Lungs for Mandy

Good Morning!

Hope this diary entry finds you doing well. I’m sure everyone is getting prepared for the Feast! I know I certainly am! Mom and Dad are coming for a visit on Monday and stay until next Tuesday. We have a lot of things planned that I’m looking forward to.I’m looking most forward to visiting with the two of them, that’s the most important part.

We’ve planned a day trip to The Reagan Library at their request. It will be very interesting, a Presidential Library, but I would prefer a different president. Anyway, the Library is in Simi Valley about 1 hour northeast of LA. There seems to be quite a few historical monuments and parks nearby. I would like to check some of those out. It will be a nice day trip.

Also one day we are going to spend at the beach with Sosa. It will be a full day with lunch and everything. Hopefully the whales will make their appearance like they did last weekend. Watching them play out in the ocean is so breathtaking. I think it may be migration time since the waters in the Pacific Ocean are colder now.

My health seems to be going just fine after 6 months and 1 week.I’ve had some pretty nasty headaches from one of my medications, but I find if I catch them early enough Tylenol will help. My weight is still good and breathing is amazing. It’s hard to believe it has been six months since it all started. I can’t figure out if it seems like a longer or shorter period of time.

I hope you are reading this and everything is good in yout life.

Please take care

xox

Amanda

Hello there

Okay my drs. appointment went well yesterday. I’ve gained weight (good), my lung that had some air space in has almost completly filled in, my x-ray looked good and my medication levels looked good. My Pulmonary Function was down a tad-bit, but Dr Hodges (Tony) says thats normal. The pain I have in my incision area is just part of the normal healing process. However I did decide to make it three weeks for my next appointment instead of a month. A month is too long and I get nervous.

I won’t talk about the election because I know it is a sensitive subject. But are we ready for another year of Bush and his croonies? Just something to think about!?!?!?!

Scott has a feature this evening. He’ll perform his poetry for 20 minutes….just him! I’m looking forward to it. I think it is kind of an honor to have a feature. I’ll let you know how it goes and I’ll post a few pictures later on. Speaking of pictures there are new ones at the picture page. Check them out.

The flu shot shortage continues and I still haven’t gotten mine. Along with a ton of others. They have a few clinics set up for the area on November 13, but I’m nervous about the crowds. I wish my hospital would just get a supply. There has only been one case reported here in LA, but it is only November 5th. I’m not 100% panicked yet. I just need to do whatever I need to gt my shot. Don’t let the shortage happen again next year.Support the Flu Protection of 2004 (S. 2038 and H.R. 3758)  The shortage of flu vaccine this year highlights the urgent need for a comprehensive response to influenza. Please ask your Senators and Member of Congress to support this important measure to ensure an adequate supply of flu vaccine. Here is the website  http://lungaction.org/campaign/fluvaccines_message/

ThanksStay Well— Amanda

Hi there

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I have so much to be thankful for this year! I have such a wonderful family and terrific friends. Plus this year I got the “gift of life”. I feel so fortunate to be here and be feeling so good.

I just want to thank each and everyone of you.

Today Scott, Sosa and I went on a hike at Runyan Canyon. It was just spectacular! We went about 3:30 and stayed until after the sunset. We could see the sun set down into the ocean and we were up in the mountains. I wish I had brought my camera because it was so gorgeous I would have loved to show you. I did pretty well on the hike, I had a bit of a hard time breathing which is unusual (post-transplant). Luckily I have an appointment Thursday. I think 1 month is too long to stay away from the tests and the docs at the hospital. Also if anyone has any suggestions about how I can get a flu shot, let me know. I just found out USC’s supply of flu vaccines have been redirected by the CDC. I was told that I could call back mid-November, but I’d like to get it before then.

Halloween was fun. Scott and I walked down to Santa Monica Blvd for their Halloween Adult festivities. Wow there were some great costumes. This group of people were dressed up as Tina Turner through the last 20 years.They blasted her music and barged out of a float type stage. There were a lot of themed costumes. Red Riding Hood and the Wolf, The Red Sox, a guy dressed in nothing but a skirt of dollar bills and The Wizard of Oz. There were so many people and costumes I couldn’t name all of them, but it was great…….to watch and then go home. Sosa was a little freaked out because it was LOUD and the helicopters were everywhere taping for the news shows.

Better go. Hope you are well.

Amanda