Tina re: listing

[Guest guest]

Tina,

I don't think I ever responded to your news. Congrats. Sounds like

some crazy arrangements and matching criteria, but glad it's all

worked out. Good to hear from you and that you've been busy getting

it all worked out.

Kerry

37 IPF '01 S. IN

>

> I know it's been a while since I posted anything, but I sure do

miss

> everyone! I've been reading posts the last couple of days to try

to

> catch up with everyone. I hope I didn't miss anything

significant.

> I pray for everyone and I appreciate your thoughts and prayers as

> well. To catch you up with me, I would like to let you all know I

AM

> FINALLY LISTED FOR LUNG TRANSPLANT! I have been working closely

with

> my coordinator the last few days to get everything finalized. I

had

> to come off of my blood thinners for seven days before I could be

> listed and finish up some other minor things, like dental work.

But

> it is finally done. My LAS is 37, which is kind of low, but I am

> Number 2 on the list in my Region. The person ahead of me is a

lot

> worse than I am, but has a completely different set of

circumstances

> that will make his/her match complicated. A tissue type expert

was

> able to eliminate some of my antibodies that were likely not to

cause

> problems with a donor. I believe I have 7 unacceptable antigens

that

> have to match in order to be an acceptable donor. I have arranged

my

> pre-transplant air ambulance flight transportation through Med

Air.

> They will fly an air ambulance jet into Lorain County Regional

> Airport, where I will meet them, and then they will fly me to

> Pittsburgh and provide transportation from the airport to the

> hospital, if the call ever comes. It is a three hour drive to

UPMC

> from where I am in Ohio, and the transplant team has allowed me 4

> hours to arrive at the hospital once I receive the call. So. they

> have requested that I arrange the flight instead. I am scared,

but I

> know this is the only choice I have to extend my life. I have

also

> decided to move back in with my mother. She is glad that I will

be

> there and she can keep an eye on me. I hated to give up my place,

> but this is for the best. My divorce is well under way, and you

can

> imagine what that is like. The hardest part is Kaleb has been

with

> his father most of the summer. He is supposed to be coming home

at

> the end of July. I miss him so much! But he is having a good

time

> with his dad. I have been " dating " someone who is well aware of

all

> of my " baggage " . His name is Steve and he is wonderful. He does

not

> have any children, but he is great with Kaleb. He is a program

> manager with a local metal fabrication manufacturer in Norwalk,

> Ohio. He also is a Pro Stock Drag Racer and races a '68

Barracuda.

> I have been to several of the drag races this summer and have got

to

> have a hands on experience in something I never thought I would

have

> an interest. It's been a lot of fun. I drive his truck and

trailer

> (with the race car on it) to and from the race tracks. I have met

> some amazing people.

> We never know what God has in store for us, but I was always

> confident that His plan, and my trials, have always been for a

reason

> not meant for me to understand.

> I continue to struggle with the ups and downs of this disease,

such

> as oxygen needs and suppliers! But slowly and surely things have

> worked out for me. I am in the process of switching over to

liquid

> oxygen and I am excited and nervous about that too. I have had

teh

> Home-fill oxygen concentrator for most of the summer, but it is

not

> working for me. And, the portable concentrator wasn't able to

meet

> my oxygen needs, so hopefully this system will do what I need it

to

> do!

> (my daughter) and her new husband () have moved out of

> our farm house because my soon-to-be ex-husband insisted they

leave.

> He had to " buy " her out of a life interest and they are now living

> with 's grandmother for the time being. has been

> accepted to the Board of Education's substitute teacher list for

> middle and high school. She is anxiously awaiting the start of

the

> school year. Finally all her years of education, and her degree,

> will be put to use! She continues to work full-time as a manager

of

> a gourmet coffee house at the Deep Creek Lake resort area. She is

> doing very well there and she has been working there for 6 years.

> The owner treats her very well.

> Well, I know I have rambled on way too long tonite and I will

close

> for now. But, be assured, you will be seeing a lot more of me in

the

> coming weeks! I am so sorry for my long departure.

> God Bless,

> Tina

> Ohio

> IPF 04/07 PH 11/07

> Listed for transplant 07/08

>