A Huge Step

Welcome to the weekly blog of a Donate Life Northwest volunteer who has graciously offered to tell the story of her journey through the organ transplant process. She posts to this blog every Wednesday so you can ride this interesting, bumpy road with her.

Well, I did it! I got on a plane for the first time since transplant. I admit there was a bit of trepidation on my part and on the part of my physicians, but this was a very important event: the wedding of my other best friend, my east coast friend’s daughter.  I felt the need to be there for oh so many reasons.

I asked my doctor what the main concerns were and thought the airline travel would be number one, but surprisingly, the answer was a different environment – exposure to different germs, bacteria, viruses etc. I felt more confident with my decision then since this environment was my home for 15 years, and I have been back every summer for the last 5.  So I’ve been exposed to these bugs before. This was no foreign environment for me,  just for the new guy!

Getting on that plane I dressed for war, however. Armed with boots, leggings, gloves, long sleeves, long underwear, scarf, my own pillow and yes, of course, the old duck bill mask came out of the bathroom closet. I think it all worked well. When I went in for transplant, I made a promise to Liana (the bride) that I would dance at her wedding – and I did!

I saw a few cherished friends on this brief trip. I had to keep it under wraps for obvious reasons. The main purpose was the wedding and I kept it short for the doctors – in and out, long weekend for an important wedding. I was there for Kate and her family and for me to be part of it. I had a ball. I know there was curiosity about how I would look, feel, and behave. I think I passed muster all the way around, and there was an enormous sigh of relief throughout the Finger Lakes this weekend!  Can’t wait now for next summer when I can see the whole clan, stay for the whole summer, celebrate and enjoy life on the lake as usual – be back home.

The author is a heart failure patient going through the post-transplant process. She also is a nurse and former hospital administrator. She would like to thank Donate Life Northwest for permitting her to post her observations on the Donate Life Northwest website. She also wants to emphasize that all opinions and views stated in the posts are her own and not those of Donate Life Northwest.

Tags: heart transplant, Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, organ donation