Ana and Isa’s blog

Dear Ana supporters:

Today I bring more good news. God is good!  Ana was in less pain, and got one chest tube removed- one more to go (and that’s barely draining)! She is more awake and alert, and only used percoset twice today, and tylenol other times. Good riddance morphine! The big news is she’s walking!! With the physical therapist and aide, she walked out her room, down the hall and back, and down another hall and back- about 150 feet! She was working at a 5-6 out of 10 in exertion, not bad. Ana was using 4 liters of 02 walking with a pink HEPA mask which is very suffocating. She wasn’t even worn out after that long walk and didn’t end it with an expletive like she did her walk across the room yesterday. At rest she is around 1-2 liters, but with movement and a CPT treatment she goes to 2-3. She still desats somewhat with movement, as low as 86. The doc said she is still expanding her lungs. I’m trying not to worry about that but it isn’t quite what I would want. She still doesn’t have much of an appetite and has a lot of acid. Her swelling is still bad but slightly better than yesterday. She is now only getting antibiotics several times a day and is otherwise unhooked from her IV! Makes walking a lot easier.

Here is Ana on her first walk:

I am grateful for Naomi’s visit, and the visits from Mama, Susan, Collette, Ryuta and Trent again.

All day I was planning on writing about Sekou Sundiata, an African American kidney recipient and poet/artist. Sekou performed a one man show called “Blessing the Boats” about his kidney transplant. One of my most inspirational moments after my transplant was hearing him speak at a CTDN event.  He spoke so candidly about how truly amazing it was that you could take an organ out of one person and put it into another… and it WORKS.  Such a simple reminder of this miracle really hit me when I heard him. Sekou also talked about transplant as being a form of redemption. I never really understood the meaning of redemption. I know you redeem a coupon. Christ redeemed our sins- but what does that really mean, anyway? But when Sekou spoke, it really made sense.  It’s all about compensation- for the suffering from illness.  Sekou’s redemption means being paid back with relief from pain and weakness, with health, strength and another chance at life- but only after you have truly paid your dues with ample suffering.  Ana’s first 6 1/2 years were so perfect; so carefree; and only the last 9 months were harder. We’ve often talked about what did she do to deserve a second transplant- when some didn’t even get their first? Was she being too greedy? Now, after the intense challenges of the last week, and the struggle she had in the three months prior to her transplant, I believe she has fulfilled Sekou’s message. I hope and pray the upcoming recovery from her second transplant is her redemption.

A strange afternote: One the way home from the hospital on NPR I heard Sekou died this past Wednesday. May he rest in peace. I am grateful I got to see him, and that he made his way to Heaven years later than expected because of organ donation.  This is the second time I’ve had thoughts in my head about a particular person, only to learn they had died that day. I had a powerful dream 8 months after my transplant that I sat at a table with Christopher Reeve. I woke up and went outside to fetch the newspaper, only to read he had died the night before.  Is this what happens when you carry the spirit of the dead inside of you? Or does this happen only to those who have nearly crossed over? Is this now my 6th sense, or does this happen to others?

Anyway, I digress. I am grateful to the mystery person who send a gift up from the gift shop for Ana without signing their name. Whoever you are, THANK YOU! I remember the truffles I ate after my transplant were the best tasting chocolates I’d ever tasted. I hope Ana experiences the same. Also I thank Stacey and Ann for their cute stuffed animal that sings, “Don’t worry, be happy.” Will do!

Ana still has limited energy so she’d like to hold off on visitors, if you don’t mind. She is relieved to have the weekend to relax and practice her walking! She’s got to walk off that fluid!

I wish you all a wonderful weekend.  I hope you are all healthy and living intentionally. Thank you for all your positive feedback about the blog. I am glad it is keeping you informed. Thank you for your prayers and please keep them coming as Ana is far from out of the woods. Love to you all, Isa

This entry was posted on Saturday, July 21st, 2007 at 1:45 am and is filed under Life Status. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.