"My New Life" began when I received a single lung transplant at St. Paul's Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, on February 9th, 2001, somewhere around 11:00 pm - 27 months after my bout with pneumonia, which sent me home on oxygen and a 5 year life expectancy prognosis.

I have been given a wonderful, precious gift, and no other words can express the gratitude to the donor's family except: "God Bless you for what you have given me. I promise that with all that is with in me, I will take care of my new lung and give the glory to God Almighty, for providing me a second chance at LIFE."

My new life started with a few bumps in the road. My body rejected the new lung and also a re-profusion injury which caused the blood supply not to transfer to all the lung. I had to be reintubated. The tube had to be in for an additional 12 days to give the new lung time to heal and do it's job.

I have to thank all the staff who were there for me in ICU. I also must thank the surgeon and the two doctors who have watched over me from day one, they will take care of me for many years to come. I would like for you to meet them. They would not let me give up and they kept my mind on the right track to recovery

"Thanks for the NEW LIFE"

I never experienced or remember any pain with the recovery. I do remember the difficulty of breathing when they took the tube out the second time. This was probably the hardest time I spent in ICU. My body had become accustomed to breathing with a machine and when they pulled the tube, I wasn't ready to breathe on my own as I was scared and very anxious about getting rid of my crutch (the O2). I spent 27 days in ICU and an additional 9 days on the telemetry floor where I could still be monitored for vital statistics and continue my IV's, and was taught how to manage my drugs. They also taught me how to take care of my pic line (the IV line I would be using at home for the next 3 months) where I administered my own IV.

I had become very weak from being in bed for so long and my muscles had atrophied. It took several days just to walk 50' after they took my tube out. The rehab therapist (Kathy) was wonderful and so encouraging about getting me out of bed to walk. I knew it was important but there sure were days I did NOT want to take that walk but she was always there supporting and encouraging me. For you Kathy, THANK YOU!!!

I was released from the hospital on March 16th. and was very happy about getting home to my wife, some good FOOD (I had lost almost 30 pounds), and my bed. Of course, seeing the critters was high on the priority list too. Sky, Cassie, and Max, our three cats.

I began pulmonary rehab therapy on March 22nd. My pulmonary exercise physiologist was Kelly who was also my pre transplant therapist and I was blessed with a person with a great sense of humor and a wonderful, bubbly personality. She had no idea she was gonna need all these attributes just to put up with me. She did keep me on my toes and watched me like a mother hen. She knew I am an A-type personality and need to get it done NOW. I was always pushing the envelope to do more and she would have to rein me back a little.

I graduated pulmonary therapy on June 14, after 12 weeks at 3 times a week, with gold stars and all that good stuff on my diploma. I achieved 3.5mph with 1% incline on the treadmill by the end of my 30 minute sessions. During the 3.5mph stint, my saturation would drop to 89 to 92 but the only reason it got low is I would start thinking of something other that controlled breathing. Next I did the weight bearing exercises for legs and arms and upper body.

Here are two of the side benefits of pulmonary therapy:

A dirty old man and two blonds!!!
Who could ask for more?
Wonder if I can take pulmo therapy again?

Now my life is so drastically changed it is very hard to describe how wonderful it is to get a “new life”. There are so many things that I forgot that I could enjoy. I can now walk outside! If it’s hot or cold, it doesn’t matter. I can breathe. I can now take a HOT shower and let the steam roll and I can breathe. I can sit and talk with my wife without having to stop every sentence or so and catch my breath. Well, that could be a good thing or bad thing. Depends on whether you’re on the giving or receiving end of that benefit. Have to ask my wife about that. I can bend over and tie my shoes. I can eat large meals and even have dessert afterwards. Although now the doc says “You get to 190, you’re goin’ on a diet”! I am at 185 and safe for now.

I have returned to work as of May 1st to a job I always did enjoy. I work on computer controlled drug and supply stations in hospitals. My company does have me on desk duty for now but I will get to go back out into the field soon. My doctors have released me for work with no physical restrictions. Only restriction they gave was to stay away from construction dust and sick people (a no brainer) forever.

I am careful with my gift as I said before and I will do all I can to take care of it as long as I live. I will be taking medications for the rest of my life. Presently I take 12 separate medications for a total of 43 pills daily. This amount will lessen over time but I will always take the antirejection meds and steroids along with extra vitamins and calcium.

This second chance will probably, statistically, give me an additional 12 to 15 years of life. If I had never smoked that expectation could be 30 years. I will always be blessed to have the chance I have now. But, I will always wonder, “What good could I have done or what great things I could have seen if I would have had that extra 15 years”. I know I could have spent them with my beautiful wife rocking on the porch and overlooking the Arizona desert. Or better yet getting her on the back of that Harley and going for a ride with me in the desert at night and enjoying the beauty of a clear desert night. Or maybe just puttering around the golf course.

Well, maybe by then the medical field will come up with some new treatment or cloning a new lung or give me another new one to keep this old body functioning. In 12 to 15 years who knows what miracles we might see.

I have been truly blessed with an understanding wife. Who, by the way, knew all along I was going to be OK. A wonderful family that includes an extended cyber family who were always there and praying for me all along. They were all there for us. A great team of doctors and support staff to whom I will be forever grateful and last but not least, a benevolent God who got me through the really tough times.