Special Edition: My Lung Transplant Journey - The Waiting List Posts 2 and 3

Dear Readers, I just want to express my gratitude to those of you who have been following my story. I've been getting lots of positive feedback about this project, and I appreciate all the kind thoughts and prayers. Perhaps you might be wondering why I would share so many details about our lives with the world. My main goals are to be an advocate for organ donation, to educate others about this journey, and to find my purpose in this life challenge. I hope to inspire others who are facing similar challenges, and to give people an honest look into what it's like to be waiting.

Post 2, The Bag

The Waiting List, 2/24/2014, evening, Instagram

FROM GUEST EDITOR SUE BOROWIAK, YORKVILLE, IL. WAITING FOR A DOUBLE LUNG TRANSPLANT SINCE MAY 24, 2014. Photo by @suzib66 The Bag. When they called to tell me I had been listed for a transplant, they said, "Pack your bag." So I did. This bag has been sitting in my bedroom for 9 months now. A friend of our family made this angel pillow for me to take along. I'm also bringing photos and artwork from my kids when the call comes. I didn't really know what to pack.

Post 3, Oxygen

The Waiting List, 2/25/2014

FROM GUEST EDITOR SUE BOROWIAK, YORKVILLE, IL. WAITING FOR A DOUBLE LUNG TRANSPLANT SINCE MAY 24, 2013. Photo by @suzib66. Oxygen! We all need O2 to breathe, but I need more than a healthy person. I cried 5 years ago when my doctor told me I needed it. Although it helps me breathe, it's also like a ball and chain. My tubing gets tangled up around the house, and it's hard to carry out and about. We always worry I will run out of oxygen, and it's very scary when I can't breathe or have a coughing fit.

Special Edition: My Lung Transplant Journey, February 24, 2014 - The Waiting List Project Post 1

Today marks exactly 9 months on the waiting list for new lungs, and it is my first "official" post of The Waiting List project. (I did a few test posts over the weekend).  Please keep in mind that addition to Facebook, this project can be found on Instagram, but you don't need to be an Instagram user to follow along. I will try my best to post my photos and writing here on the blog so you can keep up to date. Instagram is a little tricky, and I'm still learning to use it so bear with me. Please share my post with others as the purpose of the project is to promote organ donation for all of us nationwide who are waiting.

FROM GUEST EDITOR SUE BOROWIAK, YORKVILLE, IL. WAITING FOR A DOUBLE LUNG TRANSPLANT SINCE MAY 24, 2013. Photo by @suzib66. I'm Sue, a 47-year-old, wife, mother, daughter, sister, and friend. I'm living with Scleroderma, a rare autoimmune disease that has severely damaged my lungs. In my home office, I post some of my favorite memories like old photos of my beautiful children, Miss O and A, and my devoted husband Tim. I love them so much. The bottom left photo of me with my young children was taken ten years ago shortly after my diagnosis of Scleroderma. We really didn't know at that time how my illness would drastically change our lives. One of my greatest fears is that my children will only remember me as their sick mom, especially if the lung transplant is not a success. My illness is hard for us as a family in so many ways, but despite our challenges we just keep on keeping on. #thewaitinglist #whatareyouwaitingfor #organdonation #donatelife #lungtransplant #scleroderma #pulmonaryfibrosis #pulmonaryhypertension