WEDNESDAY @ 93 WEEKS

Welcome to Wednesday in my little corner of the world and I have woken to a beautiful sunshine day in Adelaide, there are some clouds about but the day looks promising.

I went into Flinders last Thursday for my ERCP* and all went well - beautiful staff to care for me and a Doctor I really like - and the joy of joys for me is that they removed the stent and did some testing and think that I should be fine without a stent.   So I am STENT FREE and now just trust that all stays open and everything flows well.

I tolerated the anesthetic well and was home by mid afternoon - a very good procedure and another step forward in my life post transplant.

I caught up with a few people I knew from hospital days and it was lovely to smile and say Hello.

Yesterday was blood test day and it was not an easy drawing of my blood - poor girl took four tries to get a vein that even looked like co-operating - but we did find one on the back of my right hand and we had lift off.  I have an appointment on Friday at Clinic.

I am well and keeping busy and happy and thank you for taking the time to check in on the journey of "A Liver for Linda. 

Love and hugs,

Linda. 

Thanks for following my journey 

*http://www.gastro.net.au/tests-procedures/endoscopic-retrograde-cholangio-pancreatography.html

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WEEKLY CHECK IN @ 92 WEEKS

Good Morning and checking in with a weekly update as to how I am doing - the answer to that is that I am doing fine.

Tomorrow is my scheduled ERCP at my Bedford Park Town House (FMC) and I shall be gone from home very early for an 8.15.a.m. procedure and hoping to be home the same day.  If not I shall try to enjoy my stay and accept that it is necessary for me to be there.   I am taking a new book - so all will be well I shall have something to amuse myself with.

Had to use a new Blood Collection Centre because the one I normally use doesn't open on a Saturday morning and I am very happy with the new one and will be continuing to use it.   Lovely centre, pleasant people and NO pain or trouble collecting the sample.

To all my Transplant friends reading this - I wish you good health and I wish you happy and days and you enjoy your journey on your second chance.  To all the wonderful nurses and doctors who cared for me again i offer my sincere thanks.

Have a wonderful day and I shall be back soon.

Love and hugs,
Linda.

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WEDNESDAY @ 91 WEEKS

Hello and here I am checking in on Wednesday with an update on how I am doing - I am doing very well.

There really isn't anything different to report on my ordinary, quiet, peaceful and beautiful life.  All I can say is that I am well and staying away from bugs and germs and enjoying each wonderful day.

Sleep eludes me very often, but I can cope with that - I enjoy it when it is just the night and me - last night was one of those "Sleepless in Adelaide" nights but morning is here and it is still raining.   We have had some heavy rain overnight and I have listened to it and enjoyed it.

Take care and I shall check in again next Wednesday when I will have had bloods done preparatory to ERCP on Thursday 6th. October. 

Love and hugs,

Linda.

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WEDNESDAY @ 90 WEEKS AND CHANGE OF PLAN

Good Morning and welcome to my world - a world of sunshine and dry weather and a world of changes.

I had my bloods drawn on Monday and after much digging and ouch from me we got the blood.  I have a ghastly bruise and a sore arm. but I can deal with that.

Arrangements all in hand - bag packed, fridge cleaned out and someone to drive me to Flinders and collect me all organized when a phone call mid afternoon changed everything.

They have a very long list and a few emergencies and I am well enough to be bumped from the list for this week.  It's a very nice feeling to be able to wait and I am guessing that during my illness others were bumped for me.

More phone calls and my ERCP is now scheduled for Thursday 6th. October - two weeks reprieve.

I had an interesting conversation with the Liver Unit and I was labouring under the misapprehension that the stent was going to be a permanent part of my life - NOT SO - this could well be the last time and when it is removed they may decid to leave it out and see how things go.  

If all goes well - ces't la vie and how great that will be - if not they can always put another one in or there is the option of surgically repairing the duct.   

I shall just go with the flow and take each day as it comes - but for now I have another two weeks before I go into hospital.

So at 90 weeks out I am well, happy and still learning about the wonderful world of transplant surgery.

I give thanks daily for my Donor, his family and for the crisis care I received and for the ongoing care I continue to receive.

Well that's how things are with me and my liver - we are well and happy.

Thanks for taking the time to take this journey with me - it is an exciting journey with new discoveries along the way.

Love and hugs,

Linda.

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89 WEEKS AND COUNTING

89 weeks and counting and who better to count with than the Count from Sesame Street.

Yes I am counting every precious day/week and month - alive and well and loving it.

I start pre-Admission clinic at Flinders tomorrow and then Monday blood tests at TQEH  all preparatory to my admission to Flinders on Thursday 22nd. September for my next ERCP.

No I don't want to go but I know it is so important that I go with a smile and good grace and look forward to being home again very soon after the procedure.

This is just an update and rather short, but rather short means there are no details to share with you as everything seems to be going well.

I count my blessings each day and give thanks for life itself.

Love and hugs,

Linda. 

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SPRING IS IN THE AIR @ 88 WEEKS

Welcome to Wednesday @ 88 weeks and time to check in again.

Spring is in the air with all the things normal to it - hay fever, strong winds, showers and sunshine, flowers and bugs.,

This little ladybug gave me a perspective on how small I am in the scheme of things and yet how loved and cared for.

I am well, happy and celebrating today - celebrating many things but mainly life itself - it really pleases me to say I am alive and well.

Next week starts pre-admission clinic, blood tests prior to ERCP on 22nd. of the month - and no I don't want to go for it - but it is a very small price to pay for life itself.  I don't want to go because I am loving life in the outside hospital world but I know that to maintain my health this stent must be changed and so I will go willingly and with good grace.

I am glad this post is ordinary with nothing specific or important to report - ordinary is good.

Thanks for  visiting and please share the joy of life after transplant with me - so many of you were part of the support network and I am blessed indeed to have contact with several of the nurses who cared for me and with whom I have become friends.

Celebrate Life. 

Love and hugs,

Linda.

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WEDNESDAY CHECK IN DAY @ 87 WEEKS

Good Morning and welcome to Wednesday Check in Day again for me.  

I am happy to report that my blood tests were excellent - liver function good and kidney function good too.  My Tacrolimus level was a little high, but apparently I do that - go up and down so Doctor was happy to leave me on the present levels.

Very happily I can report a much better blood pressure reading, so no changes in medication there.

My next appointment is mid October but in the meantime I have the ERCP done again in late September.

The picture above is where we had lunch yesterday and took a walk - Henley Beach and this is the view from the Jetty - it was a little chilly but very lovely and I was filled with the joy of being alive and being able to feel the sun on my back and the wind in my hair.

I will check in again next week, but know that I am doing well - alive and living well and I am very aware of the gift I have been given and my thoughts often stray to my Donor and his family.

Take care and live life to the fullest and be present to the moment,

Love and hugs,

Linda. 

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