Mom’s Second Wind
Mom’s Second Wind
Many of you who are close to our family know that our mom has been battling emphysema and COPD for many years. In December 2018 she was given the opportunity to meet with the surgical team at UF Health Shands Hospital in Gainesville Florida, to discuss her eligibility to be put on the lung transplant list. Over the course of 2019 she completed all the necessary pretesting and qualifications. In September 2019 she was put on the transplant list. Between December and March, she had received 3 possible donor calls and sadly they all ended in what they refer to as a “dry run” aka a “no go”. On Wednesday May 26, 2020 at around 3pm she got another call and in true mom fashion she told us she was not getting her hopes up and neither should we. Something felt different about her call to us this time, I had a feeling it was going to happen. I mean we are in the middle of a Pandemic and cannot get down there to be by her side, so why wouldn’t it happen right now lol. Usually she would get an hour and half into the 3.5hr trip and get the “dry run” call. At 6:39pm she sent a text our family group chat “This is it!!”(literally just got chills and a lump in my throat as I typed that. I felt her emotions so much through her text that night) We all immediately hopped on FaceTime to celebrate, it was really happening!!!! She arrived at the hospital at 8pm with our sister Courtney who by the way has been a Rockstar and our moms side kick on this journey since day 1. In my eyes it is just as much Courtney’s journey as it is our moms. So it was only suiting she be the one and only person they allowed to be by her side. They immediately started the pre-op prep and by 3am she was off to the OR. By 730am they had completed one lung and were moving on to the next. We could not believe how quickly things were moving and by 10am they had completed her double lung transplant. Around 11am we were able to see her beautiful face via FaceTime. I had always known my mom was tough and a fighter, but this totally validated that. She wasn’t even out of surgery an hour; and she was so alert, writing on Courtney’s arm trying to communicate. From that moment I knew she would rock this recovery! On Friday 5/28 at around 9:30am we all watched our mom take her first breath with her new lungs via FaceTime. It was honestly one of the most beautiful, memorable and emotional moments of our lives. A moment we will forever cherish and never forget! Mom’s second wind had begun!!!
Since she lives nearly 4hrs away from Gainesville, she is required to take up residency out there during the first 3-5mos of her recovery and PT. Taking on residency also means taking on more bills, in addition to the bills they have at home. By doing so this will cause some financial burdens as her husbands and my sisters work hours will be cutback. They will need to alternate weeks being her caregiver.
I understand due to COVID-19 that times are tough for a lot of people and I wish I did not have to reach out and ask for help, but we truly need it. Keeping our mom safe & healthy is our way of honoring the gift her donor has given to her.
Thank you all so much for your continued love and support during our mom’s journey. It means everything to us! ❤️❤️