Special Edition: My Lung Transplant Journey July 10, 2013 - Life on Hold

I am in a holding pattern. That's just how one of my very good friends described what's happening with my life right now. I'm waiting. We're waiting. Again.

This time we are waiting for THE call from the lung transplant center. It can come at any time, day or night. We jump every time the phone rings. If the caller ID shows the Cleveland Clinic, we must answer the phone. However, if  the call comes after business hours, it might just be the unknown cell number of the on-call coordinator, so again, we must answer the phone. The call may come within days, weeks, months or even longer!

Meanwhile, while we wait, we are preparing as best as we can for the call. It's almost like preparing for the birth of a baby, but without an expected due date, it's so much different. One way we are preparing for the transplant is by planning and kicking off our fundraising campaign, U4Sue! New Lungs New Life. While our health insurance will cover most of the medical costs of the surgery, there are many other expenses that our insurance will not cover like travel, lodging, and household expenses for myself and a caregiver in Cleveland for at least three months after the transplant. Travel includes the clinic's medical jet, which will fly us out for the surgery when a donor match is available. Let's just say we will not be flying economy, instead it's more like super-duper first class for a rather large amount of dosh (as my sister from London would say). We also will need to keep up with our household expenses here in Yorkville. It's quite a huge endeavor!

So that leads me back to our fundraising campaign.  I created this little promo to spread the word:

A free newsletter design by Smilebox

The promo includes one of my favorite songs, "Whole Wide World" by Mindy Gledhill. It's upbeat and inspiring. I'm hoping my lung transplant will be a success so I will have the chance to do so much more with my life besides waiting . . .



If you would like to donate online to U4Sue, you can do so via PayPal by clicking the donate button in the right column. You do not need a PayPal account to do so. Donations also are being accepted at Old Second Bank, 26 W. Countryside Parkway, Yorkville, IL 60560 c/o Victor Ramirez, Universal Banker. Please make checks out to Timothy or Suzanne Borowiak, account number 12201033425. If you would like to keep up with the campaign on Facebook, just "like" our page, U4Sue New Lungs New Life . Thank you for your support!

Catching up, staying in, missing out

It's mid-February and I'm just now getting around to writing the first LeMOMade post of 2013. I could say that I've been too busy to write, but the truth is I've been hiding out in my house avoiding flu germs, sporting flannel PJs, and contemplating the "what if's" of my life. In late January, we headed back to the Cleveland Clinic for more testing and appointments as part of my lung transplant evaluation, and I'm still not done! To make a long story short, I'm closer to being listed as a transplant candidate, but the final decision is pending the outcome of more GI tests.

So once again, we wait.

Meanwhile, there are so many details to work out if the transplant is a go - travel, lodging, childcare arrangements, legal matters, caregiver plans, financial issues. The list goes on and on. At the same time, day to day life continues: kids need to be here or there, papers need to be signed, laundry washed, groceries bought, meals made, house cleaned . . . you get the idea. It's exhausting!

On top of all that, winter is not the best season for my health. Cold weather makes it difficult for me to breathe, and it flares up problems with my hands. This year has been especially hard because I require more oxygen to go out and about, and I need to avoid crowds because of my immune-suppressed body. I've missed gymnastics meets, soccer games, band concerts, recitals, church services, and more. The kids understand, but my heart breaks a little bit each time I say, "Mommy can't go because she is sick." It's sad to be left on the sidelines or stuck in the house. It is lonely too.

That's why the possibility of a lung transplant, although scary and overwhelming, fills me with hope. I might have a second chance at life - a life filled with simple pleasures or exciting adventures. Oh the things I could do with new lungs: walk up the stairs in my house without oxygen tubing trailing behind me, swim, bike, or hike with the kids, travel, ride a horse, climb a dune, skate, kick a soccer ball, or dance. Breath easy. Ahhh . . . that would be awesome!

If a successful transplant is in God's plan for me, the upcoming months will be busy with preparations. With the help of family and friends, we intend to work on a fundraising campaign to assist with the transplant-related costs that will not be covered by health insurance. We also plan to establish a household management team where we will seek volunteers to help out while I'm in Cleveland during the 2-3 month recovery period. More details about all of these activities will be coming soon in the event that I am listed. Stay tuned to this blog for updates.

For now, we seek your loving thoughts and prayers as this difficult journey continues.

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand, Isaiah 41:10

Love and God's blessings, Sue

ps. If you are not up to date on my story, please take some time to read the November post, Waiting, or My Story found on the right sidebar. Thank you.