Hi - I'm Back!!!!

This is another pic of Me Before The BIG OP!

And a very good morning to you too!!!

My 1st Stay in ITU -

I remember being woken up to the sound of my daughter telling me how much she loved me and holding my hand. I heard my mum say to her, talk to mummy she can hear you, and then with that I SQUEEZED her hand and that made Kelsey's day!!! I remember my sister coming to see me and talk to me, and to which I squeezed her hand too, and all this made me feel so safe. By now I wanted the tube out and tried to pull it out and I was gagging on it. It was like having an NG tube down my throat but only bigger... I was told to calm down or id not beable to have it out. the nurses went to talk to the doc to see if I could have it out and they said yes but I needed to breathe on my own first. so I tried, least I thought I was trying and I was but i thought i wasnt and wanted a pen and paper to tell them that I couldnt breathe. they finally realised what I was trying to say and they said you are breathing by yourself. Oh I thought, well I will carry on with what i am doing if they say im breathing, I must be. I choked out some phlegm which Kelsey noticed so they suctioned that away and then my family were asked to leave whilst they took the ventilator off me. And then I was on 2 litres of masked oxygen which is what I was on when I went to theatre. . . . .. .

Kelsey and Mum came back and I just slept which upset Kelsey as she thought after the tube was out id be sitting up and talking but I wasnt. The time now must have been about 4pm. My next visit was about 5 i think and i was sitting up in bed and kelsey came to see me and I opened my eyes and said Hello BABY!!!! And that was it, she was BEAMING!!!!!!!!!!

This is me sat up!


This is my newly required scar, looks like a boob job to me! lol

These are my drains

And this is me RAW! i wanted to post these pics to show how it is in real life and not through rose tinted glass!! I was NOT in any pain here due to epidural, how ever I must have been off my head to allow a camera near me and to pose in such a modest way!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
here is not a good day. I WAS in pain. Epidural didnt work as well and I was being given lots of DIAMORPH which was dropping my respiritory rate to 8 per min which is low, and then I told the nurses i couldnt take codine, so what did they give me .. . . . codine! I told them tramadol doesnt agree with me, so what did they give me. .. . . . TRAMADOL! MUCH to my annoyance that no-one belived I was in pain. So I had NO epidural working and NO background pain relief, and I was crippled in pain, so eventually when I was beleieved (needed 100% of oxygen) an anetheatist came to insert a new epidural. And within seconds of him putting it in, my heart rate went from 140 to 111 and my sats went to 100% so I was then on 75% of o2 which took ages to ween me off. I am still on O2 now and I will fill in the rest next time I come on here with less graphic pictures or not (hehehe)

Mum reporting......

It's about time that I updated the blog

Sal has had a fairly good week. She is gaining strength daily although a little tired. On saturday her nurse for the day was someone that she knew as they used to be a transplant co-ordinator at the hospital so she really enjoyed the day chatting non stop and found out lots of information for future reference. One big suprise was that the nurse suggested that she went outside as it was a lovely sunny warm spring day. There is a little video, but please excuse the fingers as the video-er was required to help.

I think Sal enjoyed her time outdoors the first time in over 2 weeks. Thats not all she was up to over the weekend, it wasn't all sunbathing and lazing around as the next video clip will prove.

The seat was a bit on the low side but give her her due she did her best on that bike.

On sunday she was moved out of ITU and back to the ward. She has been working hard walking up and down the long corridor and using the bird. she has one problem that is holding her back and that is swelling she is carrying lots of excess fluid which doesn't seem to be shifting very easily, she is taking some duretics but has to be careful that it doesn't damage the kidneys. She says that walking etc is like walking with blisters and it is very uncomfortable but she battles on.

Sal is on less oxygen and it is reduced from being on 70% oxygen to having only 2.5 litres in a short space of time, I think is good going

The infection that she got is responding well to treatment and all the signs are that it is clearing up. We were told that it is not uncommon for cystic fibrosis suffers who have transplants, to get an infection they are lucky if they don't.

whilst she didn't have the central line Sal took the advantage and went and had a shower, the first one in almost 3 weeks, I washed her hair and she had a good wash all over, I had to go and change my clothes afterwards as I was soaking wet, next time if she can't manage herself I will have to remember to take my shoes, socks and trousers off.

Sal has had to have another central line as the one she had blocked up that makes 3 in total now, when she went down to theatre to have it done she was chatting up the porter who was a young male, typical Sal. lol. Well its nice to be friendly.

The physio who has been treating Sal is leaving on wednesday to go to another hospital, he has left her a plan to follow, which is quite busy, I guess its down to me to make sure that she does it. Where's my whip lol.

Sal had some visitors today some friends of hers came down to see her Clare and Nathan. They brought some easter eggs for the kids and a book for Sal, having read the blurb, it sounds like a good read, her nurse said that she had read that one and it was worth reading it.

Sal had another visitor earlier on, i think it was last week before she went into ITU, Justine whom she had never met before but talked to alot on the net. As for the smarties Justine your outta luck, some one ate them all including the orange ones hehehe!!!









Justine and Sal. She has had a double lung transplant some time ago, she looks the picture of health don't ya think.

The kids are coming down to see their mum she hasn't seen them for 2 weeks they are both dead excited to see her and Sal is real excited to see them she has missed them terribly, but she will have a future with them now.

I think I am all blogged out for this evening, I hope to be able to write more next week.


Take care everybody.



Sal's mum signing off,



Roger over and out.

Sal's mum reporting....

Friday in ITU.... we had a txt off Sally at 8am to say could we get her some breakfast, 3 rashers bacon, beans and toast, her dad went off and got it for her and took it over to ITU, we are not allowed to go to ITU until 10am, the nurse took it off him and 10mins later she sent a pic to show us that she had eaten it all. Thats a good start. We went back to ITU at 10am and she was fast asleep in the chair, sleeping off breakfast no doubt. we just sat there until she woke up. The docs came round and said she was so much better and she could go back on the ward. Sally asked why they had stopped some meds and they said they wanted her own body to fight off the infection which seemed to have worked. She did 5 mins on an exercise bike without even getting out of breath, her comment was "I love my new lungs"

I think she got fed up with the hospital gowns and asked for some pj's. Sally is on 5 litres of oxygen with sats of 96-100% which is pretty good as she has a chest infection. She also tells me that she has some pain, which is muscle pain which doesn't suprise me as her chest muscles probably hasn't been used for years. We left ITU at lunch time. We are not allowed back in till 3pm so we made use of the time by going down to the pub for a bit of relaxation time. when we went back to see her she was sleeping off lunch. she woke up later and did some more on the exercise bike and did some blowing on the bird, which is a machine that was designed by a Dr Bird. pic of the bird below.

Sal is bright and chirpy and seems happy. She is still in ITU, as they decided to keep her for another night. If they have a room on the ward later I expect they will move her if not she will stay for another night, not that Sallys minds as you have a one to one nursing. I gave Sal another foot massage and a bit of pampering, no noe can have enough pampering and she deserves it.

here is a pic of Sally and her mum and dad taken yesterday in ITU

write more later

Sally's Mum Reporting....

What a couple of days we have had, I felt so helpless all I could do is watch Sally struggle and get really exhausted. Her legs and feet are really swollen and a bit painful. The medics didn't know what was wrong but they knew something was. She had a spiking temperature her heart rate was really high around 150BPM she felt really unwell, her sats were dippping and was on lots of oxygen, but bless her she still soldiered on and did her physio exersizes, blowing the bird and using the pedals. The medics came to see her and sent her off for a CT scan, this showed that there were some changes in the lung but what it is, is unknown at this time. At 10 o'clock her consultant was contacted, he advised that Sally went back into ITU. They were going to put her on Cpap? but when she got to ITU she stabilised so they didn't use it.

Today i go in to see her and there she was sat up in bed chirpy as anything, and had eaten breakfast. I only stayed a short while as they wanted to wash her and do some things.

I went back to see her in the afternoon and she was sat in a chair fast asleep her sats were 100% and her heart rate was around 98 to 110, I sat there and waited for her to wake up, when she did she was chirpy and smiling. She had eaten lunch too. I brushed her hair and put it up into a pony tail, massaged her back with some strawberry body butter, then did her feet too. Her sats stayed at a constant 100% on 4 litres of oxygen and she was wearing the nasal specs not a mask, blood gasses were fine too.

Teatime came and the little darling must of been hungry as the meal man had to go back to the kitchen to get Sal some more food, three times. I think she has got her appetite back as she had hardly eaten anything for a few days. I took a pic before i left which you can see below.

Hope to write more soon.

Sally Walking . . . . . 1st Time

Had a few set backs, but full steam ahead now!!!!

Was thoughts of broncs, as still on lots of o2 and had Xray which high lighted a bad area so needed a CAT SCAN, but thankfully neither has happened. (Broncoscopy is where they ventilate yoou and get a sample of lung and wash them whilst asleep, but as she is on too much O2 they were and are relecutant to do so. Sally has retained alot (7-9kg) of fluid so this is part of why she needs o2 andher being breathless. Her pain wasnt controlled but now thankfully is and is now off the epidural. (she needed 2) and now is on oxinorm and co-drydamol. She went on the bike first time today and contintues to walk, but cant now as her feet and legs are the size of elephants!!!! We have taken a pic will post next post which, i promise will be sooner. Sally is using the "bird" at the mo to clear secreations and expand her lungs which is proving to be good.

Sally would like to thank you all for your prayers and thoughts they have sent her good vibes and make her feel a whole lot better.

Massaged her feet earlier with some strawberry body butter from the body shop, which was bought incedently by her ex husband, she was only moaning about that he didn't get her anything. when she was given it on mothers day she didn't realise it was from him.

Karen (Sally's Mum)

ST Patricks Day With A Difference

After I had finished typing my last post, I didn't think my journey would be starting again. At around 4:30pm I had a call that I had been waiting for... I was bathing Megan and having a good giggle when the phone rang, for a long time now I had been waiting for this lovely lady to call me, Whilst she was asking me about my IV's, I was still trying to get it into my head that it was the lady I thought it who I was talking to. It was only when she said, We don't know anything certain yet but everything on paper looks good. this is when I told her I was on 20mg of pred for only less than 6 days she said right ok will let the surgeon know, but if i were you i would start packing. Which i did whilst meg was in the bath playing with bright eyes and knowing mummy could have her new lungs.

Kelsey was with my mum having a singing lesson. I rang mum and told her.

**Sally's Mums Version**

I was with Kelsey at her singing lesson when my mobile rang, i had to go outside to answer it, Sally told me that she had had a call from Harefield and there could be a set of lungs for her, she asked how quick I could get home, I told her after the lesson as it was nearly finished. Kelsey was practicing for a concert she was in at the weekend. We came out of the singing lesson and as we were walking to the car, I told Kels that her mum had a call from Harefield she was whooping with delight, shouting and bouncing along the pavement with joy. I think passers by thought she was nuts lol. So we got home and Sal was all in a tizz, telling me to hurry up we had to go and we had to be there in half an hour, its a 2 hour journey, so no hope there, but we arrived at Harefield with time to spare. Just!!!!!! whilst we were waiting Sal asked me to do her a Physio as she felt that if this was an aborted call, her chest would have been really full So I did her a GOOD physio. Then she asked the lovely lady who's name is Nicky if she could use her computer to update her status on FB and she kindly obliged. Kelsey was getting excited and nervous all rolled into one. (Kelsey will write her own version soon)

Sally had a DOUBLE LUNG transplant

Not a heart and lung.

Around 11pm of the 17th March 2009 Sally was going to theatre. Kelsey was allowed to ride on the trolley with her mother untill the gates of the unknown, we said our goodbyes gave kisses and hugs, Sally told Kelsey she was very brave, and that she would see her soon, which happened to be 10am the next morning. there was a little problem with Kelsey going into see her mum, due to her only being 9. They very kindly let her in and she sat there holding her mothers hand and talking to her, she was very brave she did not cry. I sat with her for a while then i came out so that Sal's father and sister could go in a be with her for a while.

Here are some photos

Sally at this point was on a ventilator and could not speak. At around 2pm she was taken off the ventilator, sal was trying to pull it out anyway, the first words were "What day is it?" she was told it was Wednesday 18th of March, the next day, i think that pleased her to know she wasn't out of it for long

More to come tomorrow eve / friday morning :-)

Have a brilliant video to share xx

Guys & Dolls (no, not the musical)

Well, on my birthday back in Januray, I had a weird TEXT message, and I didnt know who it was from, so I asked who was this, and they replied haha, you dont know who this is, im guna have some fun. It was funny at first, as I am always playing practical jokes like these, but then it started getting rather rude!!!! Pictures!!!! If you get where I am coming from!!!!! This went on for over a week, nearly two, and I had compiled an album of mens anatomy parts! NICE!!! Finally the penny dropped who it was. And to be honest, it wasn't anyone who I thought it would be. However I was pleasantly suprised when I did suss who it was, (as so my type) and the pictures continued, much to my annoyance, when you have seen one, you have seen them all ;-)

I'd had had enough of those kinda pervy photo's, but then he asked to take me out which was fine, but im not wanting anything serious at the moment, I dont have any time and the time I do have I want it with my children. Well anyway, last month, I hadn't heard from him, so I decided to send him a text and his reply was . . . im seeing someone! In a way im happy, cos I know I won't be getting any more random pictures or messages - however they did make me laugh. But be good to see him soon, as hoping to see him in May and then I shall jump on him & annoy him like he did me!!!!! HAHA - only joking!!!

I have been divorced now 2 years next month. Seem's such along time. . . . . Where has the time gone!? Since then I did meet someone special, but always with empty words. Gosh no, never the I LOVE YOU, no none of that. We just clicked, least I think we did, but lived too far away from each other, so it was a no go from the start. We still talk which is nice, but I wont never go down and see him as he has a girl friend now who they have been together for sometime and it is love for them which is nice. However, well, quite alot of the time, he keeps saying about coming up to visit me, but never does. He has just said again a few days ago that he'd like to come up and see us, which would be really nice, as its been along time and would be really nice to catch up, but . . . one big issue . . . . His Girlfriend. I know I wouldnt like it if my man was to go and see another female and stay at her home. So I don't really know quite whats going on in his head, but as I said before, he alway's says things that he'd like to do and never quite follow's through . . . . .

_____________________________

ANYWAY!!!! Something quite funny! ! ! ! ! I have had a marriage proposal...... I said NO!, But he carries on asking!!!!! Won't take NO as a HINT! He's obsessed; and want's to do the deed in Jamaica. . . So to shut him up, (lol) I said okay, but we not do anything till after the wedding, and he said okay. Right, now how do I get out of this one! I have decided to get one of these !!!!!!!!

(an inflatable blow up doll / husband!)

This guy however (not my usual type) does make me laugh; and I do love winding him up, he is so gullible..... On Saturday I decide to text him (knowing he doesn't have my number) and pretend to be anyone but me. He did suss it was me, but I played dumb, so he wasn't quite sure. anyway he asked if he could call so I agreed. he appologised and then I kept dropping hints but he still didnt get it, so I said, hey your a muppet & he replied I knew it was you! Oh it was funny!!! Howevr I now am waiting in great anticipation for his revenge!!!!!!

Anyway, have to go now, need a physio! Laters x x