CAN'T WAIT

Hi, this is Monica, Marty's wife. I just wanted to post a picture of Marty taken before he got sick. In this picture, he is playing the drums at our church, Church on Mill in Tempe. If his recovery continues on this track, he may just start playing those drums again. His drums at home are in storage, and just waiting to be set up again. The other pictures are of our grandson, Jonathan, learning to play the "drums" with Papa, and then playing Papa's drums. He is now almost three, but he still likes "drumming"

BACK BEHIND THE WHEEL

Today, Sept. 20, 2008 I drove for the first time since Nov. 26, 2006. I started out driving around the neighborhood just to get a feel for it again. Monica was a bit nervous, but she said I did great. I just may drive to rehab next week. I thought I would never get to drive again.

GO DBACKS/GO ST. JOES

I will try this again.... I wrote so much, but who knows where it went, it obviously didn't post.... Anyway, we went to the Diamondbacks game last night. From what I understand, The Diamondbacks partner with St. Joes, and last night the 18 lung transplant reciepients were guests in two skyboxes. We had a catered meal, and a lot of fun. Members of the transplant team were there also. It was so nice to see the Dr's, surgeons, and all of the nurses, and everyone involved, in a setting other than the hospital or the Dr.'s office. I am also going to try to upload a few pictures. Monica will admit that she is n0t much of a picture taker, but you will get the idea of how nice our evening went. For those of you who have known me for a long time, you will understand the pictures with the numbers. (our suite was #7, and our parking spot was 4101) We left at the begining of the 8th inning, since I had to be at clinics and rehab today. Both went well. I have to close tonight by saying that everyone there last night is a miracle, and Monica and I are honored to know you all. Isn't is funny how total strangers from different walks of life are now bound together by this amazing gift of life?

Short road trip

Well, we decided to go to Superior and Globe yesterday instead of Black Canyon City. There is a good Mexican Restaurant in Superior that we had planned to eat at, but we were not hungry yet. So we continued to drive up to Globe. We went into a few antique shops and it was just so nice to be able to walk around and enjoy looking at things. By the time we got home, we were both pretty tired. I hate to say this, but I sure didn't mind not driving, I just sat and enjoyed God's beautiful creation. I did feel badly that Monica had to do all of the driving though. Next weekend.... another new adventure.

FIRST DATE

Well, Monica and I went out to eat at a "sit down, get served" restaurant tonight. It is the first time since the transplant that we have gone out in public to eat. I felt pretty "normal" without the wheelchair and the oxygen tanks. Yes, I said tanks, because before the transplant, just to go out, I needed so much supplemental oxygen, that I needed to take two tanks of oxygen. I was able to sit in a booth, something I haven't been able to do for almost two years. It just felt so good. I forgot to mention before that The Arizona Diamondbacks partner with St. Joesephs hospital, and the 18 people who have had lung transplants at St. Joes, are invited to the Diamondback game on Wed. Sept 17th. I guess we will even get to sit in a skybox! Not much of a baseball fan, but it will be fun. Monica and I are looking forward to the evening. This picture was taken when I was in the hospital in May of 2007. This was part of my occupational therapy. It is probably the last time I will ever make and decorate a cake!

CLINICS,REHAB, AND SUPPORT GROUP

Today was a busy day. Chest Xray, clinics at the transplant center, pulmonary rehab, and then the once monthly support group for people who have lung disease, who are pre or post transplant, and their family members or caregivers. It is pretty encouraging, and everyone is so grateful for their new life, or the hope of a new life. Last week I sent an email out about possibly needing to have some fluid removed from my left side. Well, today one of my Dr.'s said it would not be necessary at this time, today's chest x ray showed there was actually less fluid. The transplant team at St. Josephs is wonderful. They are very strict, but also very human, understanding, and they encourage us to get out there and live again. I can't wait. This weekend, we are going to try to go to Black Canyon City. It sounds like a big place, when actually it is a small town. There is a home cooking restaurant that we used to go to often. My first out of the city trip in almost 2 years. The last time we went there was Nov. 2006 to pick up some Christmas gifts for family. Maybe well will do some shopping! By the way, this photo was taken on our way up to Black Canyon City, just two weeks before I got sick in Nov. 2006.