It’s rainy and depressing!
Good Evening.
I hope this post has you all doing well and enjoying life.
I’ve been down for a few days now and I would like to blame it on PMS, but it’s not that time right now. It seems as if I am worrying about way too many things right now and the rain helped at all!
I’ve recently moved from slightly scared of the H1N1 virus to full-fledged scared. Mom recenty told me about the autopsies taken from some of the victims of H1N1 and the virus really appears to attack the lungs BIG TIME. Yes, Mom told me, but I would have heard it anyway..eventually. The vaccine hasn’t arrived at Barnes yet and when it does arrive pregnant women and children will get it first. The expected arrival date for immune-supressed people is mid to late November! Everyone around me seems to be sick and it’s surprising that I haven’t gotten the virus. I’ve never been the type of person to panic about getting sick but this swine flu has me! ? I’m trying to ignore the illness around me, but how can I when EVERYONE (it seems) is coughing. Actually, right now, I have a headache and I’m wondering if it is the start to something.. Weird huh? At this point I just need to focus on staying healthy and not getting run-down because there are no third chances for me as far as transplant. I don’t want time to run out before I’ve done everything on my list. I mean if it something cool I die doing well, that’s one thing, but dying from the flu would really suck. Okay, I feel better now that I got that out, but I am still concerned about this headache. Hold on; let me get some Tylenol.
Okay, I’m back. Now with some good news! The fundraiser lung walk went really well last weekend. The last I heard we earned #35,000 and I am sure that they haven’t gotten eveything counted yet. I think that’s a pretty good amount for as low as donations were this year due to the recession. The event was exciting since I was so involved this year. A week before the walk, I was asked by the president to become a board member. I’m looking forward to joining and becoming more involved with the organization. Additionally, I completed the guest speaking volunteer program two weeks ago. It was fabulous!! I spend a three days talking to 5th graders about lung transplant and my journey. Fifth graders you ask…Well, the kids I spoke to were from Rockwood and participated in a honors-type program at a creative learning center. The kids get to chose what they learn about for 16 weeks and about 30 of them decided on organ transplant. It worked out real good since I can relate to a child VERY well. They asked me what I was doing when I received my call the first transplant and I told them the entire story about how I told my nurse I had to pick Scott up from work and that we were going to the Dodger vs Cubs game that night. First this kids boo’d me because I said I was a Cubs fan and then they laughed! I even mentioned my search for cheap gas along Santa Monica Blvd on my way to ICU. And the fact that I remembered to put money in the meter on my way into the hospital. It was very nice to reflect and to share my experience with the kids. The whole point of the speaking engagements is to introduce myself to the class, explain my story and ask the children to pass the story onto others that may not know about organ donation.
School is moving along slow some days and fast other days. Tuesdays and Thursdays become by busy days because I start at 8am until 10 then I go back at 5:30 for Yoga class. I was desperate for one credit hour so I decided on an exercise class. We’ll see how it goes tomorrow. I’m hoping it will help calm me down!!
Creagle is even more spoiled than the last time I wrote. She really picks up on things quickly - She understands when she is going out for a quick bathroom break or a long bathroom break. She hates the short ones! So when I call her to follow me down the stairs
she’ll howl at me until I grab a leash. If I don’t grb a leash she will not come follow.
(Halloween photo — It’s velcro so she can’t get it off)