This week I celebrated the second birthday since my lung transplant. When I catch myself having a thought about how old I’m getting, I remind myself how hard I’ve worked to get this old. It didn’t just happen. It’s perhaps unusual that you can feel like the mere act of existing is such an achievement. I worked hard, but so did so many people along the way – a LOT of people.
This year one of the exciting parts of my birthday was getting to send the oxygen equipment away. The transplant clinic was leery to let me send it away for a long time. They were worried I’d have another complication and require it again, even if only for a short time. It’s been annoying to me because I haven’t needed it (with the exception of a few days last June when I had rejection) since I’ve been home. Still, I’ve had to keep paying for it every month. Plus, I live in a tiny apartment! This equipment takes up valuable space that is already in short supply.
On Friday, when Carlos, the guy from the oxygen company that had delivered so many tanks to my house for years, came to get the last of the tanks, the regulators, the big concentrator and the huge tank meant as emergency oxygen in a power outage, I could hardly contain myself. I asked his permission to take photos and he agreed.
For years through this process I’ve seen others celebrate sending this equipment away and through the first year post transplant when things would get rough, I wondered if I’d ever get a moment like that.
I did!!!!!
It is important to understand that it is very possible the tanks will have to return one day. Lungs are the hardest solid organ to transplant and tend not to last as long as other solid organs. I’m hoping for years and years, even decades….but statistically there is a reality.
But right now, I’m hoping for the best and enjoying this little mile stone. Thanks to everyone who helped make it possible!
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