Thank ALL of you for the birthday wishes and the prayers for the surgeon’s visit today. I really like her and she said I am the “best candidate” SHE has ever seen for this surgery. She showed me my VQ Scan and my upper lobes are pretty close to Swiss cheese. She plans to staple them together and give the lower lobes a chance to expand and the diaphragm a chance to return to its normal shape, it is currently flat and not curved as it should be. She said she could schedule the surgery in a couple of weeks but I asked if I would be risking anything by waiting until November when the Law School closes for a week for Thanksgiving, she said absolutely not, waiting is not anything I have to worry about. I have set up the surgery for Monday, November 16th, I will be in the hospital for three days and will not be able to work for two weeks. Since school will be closed for Thanksgiving, I will only miss two days of work…I only work two days. She went over some pretty scary risks but I know there are always risks with surgery. I will use the time between now and then to get stronger and to prepare for the surgery. I will, hopefully, be in my house by then and my youngest said she would be here if it is at all possible. I think this is wonderful news and a spectacular birthday present. She did say that this will basically buy me five years, the COPD will continue to progress, a lung transplant would be next and since I am not at risk of imminent death, I am not a candidate. I turned 66 today, I don’t want to die but I would NEVER take a set of healthy lungs when there are so many young people who are on waiting lists. My son told me that I have two young kids who need me…I understand, I really do, it’s never easy to lose a parent but if I can buy these five years and take care of myself, perhaps someone will discover something that will be a better treatment for everyone!
I am convinced that you all made this happen with your support and your prayers. I love you dearly and I thank you SO much!
