Home Away From Home

"Stunk" as My 3 year old neice calls him


Bedroom



Living/Sitting Area (with Fireplace!!)

Bedroom

The Kitchen

Freed From Hospital

Well I am out of Duke Hospital and Dad and I are settlng into our extended stay apartment. It is nice . It's a little 2 bed, 2 bath with a full kitchen and sitting area. It even has a fireplace!! :)

Yesterday we spent most of the day at the Center For Living, Grocry store and Drug store. Monday starts my first real day of Pulmonary Rehab! Somewhat excited and nervous at the sametime.I heard they work you hard. I will get there at 12:30 and start by getting Chest PT, then move to floor/leg exercises, then weights, then cardio workouts. I will finsh around I think 3. There will also be lectures that attend,along with my caregiver--Daddy or Ben. Once I make some milestones in pulmonary rehab I can be listed for organs!!! :) The doctor said she thought I could be listed within 10 days of begining Pulmonary Rehab. So we are moving right along!! :)

As far as the Bronchial Coiling/Embolization, it went well. They coiled 3 arteries. However I've been hurting pretty bad since Tuesday because one of the arteries they coiled is in the pleural space and that is a very sensitive area, so I've been living off motrin for the past few days. Hopefully this has done the trick and no more bleeds. Hopefully the clots are dissolving also. They pulled my PICC and both arms are getting better. My right arm is normal size now, my left arm is doing better, not all the way normal, but almost. I can wear my wedding band now :).

I'm feeling pretty good, despite all thats happended the past few days. Thank you all for the prayers and encouragement.

My Papa

My Papa died Thursday morning. I'm really sad because I didn't get to see him before he died He will be missed! But it is like my husband and dad told me, he's not weak or hurting anymore. He is strong! I'd like to think he is probably fishing. He is and was loved VERY much.

Please pray for my family during this time as we are all spread apart right now. My mom is back home in VA with my G'ma, brother and oldest sister, Dad is here with me in Durham and Ben is coming for the weekend, my other sister is in Roanoke having a baby as I type! Justpray for strength during this time as we are not together. I know God knows what He is doing, but it is ALL VERY overwhelming now!!

Plan for the Week

I like Duke, it's diferent but I like it. So the plan for now is to get me stabilized, meaning stopping bleeds from my lungs and hopefully"busting" these DVTs in my arms here soon. We are somewhat between a rock and a hard place because I have the potential to bleed from my lungs but at he same time I need to be on blood thinners to bust these clots!! So, Docs want to do "Bronchial Coiling" which will hopfully stop or slow the bleeds down. This will be done Monday or Tuesday then discharge will be on the radar for me. Once discarged I can begin the pulmonary Rehab at the Center For Living and get LISTED!! :)

My PICC s giving us some trouble, my arm is swollen up again and it has a "bubble" like look to it. They are not sure if it's infected, but they are keeping an eye on it Docs don't want to pull it because they are not sure what other options they have to get a central line in me. Talk of a port is on the radar, which I am all game for!

I've been walking alot. Yesterday I walked my irst FULL mile. Today I'm halfway and will walk again after I finish here.

I appreciate all the prayers comnig in. My dad and I have a specific request and that is prayer for finding housing for when I get out next week. We need to find a place to live until we find an apartment. Also another specific prayer request is for an opening down in Durham for Ben to be able to transfer jobs here so he can stay with me and also so dad can ge back to mom.

Pictures still to come of Transfer to Duke and also of the Bakesale from Friday. It made a little over $2200.00!!! So

Quick Update lungs

Ok, so had a rough weekend. As most of you know I was just discharged from PNH about 2 weeks ago, well this past Sunday I ended back up in PNH due to another bleed from my lungs. Today however brought some exciting yet scary news. I was flown to Duke Hospital today in hopes to get care here and as a bonus get on the organ list!!!! I am not listed yet, I speak with Transplant doc tomorrow and I think that is when I will sign the paper work. This has all happened so fast, so fast my husband Ben is not here with me yet. My dad is here with me now while Ben hopes to get his job transferred down here. Please pray that there will be an opening soon so that he can come be with me and please keep him in your prayers, he is so strong and he has alot on his plate right now, pray God keeps his strength up! As for me, I will post more and some pictures I had taken with the wonderful staff at PNH and the flight folks--who I must say are awesome!! Oh!! And the fundraising!! We are at $35,000!! God is so great. I am so exited and anxious all at the same time, but trying to keep it together! Aright, well that is all for now!

I would like to send a special thanks to all who are praying for my family & I. And to all my family who so SO MUCH for me. And of course to God, who has kept me & my family. I couldn't ask for more.
I Love You All.

Papa Update

Papa, Kevin, Gma and I


Papa & Kevin


Papa had been feeling real tired lately, so they decided to check his Hemaglobin and Hematacrit. His numbers were really low, so they transfused him Wednesday night. So please keep him in your prayers that he will regain some energy back and not feel so tired.

GOD IS GREAT!!

God is definately at work. The Fundraisers have brought in $30,000!!! It has only been two weeks! The bracelets just came in yesterday and the t-shirts have not even been ordered yet! There are still fundraisers to come! God provides! I just want to thank everyone who has donated, or volunteered! I'm blown away by this!

Thank you ALL!

Duke here we come!!