The alarm rang before dawn and I was on the road into the city by 6:30, through a rain storm but not a lot of traffic. Parking was easy and I was an hour early for the appointment with the head of the Lung Transplant Clinic. With time to relax in the lobby, I was heading to the coffee cart just outside the door of the clinic building when I bumped into Dr. K. Again! Two days in a row!
She asked how my leg was healing and mentioned that she had reviewed my pulmonary function tests after seeing my the day before. What a doctor! She was as pleased as I was that the pneumonia was not an exacerbation of the disease. My numbers were similar to the previous PFTs. I mentioned that I would be seeing her in two weeks.
After enjoying an amazing cup of coffee, I headed upstairs about 45-minutes early for my appointment. I sat and watched. It was a very loose and friendly clinic. No one was in a hurry. In the meantime, I was glancing at my watch as I needed to be out of there by 10:30 to drive home to pick Jeannie up for our rehab class. Drama.
Finally, I was escorted into a room and a lovely doctor arrived to asked some questions they had after reviewing all my records. Then, I waited some more. Finally, this amazingly young, beautiful, brilliant, smiling, tiny woman arrived. We connected. She got me and what I am all about. She told me that I should share my story as it would help others. I didn't mention this blog. I didn't mention all the speeches I have given or the number of people I work with in rehab class and beyond.
The great news is that she did not recommend that I have the re-so surgery of my failing Nissan fundoplication. She said that my current circumstances would not preclude me from having transplants. She also commented that with my exercise program and how my body reacts to it, I may be able to keep the transplants at bay until I age-out when I hit 70-years old. That, my friends, is only five short years away.
We said our goodbyes, she said she expects not to see me for a few years and I headed to the elevator. My phone rang. I checked it when I left the building and saw that Jeannie had left a message. I phoned her immediately. Apparently, she was with her sister the day before and got chilled. Also, the power was out. She was calling to tell me that she was not able to attend the rehab class. The pressure was off. I didn't have to race down the coast. I headed home, ate a simple lunch and took a nap. It was just what I needed to prepare for today.
But, I worry about Jeannie. Her health is so fragile and something like this could begin a fast downward spiral. I hope not. I am going to phone her again on the weekend to see how she is doing.
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