Update on Gwynne

[Guest guest]

Hi Everyone.

My dad and I drove to San and on Tuesday I

had my one-year follow-up appointment with Dr. Angel.

I was really excited to see him again. He said I passed

the first year with flying colors. The new lung is working

at 92% capacity. Sounds good to me! He said all my

tests showed that things really couldn't be better (and

there was a LOT of testing.)

We got to tour the pulmonary research facility where

the rat lab is. That was fascinating. There are only 5

places nationally where they do actual rat lung

transplants, and it's interesting and important work.

Now they're doing testing with nanoparticle delivery

of anti-rejection drugs, which should lead to increased

survivability of transplant patients during that first

critical year. I got the biggest charge out of the tiny

little surgical tools that are used on these microsurgeries.

I went back to my old room and said hello to several of

my nurses from a year ago. Then we got to go to an annual

ceremony (talk about good timing!) honoring all those people

who donated organs the past year. The experience is still

so raw for the donor families, and it was very moving. I was

honored to be there as someone who has received the gift

of life.

My dad and I had a delicious Tex Mex dinner on Monday

night. Then on Wednesday we stopped in Austin on the

way home to see my daughter and son-in-law, who

have just completed the renovation on their little fixer

upper house. It's darling and they're so proud and happy.

We got to go to lunch with them before we headed out.

My dad and I had some great conversations in the car

during our three days together. All in all it was a

wonderful trip. It's too bad all 84-year-olds can't be

as young as my father.

Hugs and blessings,

Gwynne 58 Single-lung transplant on 4-3-08

at UTHSC - San Fort Worth, TX