Today I woke up with chills and sweats again (unpleasant) but my body seemed to fight the fever off by itself--telling me this new antibiotic, Vancomycin, is getting the job done. I am now medically stable enough to go home, exactly two weeks after my transplant (amazing what the body can do, eh?) but will be staying here to finish my course(s) of antibiotics since home care will not work with 3 antibiotics (Meropenum, Ceftazidime, and Vancomycin). I'm basically connected to this pole all the time, so until that goes, I stay here!

I started some light leg and arm weights today and will be heading back to the treadmill room on Friday. I can't wait to see what these babies are capable of! However, since I still have an infection, I don't expect I'll see their full potential for a while. Also, since my brain still thinks I have CF lungs, I have to constantly remind myself to take deeper breaths-- it doesn't come as 'naturally' as one would assume.

Tomorrow I may also have every other staple removed from my incision sight... I wonder how many there are?

Let's fly out of here!

Today we got to the bottom of things, literally. I had my very first Bronch around 12 pm that lasted about an hour (or so my mom says). The procedure was not nearly as scary as I thought it was going to be-- in fact, the most inconvenient part of the whole thing was fasting since midnight. Hungry Lindsay doesn't fair too well in public!

I was taken back down to the second floor where my transplant surgery took place almost two weeks ago. Then I was parked in the day unit, explained the procedure and transferred to the "freezing room". The room is ironically warm, but it's purpose is to deliver you all things 'freezy'. I gargled some solution to freeze the back of my throat (it supposedly it horrible, but I guess my tastebuds are still asleep because it wasn't all that bad), then I nebulized more freeze solution. After that, I said farewell to my Mom and was wheeled off to the procedure room.

Our blog updater, H, is now off in sunny Barbados (lucky gal)! So who more fitting than to fill her place than ME. That's right, right from the horse's mouth (I've never understood that saying).

I was 'scheduled' to go home today, but over the weekend I had fevers and my exercise tolerance dwindled so I knew something was brewing. I'm already on two antibiotics, Ceftazidime and Meropenum, but today when they walked in my room and saw that I was shivering and sweating at the same time they added a potent third: Vancomycin.

So far this afternoon I'm feeling some improvement, I was able to walk around without the walker and at a decent pace, and last for longer. Fingers crossed this does the trick!

Truth be told I did not at all feel comfortable going home with a raging infection, so hopefully a few more days will do me good. I will likely go home on IVs for a bit to keep the infection at bay. FYI my donor lungs were perfect and came without infection, unfortunately my diseased CF lungs left infection in their airways which is causing all this residual trouble.

Otherwise, I have my very first bronchoscopy scheduled for tomorrow to find out exactly what I'm growing, clear out some secretions, and check for any signs of rejection. May as well add this one to the 'fingers crossed it goes well' list.

and she might be going home monday!

Lindsay got her chest tubes out today. No more octopus arms hanging off of her. FREEDOM!

Here she is out for a walk with her sister and mom...sans IV pole....she is MOTORING.

She is up to 4 walks a day. Home time is soon soon soon soon! If Lindsay gets out of the hospital on monday it will be less then 2 weeks since she went in for her life saving surgery. As Linds pointed out...that's less time then she would spend for a CF tune up in the hospital, pre transplant. Modern medicine...astounding eh? Keep workin' those lungs Lindsay.
That's amazing you've already got the chest tubes out and 4 walks a day. Go go go go go go!

Lindsay has...
2 chest tubes left.
Central Line out.
New picc line inserted. (yes she had to get a picc line re-inserted. ugh how annoying)

all these are steps closer to going home!

Lindsay is now on the ward and one step closer to going home. She is so excited to have new lungs for the holidays!

They are currently searching the halls of the transplant ward for a bed for Lindsay!! She has been texting me up a storm, sometimes they are a little off (she is super stoned today from the pain meds). She is having a lot of pain today, so they've upt those happy pills. She falls asleep mid text, mid meal, sitting up, reading a page, during physio...but she says breathing is getting easier, and finally is getting to be where she feels like she has new lungs.

She saw her surgeon today...a man of few words she says and here's the kicker...Lindsay is now walking without oxygen! That is the best feeling on this planet. No oxygen tube twisting and twirling and snaking around her legs or others as she walks. No one carting around the canister of oxygen or the incredible green hulk oxygen canister, as Lindsay called it. No one carting the tank, making sure to slow down with Lindsay as she walks. No more hearing the whoosh clunk, whoosh, clunk as she breathes in and out, of the tube through her nose.  Never again Linds. Adios oxygen. Hello beautiful natural O2. Hello new life...won't this be glorious.

Lindsay is doing great. Her chest is a little congested, but they have her on lasiks to drain the fluid from her lungs.
She was wheeled to step down unit today in a wheelchair! (I was wheeled in my bed, so you know lindsay is doing GREAT)
All her electrolytes are good. Magnesium, potassium and phosphate doing good.
She is enjoying popsicles and texting up a storm to me, I can barely keep up!
Her mom and sister were giving Lindsay's massages today since her legs are starting to cramp up a bit. Lucky Linds has a sister who's an RMT! Her dad has been calling Linds sister and mom (Lady Lindsay servants) Thank you goodness for you two! Thank you for taking such good care of our lindsay so she can bust outta there and start enjoying those new lungs!

Lindsay is still in ICU. This new doctor is desensitizing her correctly to move down to step down unit. It's a really specific process which is why it's taking a little longer.
Lindsay has finally learned how to cough! She feels a little congested no doubt from all the fluid which is inevitably around her new lungs. Her right lung is draining a lot she said (yes lindsay is now texting me, happy days!) Her vision is a little blurry, but again just all a balancing game of the meds.

She killed her walk today! aced it! two laps around the place. Her text messages sometimes read a little funny and she often says she's stoned on drugs, and that she doesn't see the point of self administering morphine during the night, when she is suppose to be sleeping to keep on top of the pain. She has cat naps throughout the night, and seems to be in good spirits. txting me jokes like "yoooooooooo!".
She was on 3 litres of oxygen yesterday while walking, and now is only on 1 litre. The new lungs are starting to kick in and inflate!

Keep sending Lindsay and her family positive thoughts. Her journey is not over yet!
GO Lindsay we love you!
-Hattie