My Golden Birthday

This years birthday was significant in several ways. When I was born the life expectancy for a CF person was 18 years old and now here I am celebrated my 25th, golden birthday. This was also my first birthday to breathe with new lungs and thankfully I was able to be out of the hospital to celebrate this special day. Also I got the most cards, e-mails, and messages (comments) I have ever gotten on any birthday from friends & family and, WOW, that sure made my day!

I had some friends (Carrie W. Heather, Beth, Carrie B.) come and surprise me with gifts for me and Faith and help me celebrate the big day. I had just gotten out of the hospital that day and when I walked into the Town House, Emily T. had decorated the whole apartment with balloons, confetti, streamers, and a cake! Needless to say I enjoyed the afternoon very much!

I was able to blow out my candles!

FREE 2 DREAM!

To top it off we headed out to a nice dinner at Carrabbas with our friends, Matt & Shay and polished it off with some yummy cheese cake from the Cheese Cake Factory (one nice thing about living in the big city, lots of good restaurants).

Shay, Faith, Me, & Emily T.

Our Family!

Jason & Matt

This picture cracked us up! It looks like Faith had a little too much fun at the party!

Yummy......nothing like cheese cake on the face!

P.S~ I got home from the hospital today, Praise God! We pray I don't have to go back for a long time. Things are looking good so far and we will be going to our first clinic day on Wednesday and a bronchoscopy (a lung biopsy to check for infection or rejection) on Thursday. Please be praying for these tests. THANK YOU!

Another Request for Prayer

Emily went back to the emergency room late last night for some severe abdominal cramping. She has been in pain on and off for the past couple of days, particularly after she ate, and it continually got worse last night to where the pain was unbearable. All other issues look good, it just appears that this is another side effect of the medicine in her body and they are working to help her pain and get her body functioning back to normal.

Please pray for her and Jason today. She was in pain all night long and neither one of them slept. It looks like it is going to be a long day today too. She is back to her 3rd home...the HTICU...where at least things and people are familiar.

My Recovery

Here are some pictures of my recovery........

This is the first time Faith got to see me with NEW lungs (the day after surgery)!

Our family together again!

My first real meal
My 10" incision on each side and 103 staples

My first walk less then 48 hours after my surgery. Praise God!

My brother, Ryan was able to be here during my surgery

A picture of what my daily walk looked like with 4 chest tubes, IV pole & walker.

The joy of doing bubbles in the hospital with Faith

My best medicine!

Finally home to the Town House!

FAQ

First, let me say that Emily came "home" to the town house about 2 PM on Wednesday and is doing really well. She was able to enjoy a great birthday with family and friends! Because she was in the hospital, she did not go to Clinic which means she probably had more free time on her birthday than she would have otherwise. Another unexpected blessing. God is so cool. :-)

Here are some answers to a few frequently asked questions:

1. Mail - Please continue to send all mail, gifts, packages, etc. to their home address. They are currently having their mail shuttled from home and will hopefully get there mailbox set up here so they can have it officially forwarded through the postal service. Since they don't know how long they will be at the town house, they don't want to have mail sent here only to be gone before it arrives. If you do not have their mailing address, please email me.

2. Practical Help - If you would like to help them with practical needs, please see this post and this post.

3. Financial Help - If you would like to help them financially, please see this post and this post.

4. Staff Infection - While Emily was in the hospital the first time, they found a staff infection called MRSA during her bronchoscopy. Her bronchoscopy that was supposed to take place this week was rescheduled for next week. However, Emily has no symptoms and said that most "healthy" people can carry a staff infection like MRSA and not even know it. It just becomes an issue if it flares up. So right now, it basically is not an issue or anything of concern.

5. Blogging - If you want step-by-step directions on how to comment on the blog, please see this post. If you are interested in starting your own blog or just understanding more about what blogs are, check out this link.

6. CF - If you are interested in learning more about Cystic Fibrosis, please visit www.cff.org.

7. Lungs - Emily's new lungs do not have her genetic makeup since they are donor lungs. Thus, her new lungs do not contain the CF gene. Because of this, these new lungs will not deteriorate the same way that her old lungs did. They will basically not be damaged by her CF but by having a lung transplant, she is not cured from CF either. Her body, particularly her sinuses and pancreas are still affected. The concerns about her lungs turn to rejection and infection of her lungs which will be an ongoing but hopefully, very minor part of her life. She is advised to wear a mask in unhealthy situations like unclean/dusty air, congested areas like malls, when other people around her are sick, or when children have their vaccinations. She is still clarifying with her medical team about specific situations and it will continually be a learning process to adapt to life with new lungs. She also will always be on anti-rejection meds.

8. Donor Family - Neither party is allowed to contact the other party for at least 6 months, possibly a year. Then, if either party declines contact, there will be no contact. Emily and Jason plan on writing a letter to their donor family and are hopeful that they will want to be contacted and they will get a chance to meet them. I cannot even imagine what that day would be like! Emily also said that UAB has an annual gathering of some sort for donor families and organ receivers.

9. Post-Transplant - Emily's 8 weeks started the day of her surgery. Sunday will mark 3 weeks! Someone has to be with her 24/7 for the first 8 weeks and they are supposed to be close to UAB to attend clinics and for situations like her Monday morning scare. They are hopeful that since home is not too far away, that they will be able to go home sooner than 8 weeks. It will be a couple of more weeks before that is even on the table though. The Town House is a block away from the hospital entrance and is very suitable for their living needs. But, there is no place like home!

10. Post-Seizure - Emily was in the hospital for almost 3 days following her seizure. They ran many tests including CT, MRI, EEG, (and some other ones that I can't remember), and everything turned out fine. The med she was on, Prograf, is one of the anti-rejection meds and one of the side effects is seizures. Emily just happens to be one of those in that small percentage that are affected. They are taking her off of that medication and putting her onto a new medication that is a very similar med. Hopefully her body will like that one much better!

Ok, I think that's it! If I missed one of your FAQs, please leave a comment. Thanks so much! ~Emily T

Happy Birthday Emily!

Today is Emily's birthday and she will hopefully be getting discharged from the hospital today. Let's leave her lots of comments and messages to wish her a very Happy Birthday! We love you Em and are so thankful for your life!

P.S. If you have had trouble commenting, here are some step-by-step directions to help you out.
*Note: You can comment without signing up for a Blogger account.

At the bottom of each post, there is the date it was posted and the author (Emily) and then the number of comments. Put your pointer over the word comments and click the link. It will take you to the comments page for that post.

On the left hand side are the comments that have already been posted (if any) and the right hand side contains the box to leave your comment. Type your comment in the box and if you do not have an account and don't want one, be sure to put your name so she knows who the comment is from.

Next, if you don't have a blogger account, it will ask you for a word verification. This is to help protect the blog from getting spam from "people" who should not really be commenting on the blog. Just enter in the sequence of letters or numbers in the blank.

Then scroll down to where the orange text says "Choose An Identity". Click in one of the circles next to Google/Blogger (if you have an account or a blog using Blogger), Open Id (if you have a different blog like Wordpress), Name/URL (if you want to just type in your name or if you have a website you want to list), or Anonymous (if you don't want to enter anything). Be sure to fill out the blanks it provides you. I highly recommend you at least use Name/URL to identify yourself by having your name linked to your comment.

Then click "Publish Your Comment" and your done! Hope that helps!
~Emily T

New Beginnings

Despite my scary, early morning ordeal I'm doing better this evening. We just continue to take one step, one day at a time. People have been asking me though the changes I can already tell by having new lungs so I thought I would joyfully share the miracles I've experience so far with new, healthy lungs.

1) Being able to breathe deeper then I've ever done before and as the pain continues to go down I know it should only get better! I love seeing my oxygen 100%! Amazing!

2) Walking without oxygen and not getting out of breath. Before I did a treatment in the morning I would get out of breath just walking to the bathroom and back.

3) Not having to do my treatments or vest (which would knock down my mucus) anymore. Which I still "struggle" with feeling like I need to do my treatments before I go to bed or wake up in the morning. I've always been use to being the last person to go to bed and the last to get ready in the morning due to all the medical things I needing to get done. It feels too easy to just have a normal bed time routine and go to bed but it's something I think I can get use too real quick.

4) Not having my daily/night coughing and being able to sleep on just one maybe two pillows versus 3 or 4 prompt up in bed.

5) Although the side effects are different then the meds I have taken all my life and there are changes that I will have to make for the rest of my life but the med routine is nothing compared to what I was doing before.

6) I do have to wear a mask for the next 4 or so weeks while I'm out in public but it sure beats carrying an oxygen tank with me where ever I went and struggling for every breath.

7) A joy I've never known before is being able to laugh without fear of it turning into a coughing spell and even though the pain prevents me from the totally freedom of that I can laugh more then I've ever done before.

8) I'm able to sing and read to Faith without running out of air. I love it!

9) People have also told me how much stronger my voice sounds and of course my color is much pinker and heather looking.

I know there are more but these are what come to mind right away. Again we know there are many what-ifs but we so rejoice for the opportunity the Lord and my donor family have given me. We don't know all that the future hold but we did know I was running out of time and to be totally honest I'm not sure if I would have made it another year. Yet the Lord has and continues to be gracious and your prayers continue to give us strength and support! We love you!

"I love the Lord because he hears and answers my prayers. Because He bends down and listens. I will pray as long as I have breath". Ps. 116:1-2

"Let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need". Heb. 4:16

Please Pray

Emily is back in the HTICU after having a seizure this morning around 5 am. After seeing Emily, the doctor believes it is a specific medication that caused the seizure and they will now need to regulate it again before she can be released. This was the last medication that they were trying to regulate before she was discharged. That is actually somewhat good news because they know the cause and it is not related to other complications.

Jason was with Emily when it happened, the ambulance got here right away, and by the time I came back up the elevator with the paramedic, she was alert and knew what was going on. It was still very scary. She had 3 smaller episodes after they got her to the hospital but they were more confined and she was more aware during them but was just not able to control her eye movements or head.

Please pray for her (body, mind, and spirit), for the doctors to quickly and decisively figure out how to regulate this med so that it doesn't happen again, and for Jason as he had a very frightening early morning and as he tries to care and comfort her.

On the lighter side, Emily had a wonderful day yesterday! Saturday ended up being a harder day because of being sore and she seems to continue a pattern of one day is good, the next day is bad. But yesterday, she got some good walking in, some great time with Faith, and was even able to check off her to-do list of things that were left undone before the surgery. It is amazing to me how her mind and heart are so focused on others and not missing out on the important life events of others.

Together is Better

Hi! It's Emily Tardy again. I'm sitting here with Faith listening to music and dancing while Mama takes a nap and Daddy is at WalMart. I thought I'd update you really quick to say that Emily had a GREAT day yesterday. It was her first full day at "home" (the townhouse) and it was so good to be all together as a family for a full day.

She felt really good and had a fun last day with Nana. Stephanie left this morning to go back to Lubbock. Em is a little sore today but otherwise is still feeling really well. I almost cannot believe my eyes at how well she is doing. It is crazy to realize what she has been through over the past 2 weeks and that she is now up walking around and experiencing a whole new way of life. Her incisions are healing up really well too.

Well there's a quick update! Have a great Saturday! ~Emily T

HOME!!

Praise the Lord we are home (the Town House)! It took a while getting all my medicines ready to go and making sure we had all the information we need to start a new life with new lungs. They have a wonderful, special tradition when a lung/heart transplant patient is discharged from the unit all the nurses stand around while you get to ring the "Bell of Life" and everybody claps for you! It was a very awesome feeling ringing that bell. You could proudly ring that bell knowing you had reached the top of a big mountain and ready to begin a new journey. During my stay I got to hear the bell ring twice and it was just a great feeling knowing someone had been given a second chance at life and they were moving on to a life they have been dreaming of for a long time.

I have to say Faith was ready for all of us to be home together! Every since we left the hospital she has not left my side. If I walk into the other room she is quick to follow and make sure I'm not leaving this time. She has been so talkative tonight as if she has to catch up with me about all I have missed the past 11 days and her hugs are so tight that my heart just melts knowing it has been tough for her as well as for me being a part. Yet, we are thankful to finally be together again!

I'm feeling pretty well and the pain is much better controlled now. Next week well be a little busy as we need to go to clinic Monday and Wednesday for lots of tests. We are still very much in the beginning stages and there are so many what-ifs but we just continue to take each day, one step at a time with the Lord. He has been so gracious to us through everything and my heart leaps for joy at the opportunity God has given me to do things I have not been able to do for a long time or ever for that matter. Thank you again for everything you all have done! We truly have been blessed with the most amazing family and friends who have supported us in every way! We love you!

~Emily, Jason, & Faith

Thank You!

"But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called today." Heb. 3:13

This is what you all have been doing for me as I recover and I can barely type the words THANK YOU without tears. Your prayers and encouraging words have meant everything. It's been a difficult couple of days but I just have to remind myself how much God has done, despite the pain I have wonderful, healthy lungs and everything else is looking good. All the doctors say my lungs sound better then any lungs they have heard post transplant. Praise God! They also took out a little less then half of my 103 staples (yes, Jason had to count them). Faith was sitting right beside me when they took them out and she was quite concerned and kept saying, "Oh no, Oh no". Although she was worried she did not want to leave my side and of course she was a good support for mama. Even though she is not to fond of the hospital room she is so sweet always wanting to sit by me and give kisses and hugs. Good medicine for mama!

We pray this pain medicine works so I can maybe go home tomorrow! I am still struggling with nausea so that is the other thing they want to make sure is OK before I leave.

I better head to bed but I wanted to say hello and thank you again! We love you!
~Emily