re. Gwynne; misc. to friends; Kate's proposal!

[Guest guest]

Terry,

I'm thinking of you and hoping that today finds your

spirits lifted a bit. Those down days are part and parcel

of the disease, but they are sometimes harder to tolerate

than others. They can be nearly debilitating. We just

have to work through them and not stay stuck in the

blahs for too long. I'm pulling for you, my new friend.

,

Please take extra care of yourself during the move. What a

tremendous undertaking. I hope you're getting lots and

lots of help, and that you'll be very happy nearer those

wonderful Carlsbad beaches. I would be. I certainly hope

to visit that area again one day before TOO long, without

oxygen. My first travel will probably be to Austin to see my

kids, and then hopefully to get doctors' approval to visit

the Colorado Rockies. It makes me cry to think I'll get to

do that again... a big chunk of my heart is there from many

years back.

Re. Irene,

What's up with this no surgery thing!? Is is possible that

everyone is just too afraid to operate on the girl due to

the multitude of ailments that afflict her?...liability and

all. I don't get it, it doesn't make any sense at all to me

how she keeps getting left hanging and in pain.

Wally,

Syder-sized hail sounds like a poor idea. I'll be hoping

that won't happen for your special event, which I think

is just terrific that you're doing. I'm having trouble

imagining Bruce as either a cowboy or a cajun, though.

Wishing you MUCH success on the entire endeavor.

Bruce,

I've had a couple of episodes of dizziness the past few

days - no fainting, just dizzy. I'm supposed to avoid

bending over or making rapid movements. I've got

clinic day as always on Tuesday. My tremors are still

terrible (meds) but I'm taking VERY little pain med and

sleeping well at night. Amazing! They think I'm still just

weak and recovering from the thoracotomy, and aren't

too worried as long as my b.p. doesn't get any lower or

I develop over a 100 degree fever. For anyone who doesn't

know, for single lung transplant, they don't go in from the

front or the sternum. They go in from the back and wrap

around the side. They cut through muscle, nerves, and saw

through bones. It's supposed to be the most painful incision

of any heart or lung surgery performed.

Unfortunately, I very well may NOT be able to get together

with the group next weekend, :-( based both on doctor

recommendation and my degree of weakness. Thursday

will mark just one month out. I have to avoid groups and

crowds and lots of stairs, especially for the first three

months, and no buffets ever again. Oh, I wanted to tell you

I DID get a call last night from Dr. Rosenblatt (my Dallas

doctor) - finally. That made me feel much better! He wants

me to keep him posted once a week or so. He's very pleased,

and he informed me that my donor was local, which I

suspected but wasn't sure of. He said that's a real advantage

in several respects.

Hey Gang,

I have some wonderful news! Yesterday afternoon Kate's

boyfriend drove in for the weekend, and last night he

PROPOSED to her!!!! I had an omelet here and told the two

of them to go out alone for dinner. He came early while she

was working out, to ask my blessing and to show me the

beautiful ring, which was his grandmother's. I'm so excited

for them. Their happiness is tangible and contageous, and

when THIS one of my kids gets married I won't be on oxygen.

It damned near killed me planning the other wedding two

years ago, but I did it, so I should be much more up to the

challenge this time. ugh, but hooray. They, too, want an

untraditional outdoor wedding, in Austin (like did) -

neither could make it simpler and do the deed in Fort Worth! :-)

It's so obvious how much of all of our (and your) lives were/are

on hold and affected by the shadow of the monster. I hate it

for everyone, and Joyce, I do take a deep breaths EVERY day

specifically for YOU and my air family. I know what you mean

about praying - we have to pray remembering that God has

already answered our prayers. He is faithful, even when the

plan doesn't appear to fit what we would have imagined or in

our timeline. I'm not so certain there is A single plan, but I

know he loves us and works for good for us, and I know he

is gracious. We have to remain aware, in whatever our state

of health, of the small blessings and miracles all around us.

Thank God for your fighting spirit (and mine, and all our

Air Family) - you gotta have it!! Never give up!

May,

Any dress yet????

,

I never received mail from Australia before - how exciting!

Thank you for the sweet thoughts and prayers, dear one.

How's school coming along for Ahli? Have you seen her

lately?

Sher,

I'm sooo glad to hear you went out putzin. It's one of the

things I look forward to the most. How liberating just to

get out of the house.

L,

Thank you so very much for the sweet card. I haven't heard

you mention much about yourself lately. I'm thinking of you

and wishing you good days and hugs.

Z,

I'm delighted that you get to spend quality MomMom time

with the little darlins. Someone needs to figure out how to

bottle that intoxicating baby smell - I think it's what peace,

love, and innocence smell like. I hope the disequilibrium is

improving steadily - I hate that for you. Thanks for the dear

card and your loyal support.