I hope everyone had a
great holiday. We are all doing well and spent the holiday visiting family and
friends. I figured I should probably update now that it's a new year and all.
I have been doing okay. I
am still getting headaches. The transplant team say it is the anti-rejection
drugs. But that doesn't really explain the noises I've been hearing in my head.
Nobody seems to have any idea what that's all about. I finally saw my G.P. and
he sent me to get an MRI on Monday. I should know more come Thursday or Friday.
Unfortunately, I went in with a massive sinus infection so I hope that doesn't
screw up any results when they look things over.
This morning Lois took me
to a podiatrist to have a needle jammed into my middle toe. That happened. I
have had a swollen middle toe for the last month or so and apparently I have
been supporting my weight on that one toe because it has curled sideways. This
is because of arthritis and a short tendon. The needle is supposed to release
the tendon and make it go flat, rather than hold in the position it has been held
in for so long. The needle didn't hurt at all, but the needle that delivered
the numbing medication hurt like an S.O.B. I have to keep it taped for a week
and then it should be fine. I hope so anyway. We would like to avoid any kind
of surgery.
It has almost been a year
now since my transplant. I'm still shy by a couple of months, but it is still
hard to believe. I wake each day mindful of how hard it used to be to get out
of bed in the mornings. I see pictures of myself and I can't believe how awful
I looked. My body was so colorless and I was swollen and puffy and pretty much
a wreck. I still have a hard time thinking about all that transpired. The other
day I was at work and I kept remembering a particular day when I had slipped
into my delirium and was just lost. I had no clue what I was doing, but I was
trying my hardest to perform my job. I called Lois to come help me and I forgot
a whole day. I had a couple of those days but I always managed to come back.
The encephalopathy was so tremendous at times I wondered why I was still even
working. It is amazing that I was able to hold out until the day that I got the
call. I don't think I could have held on much longer.
Lois and I both know
people who have lost their loved ones while waiting on the list. It is sad to
think about. To know what a fine line that is to live on. It is hard to grasp
the knowledge of how we take so much in life for granted. To think of illness
in general and all that can come from it. To think of how so many lives can be
affected. I will forever be a changed man because of this. And I will always
feel indebted to my donor in only a way that I can personally understand.
I thank all of you for
being with me during this part of my life and helping me through what is
probably one of the most difficult times of my life. My best wishes to each and
every one of you and may you all have a beautiful new year.
For all times and
seasons, Beaux.
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