Right Lung In!!!!

Just spoke to Jason (1:45 PM CST) and a nurse had just come out to give them an update. They have removed her old right lung and replaced with with the new good right lung and it went PERFECT! She is doing great overall and they are just starting on the left lung and the surgery is going really well. The decided to do the right one first because that was the worst lung...or as Jason describes it..."insanely messed up." It is the one that has collapsed numerous times and looks quite horrible on the xray. By getting the worst one out, her new lung can go ahead and start working for her while she is still in surgery. Praise God! This is such a relief and so wonderful to not only just get news during the surgery but for it to be such good news! I forgot to ask how much longer they expected it to be but I am guessing more towards the 4 O'Clock hour. I'll keep you posted. Continue to pray right now! ~Emily T

Encouraging Observation...

As we wait to hear more specific news about Emily's surgery, I thought I'd share with you a personal observation. Emily and I were able to talk on the phone last night for about 45 minutes while Jason and her brother Ryan went out for a guys night. This was all before they received the transplant call. I remember hanging up the phone and thinking how good Emily sounded! The last couple of months have been pretty difficult for her physically as she has been in more pain, been more tired, and on IV therapy. Since most of our friendship is on the phone, we've become pretty accustomed to reading each other's voices and the sometimes hidden stories behind them. For the first time in a while, I did not hear her cough, her voice was strong and encouraged, and she did not sound tired or in pain. Now, after knowing she is in surgery, I'm so grateful that she was feeling stronger than she had been and hope that this added strength will be a blessing in her surgery and in her recovery. ~Emily T

She's In Surgery!

Just spoke to Jason (8:30am central) and she is in surgery....officially. They were not informed when she actually went in and the surgery probably started between 7 & 7:30am as she has been under for about an hour or so. The entire surgery should take 6-8 hours which should put the completion time 1-4 PM. Jason is with Emily's brother Ryan and his friend Matt in the waiting room. Matt's wife Shay, just took Faith back home so she could get some rest. Jason's parents arrive at 1:45 PM and some of Emily's family will be on flights soon.

This is very exciting news but also a little daunting as the wait rolls on. Jason asked for your continued prayers and greatly appreciates your support. Please pray for the skill and wisdom of the doctors, for Emily's body to respond well, and for peace and comfort for those who wait. Please also lift up the donor's family who are more than likely grieving for their loved one at this moment. Pray that the blessing of new life for Emily would be an encouragement and blessing for them.

Lord, take care of my precious friend Emily. I know you love her more than any of us combined. Lamentations 3:22-24 Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him."~Emily T

In Pre-Op at UAB

Hi everyone. This is Emily's friend, Emily Tardy. I will be updating her blog while Emily is in the hospital.

Emily & Jason headed to Birmingham about 2 am this morning after receiving the confirmation call that things looked good for her to be a match with this set of lungs. When I talked to her, she said that one other person was being called as well but that they knew nothing about the other patient. I just spoke to Jason at 7:30 am and said that they had wheeled her back for pre-op and were doing the final testing for the lungs and should know fairly soon whether things are a go. She was this far into the process on Christmas Day so I can only imagine all that she is feeling. They received very little sleep last night and I'm sure are ready to know one way or the other. Emily's brother Ryan has been visiting them for about 2 weeks now, and Faith is with their good friends Matt & Shay. Please pray for Peace to reign as they await the final outcome. ~Emily T

Our 5th Call

We just got a call that there might be a possible donor for me. The coordinator will call back around midnight to let us know if we need to come in or not. She said everything looks good so far and that I am high up on the list but they need to finish running some test to make sure I'm the right person. If we do go in my friend, Emily, will be updating my blog so everyone can know what's going on. We just ask for your prayers, for peace and strength to face something this big and that these lungs would be the right ones for my body. We know God is bigger then our fears and this surgery and so we just cling to Him for grace to walk through this. Thank you all for your prayers, love, and support! We will update (or Emily will) as soon as we know more.

Big Helper

If you were to come to our house you would see this very normal, daily routine of me doing my treatments and my little helper there to assist. It's amazing how you become very good at multi-tasking when you have children and add CF to that and you have no choice but to become a super, creative, octopus (many arms)! I took a picture of the most my two hands can do as well as remember what I'm doing and finish everything. Here I have my oxygen on (which thankfully that doesn't require hands), doing my vest (helps break down my mucus. I do twice a day), also my breathing treatment (3 or 4 times a day), as well as doing my IVs while looking at books with Faith or playing games. My little helper is always kind enough to help show me where every plug, tube, and syringe goes and I have to say she is right 95% of the time. It only becomes a real challenge when she feels mama is having all the fun and wants to take a puff of my treatment or push in the saline to my IV. I wish I could explain to her how blessed she is not to be having all this "fun". Maybe someday soon I won't have to be doing these treatments too. I've told Jason thinking about being able to breath well again or not having to do my treatments that I've done daily for 24 years is like telling a paralyzed person they can now walk. Although we pray and hope for transplant we know it is defiantly not a cure and know more or less it is trading one disease for another. We just hope the things that come with transplant are easier then what it is now. We have no new updates with transplant and thankfully for the moment I'm off IVs. Since the last call we got was at Christmas, it is just very hard to know when we might get another call. Every time the phone (which our home phone doesn't ring much since we use our cells more) rings your heart skips a beat thinking it might be the call. We continue to pray it might be this summer!

"Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord". Psalm 27:14

Papa & Mimi

We just got done enjoying a great week with Papa & Mimi in town! As you can tell Faith loved being the center of attention. We look forward to the day when we will live close to them again. Lord willing after transplant we will be moving back to TX and papa & mimi will be retiring the end of the year so we will be heading back to the town where all our family are. I have to say though I've been blessed with wonderful in-laws & Faith loves her mimi & papa!

She loved sitting with Papa one evening just listening to the rain

Mimi is always nice enough to share her tea, food & dessert because whatever Mimi is having Faith wants a bite too!

They got her a bubble gun & we spent a good awhile on the porch trying to catch all the bubbles! She loved it!

She got sooo close to catching one......or so she thought

Family Pictures

Family pictures tend to stress me out, I know it should not be a big deal but with my perfectionist side I get caught up in the details. There is the process of figuring out what everyone should wear and then sometimes having to go buy something if need be. Then you get everyone ready and pray you will make it to the photo shoot without spilling something, spitting up, (when you have little ones) or dirtying your clothes. You get there and do a one last hair, face, and clothes check and then pray your child will smile or at least just sit there for these pictures you have been planning for awhile. I'm getting tired just thinking about it all again. =)Anyway, after having to cancel Faith's pictures early in April due to her screaming and crying because she was scared of our friend, who was taking the pictures (I think she thought we were leaving her) , I knew I was not going to attempt that again! (At least for a time) However, another sweet friend who enjoys taking pictures offered to take our pictures out at her beautiful place. This time we would take family pictures and so Faith wouldn't have to sit by herself. =) To sum this all up I was proud of myself because I didn't get stressed out this time and just let go of any expectations. I would be thrilled to have just one turn out and much to my surprise we got more then one good shot.

So, even though it may be a quite an ordeal getting everyone ready for the big picture day, it is defiantly worth it to capture that sweet moment of your children or family. Thanks Jody, for doing a beautiful job! Here are a few of our favorites.....

A Dream......A Miracle

As long as I can remember I always wanted to have a child. It was a dream most people including myself didn't think would ever happen but I prayed for it, and on September 10, 2006 God gave me the miracle of becoming a mother to my beautiful baby girl. I remember holding her for the first time and thinking, "I can't believe she is mine. Is this really my baby? You are really going to let me take her home?" There are not enough words to describe what you feel when you hold your baby for the first time but it's a moment like none other. I really had a strong feeling we were going to have a girl and God had already chosen her name. I was reading a "Baby Name" book and as soon as I came across the name "Faith" I knew that was it! Jason and I never gave it a second thought. It was a step of faith everyday that I carried her, praying that I would not go into early labor, that she would grow healthy and strong, that I would stay healthy as well. It continues to be a step of faith as I'm always learning how to be a better mother and place the future in God's hands. I continue to pray that Faith will someday put her own trust and faith in her Maker, Savior, and Lord.

Faith has been everything I could have hoped for in a daughter and much more! She can be quite a firecracker (not sure where she gets her feisty spirit..... hmm...) but then has the sweetest spirit that shines through even at such a young age. She has brought much laughter to our home and joy in the midst of difficult times. It's hard to believe how fast time as flown by since she first entered into our lives and I've tried to treasure every moment we have had so far. I never could have imagined all the emotions, lessons and amazing journey that comes with being a mother and I'm forever thankful to the Lord for giving me the blessing of a dream come true.

You were just 5lbs 13oz with pretty dark hair and sweeter then sweet!

Never too young to start wearing sunglasses

Faith, you always make walking the halls at the hospital more fun

You are always the best medicine for mama

Beautiful baby girl

You love to go swimming!

Your 1st Birthday

We both need our naps

Mama loves to kiss you!

Love You!!!

Saying good-bye

Sorry it's been awhile since I last wrote on here. I've been trying to recover from my last hospital stay about a month ago now. The allergies have hit me hard this year and it has made it more difficult to bounce back. I also had to say good-bye to my sister as she has headed back home to TX for the summer. Although I'm very happy that she gets to go home and see friends and family and start a fun job, I will miss her company and support. My mom got to be here this week which was a great time and then she drove back with Callie. We had some good girl time!Pray that Jason will be able to keep up with his two girls by himself. (He does a great job!)

The end of this month will mark one year since I've been listed for transplant. Most everyone (including doctors) thought I would have been transplanted within a several months of being listed but we continue to pray and wait. I told my mom the other night I can see from my perspective why God has not allowed it to happen yet and for those blessings I'm very thankful. Just a couple of blessings in my wait are......

* Being able to be with my sister again & her being able to built a special relationship with Faith.

*Getting to spend time with Hayden (Callie's boyfriend). He is going to school several hours away and would come spend the weekends at our house which gave us a great opportunity to get to know him more. He is a great guy!

* Learning many lessons in my own personal walk with the Lord

* Glad Jason gets to be with us, spend lots of time together

* Have built good relationships with people here

I also think and often pray for my donor and their family and wonder how God might be working in their life right now. He might not be done with His plans for them and therefore His timing is always right. I have to remind myself of these blessings and truths or I find my emotions taking a ride on a roller coaster. I told Jason the other day, "I don't know how it's possible but I feel our life right now is so complicated but yet so simple." I guess I would have to write a book to elaborate on that thought but whether complicated or simple God continues to extend His grace when I need it (which is everyday).

Thanks for your comments, cards, & prayers.......Here are some pictures of Faith having a good time with Callie, Hayden, & my mom before they left. She is going to be bored with just Jason and I. =)

Love my Nana!

Faith loves Hayden. She thinks she is the girlfriend not Callie. She gets quite jealous if Callie puts her hand on Hayden's shoulder. Thank goodness Callie is willing to share him. =)

The girls!

Faith loves Hayden a little too much

Going to miss Aunt Callie