Karen waited 5 long years but held on to hope for life and to read her words “I feel wonderful” brings joy to me!! Her expressed desire to attempt to reach out to her donor family again brings so many thoughts to mind for me but most of all the thought that she has received a gift that is priceless, a second chance….a chance to live ….this is so difficult for me to wrap my mind around. As I mentioned in the “About Suzanne” section of my blog, I am from the south & down here, we write “thank you notes” for everything, literally! I have written so many thank you notes in my life that I am pretty sure that I could write one with my eyes closed but the very thought of one day starting “my” thank you note for a second chance at life literally stops me in my tracks because this will not be your average thank you note, it will be so much more because this will be a note to a family who has most likely lost someone who they dearly loved and made the choice to give life to others who are holding on to hope for life. That one will definitely take some thought to say the very least but it is certainly one that I look forward to writing one day … S
I waited almost 5yrs. for my lung transplant. I received a double lung transplant at UCLA on 5/6/2009. I would love to hear from my donor family, I’ve written to them, maybe I should try again.
Before my transplant I was on oxygen 24/7 what a hassle, but without it I would not have made it for my transplant. I feel wonderful. I go to “clinic” for routine tests and check up every 3mos.
Karen – Double Lung transplant recipient 5/6/09
How awesome!