them here.

[geonuc]

Wishing for the best. It's awesome that people donate organs.

[Thumper]

Went into the OR at 9:00am EST today. No idea when we'll know something.

[vendic]

Wishing you all the best.

[SciFiFisher]

Luck!

[Thumper]

Got a text at 4:30pm yesterday that he was out of the OR, surgery went well. They were going to be able to visit him in a few hours. Obviously the next few days with concerns of rejection, post op infection, and other complications will be crucial. But I can't imagine it going any better so far. I'll leave them alone for now but hope to get more info by this afternoon. I've got a bunch of people around here waiting for updates.

Thanks for your thoughts.

[Swift]

I now have the song "Christmas Lungs" (to the tune of "Silver Bells") playing in my head.

[Rommie]

Yay! Hope it goes well from here on out!

[Thumper]

Got a message from his Dad yesterday afternoon that he was doing great, he was going to get the breathing tube out sometime today, and that you could see him getting stronger as he was finally getting oxygen into his body. I thought for a moment that soon, he is going to inhale on his own and fill someone else's lungs with air. I'm just completely amazed.

[Swift]

[SciFi Chick]

Wow. I totally get where you're coming from Thumper. Life is so tenuous. One person has died, and now another person gets to live and it's all so amazing and heartbreaking at the same time. I hope your friend thrives. I really do.

[vendic]

Good news for sure.

[Thumper]

A friend sent me a copy of his brother's FB post. Said basically the same stuff. When they brought him around (they kept him asleep for a day), he was intubated and unable to speak. He motioned for a pen and wrote: "I'm doing great, Luv you guys."

He's a fighter. He deserves these lungs and no doubt will absolutely make the best of his second chance.

[Thumper]

No big updates, I've not been badgering his Dad or brothers for updates since we got the initial good news. A buddy spoke with his Dad a couple days ago. Said he was doing great, they've had him up and walking around several times. They've been removing drainage tubes as they go dry. If I don't hear anything I'll probably ask for an update early next week. Maybe find out where he'll be on Christmas day and get a card to him from our family.

I don't think about it every second like I did last week, but when I do stop, it's still utterly amazing.

[Thumper]

I saw John's father and brother yesterday. The came by to drop off some tools I'd loaned them. The Dad had just gotten back from visiting, and was going back later this week. I handed him a card to give John. The thing that stuck out for him was John's lack of coughing. In fact he asked him once, "How long has it been since you coughed?" When he said, "I don't know," they both smiled. The coughing used to be constant, he could hardly hold a conversation. Now all that effort where he used to burn energy coughing and hacking, now he can heal and gain some weight.

So it's still good news!

[Sigma_Orionis]

Good to hear

[code monkey]

what fantastic news!

[SciFiFisher]