Thursday, May 8, 2008

Encouraging news and random naughty cat pics...

This week I've met/heard of 4 young people (3 with CF) who are considering/ being evaluated for lung transplants!!! And apparently some of them are from PE, my hometown!!! This is great news, as it means people are starting to be more aware of the option, and more people can experience this miracle...


Saw the documentary 'A boy called Alex', that was on Carte Blanche on Sunday, yesterday. It was really touching, and a bit upsetting at the same time. For those who haven't seen it, it's about a 17 year old boy who is a musical genius at Eton College. He has CF and his health is not good. The documentary was very bleak, and they gave the impression that lung transplant doesn't really work, and that he is just going to die at any moment. If I saw that a few years ago I would've freaked out. During the entire documentary I felt like screaming 'GET A BLOODY LUNG TRANSPLANT'!!! Even if the surgery involves a lot of risks, so what? Without it you're going to die anyway. So any chance of a normal life is better that no chance at all. Sometimes you just need to put your fear aside and be realistic and logical. And it's no use getting listed too late... as I suspect my friend Sam was, for whatever reason. Then there is also the whole CF denial thing... CF people ALWAYS think they're a lot healthier that they are. When you see someone else with CF you always think 'I am a lot better than him/her!', when you probably aren't! It's probably a survival tool or something, but it can be dangerous. I've also suffered from CF-denial in the past, but luckily I did realise in time that I need a transplant.


OK enough venting... went to gym again yesterday, totally loving it! Did 2.4km in 20mins on the treadmill, which I thought was quite good for now. Then did 10mins on a bike, and some leg-stuff. It's still so amazing not to get short of breath at all. It is really just my legs that are keeping me from sprinting for 20mins on that treadmill. But they're slowly getting stronger!!! Not exercising my upper body yet, too scared of ripping open my sternum (yummy...)!

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi Alice
Went to Carte Blanche website to read all the comments and realised that my comments hadn't gone through for some reason, so I resubmitted them. Your summary of "A Boy called Alex" is excellent. Have you been able to communicate with Alex again yet?
Peter Leid (CF Man)

Alice Vogt said...

No, he hasn't replied again...

Gizela said...

nee maaaaaaaaaaaaaaan Alice....waar is jy vandag?? ek wil weet hoe dit gister gegaan het? het seker al 3 keer gaan kyk of jy al geblog het vandag...hehehe... silly me!
hoop dit gaan goed! lekker dag en naweek hou!