TWO YEARS!!!

Well, tomorrow will be two years since I first went into Scottsdale Healthcare for my "cold". On Sunday, the 30th, it will be two years since I was put on life support. Little did I know how long and hard the journey was going to be. I have had so many emotions and feelings going through my head lately. Mostly they are feelings of thankfulness and gratitude. First of all to God. He is always there. Then the person who donated their lungs, what a wonderful gift of life. I feel words aren't really enough to thank their family. Then there is just about EVERY person who I have come in contact with these past two years. I know that sounds like I am being extreme. but I mean it. I could name so many people... my family (here and in Ohio), my grandson (he always makes me smile), church family, STARS employees, old friends, new friends, ALL OF THE MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS, The Transplant team at ST. Joseph's, the home healthcare people, and the people who gave Monica support throughout this whole ordeal, I am so thankful for. Today Monica and I had to return a monitor to St. Josephs from a test I had to take. We had our grandson with us and sometimes he has to do exactly what I do, and today was no different. When I go into a hospital, I always need to wear a mask. Well, our grandson had to wear one too. So we were walking down the hallways of the hospital, holding hands with our masks on. Oh yeah, he also had a blanket tied around his neck like a "Superman Cape" as we walked. His first question when I put the mask on was "Are you sick again Papa?" When I told him I wasn't sick, he just said oh, ok. We also went back to the 4th floor Rehab at Scottsdale Healthcare. They hadn't seen me since I was using the wheelchair and using oxygen. It felt so good to walk in there, on my own, to say hello and thank them. They were all so kind and supportive to me and Monica both times I was a patient there. So, on my two year anniversary...(anniversary doesn't almost sound right) and after many changes in my life, I am alive... given a second chance..Thanks to God, everyone in my life these past two years and the person who made the unselfish donation of their lungs to me. One request....PLEASE CONSIDER BEING AN ORGAN DONER.

OHIO

OHIO 11/08

My Sister and Brothers

Well, it has been awhile since I have posted and Many things have been happening. The main thing is that my Drs. said it was ok for me to travel(fly). So after much thought... Ohio or Redondo Beach (actually it didn't take much thought at all) we decided to go back home to see family in Ohio. My two brothers and sister live in Ohio, and Monica's Mom and Sister live in Ohio, along with many other family members. By the way, thank you Susan and Greg for making this trip a reality for me. We had a non stop flight from Phoenix to Cleveland and I didn't even feel weird having to wear my mask on the plane. We sat beside a young mother with a 13 month old son. I thought "Oh boy is this going to be a long flight!" But he was the best little boy during the whole flight. My brother picked us up in Cleveland, the last time I saw him was a year ago, and I was still using the wheelchair to get around. I could walk, but lost my breath after just a few steps. I also was on 4 liters of O2. Needless to say, I was very grateful to be able to walk off the plane to meet him. My sister hadn't seen me since Dec. 9th, 2006, when I was in ICU, in a medically induced coma, medically paralyzed, and on life support. When we got to her house; there was a long hug and some tears. I got to see my other brother too. Again, I felt such gratefulness to be able to stand and give him a hug too. We spent alot of time with both sides of our families. Many special meals, familiar activities- even some new ones like tag sales, rides through our hometown, visits with aunts and uncles, and even a birthday dinner with ice cream cake at Monica's Mom and Bill's house (the cake was for a combined birthday celebration for Monica, Susan, Susan's husband Greg, and me). I got to do so many things I thought I would NEVER get to do again. It just felt great, like I again have a life. One of the things Monica and I like to do everytime we get a chance to go to Ohio, is to go to Amish country. This is something that I have done as a child and something that Monica has always done with her kids when they were younger. We have a routine(for those of you who know me, I have to have routines...routines for everything) Anyway, we start out at the Mennonite Thrift Store in Kidron. We can always find something to buy for CHEAP. We then go down the road to Lehmans Hardware Store. It used to be just a small hardware that catered to the Amish and selling the non-electric appliances they use, but now, it is just too comercialized. They have added on so much, it almost looks like a Wal mart with many reproductions. Lehmans also has a smaller store in Mt. Hope that still has the non electric items. Next stop, the Kidron auction(selling pigs, cows, hay etc...) So cool, that hasn't changed too much at all. I noticed that after getting back to Az. I am pretty tired, so maybe we over did things a bit. But it felt good. Well, that is it for tonight: there are clinics, chest x-rays, and pulmonary function tests tomorrow morning, oh, and rehab. It does feel good to be back HOME with my familiar routines!

Delete What??

Oct. 2006

Oct. 2006

Ok, this is Monica again..... I really messed up Marty's post a few days ago. I thought I was just deleting a photo, but I guess you can't do that because I deleted the whole darn post. What he said in a nut shell is that He is feeling like he is not recovering as fast as he wants to. He is doing very well, it is just that he is feeling so much better now, he wants to do EVERYTHING. He recalled a nurse and a physical therapist at Scottsdale Healthcare, saying to him that for everyday you are in the hospital in bed, it will take three day's recovery. So he was in the hospital for 189 days, so that is 567 days to recover. Then add on to that the double lung transplant.....So he is doing very well. There are pictures of Marty at SHC from 2006 in a previous post; So as you can see, he is much healthier. He also talked about all of the wonderful care he received at Scottsdale Healthcare. Everyone there was great. He thanked Dr. Shah (and all of the other Dr.'s) for keeping him alive and healthy enough for the transplant.

He also had some pictures uploaded from Oct. 2006. I work with adults who have developmental disabilities and Halloween is a very special time for them, and we try to show our support to them with their activities. Well, Marty decided to go in costume, so the pictures are of him at their party.

He also wrote about our grandson Jonathan's birthday. He turned 3 on Nov. 2. He really loves his "papa". Jonathan was so proud to have helped his mom make and decorate his "pancakes with mushrooms" which is really cupcakes with marshmallows. It was just a small family birthday party, which seemed larger in our small home. Uncle Cory, Grammy, Daddy, Mommy,Aunt Susie, Uncle Greg(from Ohio), Papa, and Grandma were there. Aunt Marissa and Caleb had to work, and couldn't be there. But everyone had fun.(by the way, I can't find the picture of Jonathan and his cupcakes Marty had posted...go figure. It was in the original blog I deleted)

Thanks for being patient with me with this computer. I am again sorry for my computer illiteracy. Next time I try to help, I will make sure someone is with me who knows how to Blog.

Scottsdale Healthcare

4th floor rehab 4th floor rehab.

I have no memory of this. ICU w/4th floor P.A. 6/06

Our 9th anniversary 5/07.

Scottsdale Healthcare made us a special dinner.

I forgot to post these pictures from my stay at SHC. Like I said, 567 days for recovery. I think I am doing good. EVERYONE at SHC was great. They all treated me and Monica really good. They along with Dr. Shah (and many other Dr's) kept me well enough for a transplant.

THREE MONTHS OUT

Well, today is my 3 month "anniversary" if that is what you want to call it. It is 8:51 pm, and three months ago at about this same time, I was just getting ready to go back into pre-op. I thought I was pretty calm and at peace, but now when I think of the alternative, I wonder if I was really all that calm. My wife, daughter Marissa, and Monica's kids; Erin and Cory were all there. Erin was even aloud to bring our grandson Jonathan back for a very short time before I went in to surgery. I never really thought at the time, that I would never see them again. It is amazing to me that today, 3 months later, I can drive, shop, go to church, and really, just live. I still can't believe this has happened to me. I am so greatful for the gift of life that was given to me. I have thought often of writing a letter to UNOS (the organization that allocates the donated organs) to give to the family, but how do you even begin a letter like that? I have so many ideas that go through my head all the time, I just want the words to be the right ones, so I will wait until I feel like the right words are there. So, today on my three month anniversary, Thank you to the person who made the donation of their lungs, what a gift, Thank you St. Joseph's Transplant Team, you are all amazing to me, Thank you to my family in Ohio; your love and support given to us is appreciated so much, Thank you to all of our "old friends" and all of our new friends we have met this past 23 months, Thank you Dr.'s Shah and Levinson........Words aren't enough to let you know how much I appreciate the care you have given to me, you kept me alive and healthy enough to receive the transplant, Thank you Monica for always being there. A good three months.....God is so Good!

Computer literate???

Hi, this is Monica..... as many of you know, we started an e mail fundraising campaign. Well, as I was putting it all together one evening, I meant to save the draft and proof read it in the morning since it was getting kind of late for me. Well, I guess I didn't do that, and I hit SEND instead. So there are a few spelling goofs in the body of the letter, some typos, a transposed phone number for the National Transplant Assistance Fund, and one piece of info that I forgot to add.... 1. The correct phone number for NTAF is 1-800-642-8399 2. The piece of information I forgot to add is that all contributions made in Marty's honor(or anyone else who is fundraising with the NTAF) are ONLY used for medical expenses. I am sorry for my computer illiteracy, but my heart was in the right place. If anyone would like any information, just drop Marty a line in the comment section, or sign the guest book page on his NTAF site. Thanks everyone! Monica