The Hardcore Heroes of the Transplant Program at TGH

New Kids on the Block - Gangnam Style?

Something to aspire to

So, the drill now is, 3 times a week, Keith has to pump iron.  Technically, very small tiny pieces of iron, but more than he is used to.  He's the new guy in the physio room, still trying to figure out what clique he is going to fit into.  He needs to get his body in the best possible physical shape that it can be, in order to be healthy for his operation that could come any day.  Now, I know he ain't no Ron Burgundy, but he's trying to get there.  (I'm going to need a chest wig for this joke to work).  

And when he does, I'm going to have him dancing Gangnam Style with Hélène Campbell if she will.  Are you up to the challenge, Hélène?

Leg raises, knee tucks, killer treadmill 20 minute walks (with no breaks) and a series of arm motions, stretches and strengthening exercises are going to be a huge part of his life from now on.  The crazy thing, Keith was always super active!  This guy was blading across Toronto and back to Mississauga, cycling wherever and whenever he could (as a teenager, apparently this stopped when he discovered girls...) and playing hockey.  More recently, he was doing mission portages in Algonquin park to ensure the full on back country camping experience with me!

Big Trout Lake - Right in the middle!

 

Exercise has always been a big part of Keith's life, and will continue to be.  

Pretty soon, this (right) and this (below) will meet, and Keith will be back doing what he loves again.  

The wait is on.  Bring it.  

Our new normal - phones at the dinner table a must!

Hands up if you have a "no phones at the table" policy

We do.  We did.  We don't now.  

Will this be the paranoid phase for the next little bit?  Will we be double checking our phones to make sure the ringers are on?  Constantly checking the battery power?  Hearing phantom rings?  

Today we met with our wonderful Transplant coordinator at Toronto General, met with one of the thoracic surgeons and signed all the paperwork and officially had Keith put on the transplant list for a bilateral (double) lung transplant.   We found out that apparently, Keith's current lungs are too big for his body...that one weirded us both out.  

The call could come in a day, a month, a year.  It could come in the middle of rush hour, or 2 in the morning.  It could be a false alarm, it will likely be a false alarm, or very, very real.  

I asked Keith how he feels right now.  First word - relieved.  Second word - um.  Third word reiterates the first.  He is relieved, he is happy that the team sees him as sick as he is.  It's no longer a question of "is he sick enough", but can he stay healthy enough for long enough to get new lungs.  

There will be physio three times a week, regular blood testing, Pulmonary Function Tests, Antibody tests, group information and therapy sessions, and clinic visits with the respirologists, and evening seminars.  Amidst all of this, the phone will ring.  The phone will ring, and it won't matter if the phone is at the dinner table, it won't matter what time it is, or where we are.  It will ring.  

When it does, Keith will be ready.  I will be ready.  His children, friends, and extended family will be ready.  

We are armed...and ready.  Bring it.  

Ask and it shall be given

My first mobile post and its a doozie!

This morning was like any other morning, and at around 10:30 the phone rang. Our lung transplant Coordinator was calling to tell us that Keith was being placed on the transplant list at the highest priority possible.

I firmly believe that the universe was listening. Last night I blogged about the agony of waiting, and this morning the wait was over.

I cannot thank enough all of the people who have continued to support Keith and myself in this journey. There are too many of you to name but suffice it to say that every single one of you has made a profoundly positive difference in our lives.

I took a quick photo of Keith right after he got the news, he is very happy.

At the risk of this reminder sounding ill-timed, I would still like to remind everybody to please make your wishes known with respect to organ donation, go to www.beadonor.ca and make sure that you are registered for organ donation.

Bless you all. The next part of our journey has begun.

Sarah

The Wait - Trout Tickling - 4 Cool things.

“...of all the hardships a person had to face none was more punishing than the simple act of waiting.” 
― Khaled Hosseini, A Thousand Splendid Suns

I realize I have been quiet.  Those who know me, know that this is not really my nature.  Let's just say that my nature has been altered in the past few months.  

We wait.  It's like being in the "waiting place" in Dr. Seuss' Oh the Places You'll Go!  "waiting around for a yes or a no" but not really.  I'm being unnecessarily dramatic because I wanted this post to have punch.  Look at me!  Quotes! Can you believe it??

The past 24 days have been spent waiting to hear from the Transplant team as to their BIG DECISION for Keith's future.  They told us between 3-4 weeks, they meet on Thursdays (! so call on Thursday night - hello!!) and we didn't hear last week so.....  Yeah.  That.  

So for now, not really much to report.  

Keith is going to his physiotherapy twice a week at Credit Valley Hospital.  Apple picking, fish tickling, and treadmill walking.  Yes, I said Fish Tickling.  Ask Keith.  It's actually hilarious.  I'll get a shot of him doing it and that will be the picture.  You really do have to laugh this out, its the only way.  This whole lung transplant thing really gives you new perspective on life, humour, and people.  

Keith - Tickling the Trout.  Google it.  You will thank me.  

And in "can you believe this happened?" news...

I received a note in the mail today from a lady in Victoria B.C. who had read my blog, her husband had seen a tweet about it, and he linked to it in his blog.  Four cool things in one sentence:

• I received a note.  Handwritten.  In an envelope with a stamp even.  Cool.
• People in B.C. are reading the blog and sharing it!  Loving that.  
• Her husband actually linked to my blog in his blog.  (I am not a 'blogger' per se, but I get the sense in the "blogging" world that this is a good thing so I am listing it here as cool.)
• Thats really only three things but hopefully few will notice.  The fourth could be that I managed to insert a link in there.  Nobody reads this far anyway...