The call...

At 12:03 p.m. today, Wednesday, September 5, 2012, we got the call.  The call that would change our lives forever.   Tampa General Hospital called to let us know they had a donor for Gary's much anticipated lung transplant. We had twenty minutes to get into the truck and on the road...it takes Gary ten minutes to shut his work computer down!  I called our friend, Jacque, who had agreed to take care of the animals, and threw a few things together and we were out the door.

We arrived at the hospital at 3:00 (as promised).  Admitting was waiting for us as were the nurses.  Gary was up the elevator, into a room and getting prepped for surgery.  At 5:00 we got word that the transplant was a go with one problem.  The left lung of the donor was damaged, so instead of a bilateral transplant, Gary would only have his right lung transplanted.  I kissed him good luck in the foyer of the OR at 5:45 and went to the waiting room to make the calls to let family know he was in surgery.  They said to expect a four or five hour wait.  Our friend, Sandra made the two hour drive to sit with me.  At 9:00 the surgeon came in and gave us the wonderful news that Gary's surgery was a success, everything looked perfect and that the nurses would be out in a few hours to give a report before taking Gary to the ICU.

So, calls to family went out and Sandra and I wait for the nurses. Thank you for all the emails and leaving messages on the blog.  I will not be able to be with Gary until Friday, but I can't wait to show him the messages and love sent our way. Until tomorrow...

from Karin

Since you are reading this from my point of view, I will say that the decision was most difficult.  We went for Gary’s semi-annual appointment at Tampa General Hospital in February expecting the usual pulmonary function tests, blood work, walking for 6 minutes and then meeting with the doctor.   But this meeting felt different when we began the visit with the pulmonologist and a lung transplant coordinator.  We were shocked to have the doctor start the conversation by saying that Gary had to make a decision.  His health had gradually worsened over the years and apparently the clinic thought he was ready for the transplant evaluation.  They felt that he should do this before he gets sick enough that he would be unable to have a transplant.  I think we were both shocked beyond belief because although there were a million questions, we found ourselves speechless.  That was all about the meeting that I can remember…the drive home was a bit quiet. 

Over the next month I would occasionally ask Gary about his thoughts and if he decided to get the evaluation or not.   Gary weighed everything out and in April decided to have the evaluation.  We waited for insurance approval and the hospital to make arrangements for the 73 tests that Gary would undergo to make certain that his body and mind where healthy enough to undergo such a traumatic and life changing surgery.  

Long story short Gary passed all the necessary tests and found his body to be in great shape – except those lungs.  I passed the tests from the psychologist and social worker to make certain I could be his care giver.

Gary wanted to wait until after we visited Michigan and he told the family about what he was doing before getting listed.  On Friday, July 13, 2012 at 6:40 p.m. Gary was listed on the United Network for Organ Sharing database.  We now await the call for transplant.  The expected wait time is 6 to 9 months, but the bags are packed and Gary says he is looking forward to taking me dancing when he gets new lungs…I can’t wait!