Lungs for Mandy

Each day something amazes me.
Today I went on a hike to a place I wouldn’t dare before my surgery. Runyan Canyon. It’s hard to believe you are in the city of Los Angeles when your up there because it is peaceful. Before the surgery Scott would take the dog and I would stay home or sit in the sun reading. Today I went and had such a great time. It’s a pretty long hike, high above the city in the Hollywood Hills where Sosa can be off of his leash and wander around. It was so amazing to be that high above everything and to watch Sosa enjoying himself so much. It’s just unreal how many things that I couldn’t enjoy before my surgery, this being one of them. My legs got sun-burnt and my back aches a little, but I achieved something that I’ve wanted for so long. I thought a lot of the donor family, their loss and the new lungs that saved me. How will I thank them when I eventually write them? Thank you just doesn’t seem like enough.

Back to the hospital tomorrow for labs. I’m sure my white blood count will be back to normal (4 is the lucky number)
And if your wondering, THE PLUMBER showed up!
xox
Amanda

Hello! We have new pictures of the dance. Go to the “pictures” category to view them. If you have any pictures, please submit them to webmaster AT lungsformandy.com. Thank You!

~Ryan

Sitting here waiting for the plumber to come fix our sink. Of course they were supposed to be here between 9am-12 and they’re still not here. Don’t they know I have things I want to go out and do? Our bathroom sink has been clogged since I first came home form the hospital and our landlord can’t seem to find a competent plumber to fix it. This will be the third attempt!
Just a little ranting.

My health continues to improve. Just a few little bumps in the road. Medicines that slow down the body’s defense system are needed to help prevent rejection. They stopped two of my three anti rejection medications b/c of mylow blood count and that is a little nerve-wrecking. But they assure me that I’m doing fine and this is a normal occurrence. The nurses and doctors on this team at USC are amazing and I trust them very much. I’ve been exercising a lot lately. Trying to walk a mile a day, which is difficult because of all the hills in my neighborhood my legs start to give out. Also working with weights and a little Yoga. I still can’t believe what a change 2 months and two weeks can make.

We’ll soon have a visitors Diane and Jack, Scott’s parents. Diane will be here for a few weeks and Jack arrives the last week of August.I haven’t seen his parents in a really long time and I’m looking forward to their visit. Diane is planning a day trip for us up north. I think the town we are going to is north of Santa Barbara I’ve never been that far north.

xoxo

The benefit was a huge success. The Amanda Helderle trust exceeded their goal by $6,500.00. Thanks to the volunteers, the contributors and all our family and friends who attended. It was a great time had by all. Wer will see you at the next one. Thank You.

Frank

I was up all night last night. My stomach hurt, I had a headache and my knees were killing me. guess I shouldn’t have had that coffee last night an and maybe I should have stretched a little before I took such a long walk.. It was 4 o’clock before I fell asleep.Luckily nothing was planned today so I could take a nap. TOmorrow I go in to see how my white blood count is after two of my meds were lowered last Thursday. Hopefully there aren’t any more problems. I’ll know more Tuesday when the results are final.

Spoke to Steve. He is exhausted. I guess all of the preparation caught up with him. Hopefully he can get back on track again. Thank You Steve for all of your hard work. Actually everyone for your hard. When I was told about all of the food donated, auction prizes and auction gifts, I was amazed. Unfortunately one of the volunteers bid on an auction item and won the basket of spa supplies. Someone must have accidently picked it up because it wasn’t there at the end of the evening. If you accidently picked the item up, would you contact Steve at shelderle@yahoo.com Jenny has done so much work for the fundraiser and I’m sad that she didn’t get the basket she bid on.I also spoke to much nephews today. Jacob wanted to know if he could come to my house for just a little bit. I was trying to explain to him that he has to take an four-hour airplane ride and he’d have to stay longer than a little while. And that maybe we’d have to wait until he got a little older to come alone. He didn’t understand and gave the phone to his Dad. I guess he didn’t like the response I gave him. Alex wanted to know if I was still in the hospital. I was lucky to be able to say “No, I’m at home”.
I’m looking forward to seeing them around Thanksgiving.
Mom and Dad sounded good today.Not too tired. They were doing a few real-estate things and then able to go home and rest