Breathe easy Melissa...

A few years ago I started chatting to a bubbly and confident girl from Cape Town, also with CF. She needed to go onto the waiting list for lungs but was severely under-weight. I met her in person for the first time just over a year ago and we just clicked immediately. She had a similar thought-process to me (which I think is very pro-active and logical when it comes to medical stuff) and was sooooo positive and strong. She had a peg put in to help her gain weight, which worked very well. When I met her the first time she even brought me 2 gifts... a fridge magnet about kitties and the bookmark below... definitely knew me very well!!!

I saw her for the second time in October last year when we were in Cape Town... less than 4 months ago... we had cocktails at Blue Peter in Tableview. She was doing so well that she didn't have trouble managing without O2 (at the coast). The pic below was taken on that day. I saw her again later last year when she was here for a day at Milpark to see our Dr for check-up and spent the night in hosp. 

Yesterday she told me that she was admitted to hosp at 4am, and wasn't feeling well, she had been complaining about struggling to breathe in the heat the whole of last week. She did have bloods done though to make sure it's just the heat and bloods were apparently fine. AND she was just 200g away from her goal weight... she was so excited because it's the most that she has ever weighed, meaning she was ready for transplant! Last night she told me that she was still feeling crappy and needed quite a bit of Oxygen but that her iron was low and she should feel better after that gets sorted. This morning I see on Facebook that she passed away... I don't know why or what happened to cause this but it was SO unexpected and sudden.  

I'm so sad about this, and it's even harder because she was READY for those lungs and this was so out of the blue. If I had to sum her up in one word it's DETERMINED. She worked so hard to get ready for transplant, she was so passionate about her job as a teacher and so convinced she would go back to teaching after transplant. Before she stopped working she fought for as long as she could to KEEP working and stay busy. She was someone who took control of her health and did what needed to be done. 

RIP Melissa, I will think of you every day when I see my magnet and the bookmark that is hanging on my cupboard door. And whenever I dare to want to complain about something regarding transplant I will remember that she would have given ANYTHING to be post-transplant. 

February!

Feb is here, yay!!! Jan was a very long and broke month! Only good thing to come out of it was my lungaversary. Feb will be shorter, and includes Valentines day. Already have a good evening planned for that!

This weekend has been nice, on Friday after work I went to gym, and included a 10 min walk on the treadmill. Did 900m in the 10 mins, was a brisk walk. Next time will walk a bit faster. Did the usual weights as well. Good progress in all in all I went to gym 4 times this week, and hence also keep my 80% discount on gym fees with my medical aid. SUCCESS!

My friend Louzanne and her boyfriend came to stay with us for the weekend as they came to JHB for a wedding. We just had a chill supper at home on Friday eve, and went for brunch at 44 Stanley Str yesterday morning. In the eve when they were at the wedding we had a mini university reunion at The Foundry in Parktown, with another PE varsity friend visiting Andrew for the weekend. I've always wanted to go there, can't believe it took me this long! Very cool place and had a YUMMY strawberry cider (I think it's Swedish???). Also check out the cool wall art!

Today I'm just doing some domestic stuff and want to go visit a friend in hosp who is waiting for lungs and also from PE. This week will be month-end at work, but on Thursday Louzanne will be spending the night with us again as she will be here for work-stuff. Yay for seeing one of my besties twice in one week!

#StayStrong update

Operation #StayStrong has been going great so far. Went to gym on Monday as well as today, and plan on doing the same tomorrow. I was pretty stiff on Monday after Sunday's workout, so that workout was rather hard. Was still stiff on Tues, but today I was perfect again and could actually feel that the push-ups were easier. I've only been doing stretching, some dumbbells and toning circuit. Need to start adding some cardio too... but it's hard, as walking at a normal pace is boring and too easy, but anything more than that and I feel like I might pass out. I guess the answer is FAST walking.... not my favourite but will have to do it,

Weight wise... I've gained a kilo since I was weighed last Wednesday at the Dr. I was 54kg then and today a very solid 55kg. My aim is to be a comfortable 57kg at least. I've been a lucky CF in that I don't struggle to gain weight when I eat enough, so it won't be hard. I'm very blessed and it's spared me from having to get a peg before transplant to get fat enough for the transplant (I had to be 50kg with my height of 1.6m - to be transplanted.... some CF people struggle to get to their goal weight for transplant and end up needing a feeding tube put into their stomach to help them gain weight. I think I managed to get to just under 52kg before tx thanks to a force-feeding mom!)

So that's that.... tomorrow I need to do some walking on that treadmill... maybe I can find the balance between being bored and killing myself!

Operation #StayStrong

So this week I got an e-mail from my medical aid rewards program, Vitality, stating that I had to go to gym at least another 4 times in January in order to keep on getting an 80% discount on the fees. So off I dragged myself to the gym today. It's very hot outside, I'm pretty tired from the last week and yesterday and last night's festivities. But possibly losing my 80% discount was enough incentive to make me drag my but over there and do some weights.

At the gym I realised something that I've always known, and that is that I need a goal in order for me to keep fit. Since my transplant it has always been the World Transplant Games. And that was an AMAZING motivating factor. Living the post transplant sports-dream. But now my lungs aren't quite there anymore and for the immediate future there will be no more World Transplant Games. My previous fitness goal was taking part in the Nationals for 2014 in October, which I did and gladly so. However since then I haven't been motivated to go to the gym at all. It's not nice when things that were so easy 2 years ago are now a struggle. So I've been putting it on the back burner.

I also realised that of the 3kg I've lost since the National Transplant Games in Oct, some of it is definitely muscle. I need to get it back. So today I've decided my new goal is Operation #StayStrong. I considered calling it Operation #GetFit, but I'm realistic and in saying that I might not get very "fit". Also, the word strong is better when it comes to including more eating as part of it.

Today also marks 2 years since I was hospitalised for my first big drop in lung function (It dropped from high 90's to mid 80's). So it's a fitting day (see what I did there?) to start Operation #Stay Strong. This week I obviously still need to go to gym 3 times in order not to lose my discount, but after that I HAVE to go 2-3 times a week. I'm hoping it will also improve my energy levels (they've been a bit lower, my guess is that my O2 sats are probably lower than they used to be and it's affecting my energy). Also, I cannot do anything to improve my lung function, but I do have control over the rest of my body (I use the term "control" loosely), so I need to at least work on that, as bad lungs in a fit body is way better than bad lungs in a thin, weak body.

More celebrations and 7 year check-up

Today was check-up time again. Skipped December so any changes were over 2 months and not one as per usual. Lung func was down 3%, sitting at FEV1 45% now. Weight down 2kg. Drop in lung function kind of expected, but weight-loss not so much. I know I haven't been eating enough so it's not really surprising. HAVE to make a point of eating more. The bloods were all good again, thank goodness. All in all a bleh check-up. Need a holiday!!!!

Last night was Celebrations #2 for the 7 year lungaversary..... supper out with the parentals and sis & hubby. Was really nice. Ate a LOT (good start to solving the weight problem)... yummy fillet with prawns and the most DEVINE chips. Pancakes with lemon juice and cinnamon sugar for dessert.

Tomorrow eve is the last of the lungaversary celebrations. Having some special people over for supper and very special wine. Hopefully will go well. Rest of tomorrow also filled with activity, hoping to chill on Sunday (and go to the gym). Need sleep!!!!

Check out the pics below of my beautiful family. And flowers from Chris. Have a good weekend people.

'Twas on this night.... 7 years ago

7 Years ago tonight that I got the call! Thanks to my lovely amazing super donor and her family!!! Love them all to bits and hope they know it. Read that night's spine chilling post here! Still gives me goosebumps.

Was supposed to see the lung Dr today but that got moved (again) to Friday (hopefully). Tomorrow evening we're going out for supper with my parents, Chrislie and Pierre to celebrate on the actual lungaversary date (the 22nd).

Also got word from the gynae yesterday that all is good for now, so that's one less thing to worry about for the moment.

Happy 7th birthday lungies, love you xxx

P.S. (especially to my dad) No this is NOT a new tattoo. I've had it for more than a year now :-p

Celebration #1 - Braai with friends

Last night was great, had 12 friends over for a braai. It was an amazing evening and enjoyed it a lot! Thanks to everyone who made it special!

8 sleeps!

In a week's time I'll be having my 7-year lung check-up (hopefully it doesn't get moved around again!). Need to go for bloods this weekend... definitely on Sat morning and NOT on Sunday morning after my party LOL! Otherwise Dr might think I need a new liver and kidney too :-) Yesterday I had semi-annual gynae check-up. So waiting on the results of that. Bit nerve-wrecking. Also... everyone at work is sick so trying to dodge that bullet. Meh

Apart from these medical stuff my life has been boring. Had a fun time with friends on Friday eve, playing 30 Seconds and watching Muriel's Wedding until the early hours of the morning. Tonight we'll also be having supper with friends so that's gonna be great.

Also realise I haven't posted a kitty pic in WAY too long, so here is the fat cute ginger Pumpky. We bought a throw for our couch (because he ruined the leather!) and now he thinks we did this just for him. How can you be mad at that face though!!!!

Just a random post

Don't have anything specific to blog about... finding myself in a bit of a post-Chrismas, pre-Lungaversary empty space. Been extremely busy at work so not much been happening socially.

Firstly, I've updated my blog post about Emily. Feel free to go and read it again (assuming you did the first time). A lot of thought went into this post...

Then.... I haven't mentioned this before, but Jenna, who I've also blogged about before, received her lungs a month ago! She is still in ICU but from what I gather gaining strength. Wishing her well for the rest of her recovery and hope to meet her someday! She has done so much for organ donation and have no doubt she will make her donor proud.

Next weekend I will be celebrating my lungaversary with friends, and the weekend after with family! SOOOOO EXCITED. I know 7 years is a random nr but to me it feels really BIG!

P.S. Saw this article on facebook today, and really thought it's good. I also think I'm fairly good at the topic at hand, as are most people who have faced a chronic illness and who do not cherish drama in their lives. Excuse the language!


Developing the ability to control and manage the fucks you give is the essence of strength and integrity. We must craft and hone our lack of fuckery over the course of years and decades. Like a fine wine, our fucks must age into a fine vintage, only uncorked and given on the most special fucking occasions.

2015 so far

I see my first post of 2015 didn't include any details on New Years Eve... well it was a great night! I normally HATE NYE because there is usually no-one in Joburg and it's boring plus a let-down. This year however we found ourselves at the house of Sasha and Cam for a braai. They are new friends we met via Fawn, and such lovely people! It was a lot of fun, and lots of drinks were consumed! We also decided it's better to stay over for the night rather than driving home, so only made it back home at 7am the next morning. Great way to start off the year and already "resolution" #3 is being met.

On the 1st we decided to go for a walk at Emmarentia Dam, despite my headache from the night before! It rained in the morning but the sun came out and it was STUNNING. And also peaceful with the whole of Joburg seemingly being at the coast. We also dropped Antoinette off at the airport after her visit.... went so quickly :-(

On Friday work was CRAZY busy, and yesterday I just slept late and cleaned the house. Had supper with parents last night and lunch with Chrislie and Pierre today. Got to try out my xmas pressie from my gran, a Le Creuset dish. Been a really relaxing day, had intentions of going to gym but I failed. Maybe in the week....

2015 is here!

It's a new year! Happy 2015 everyone. May it be a good one.

A year ago my only resolution was NEVER GIVE UP. I think I can say I achieved that. This year I have no resolutions, but rather a wish list.

• Travel, more specifically go to California to visit Anna and Casey (depends on health, finances...)
• For lung function to remain stable (in 2013 it dropped 32%, in 2014 it dropped 15%, so that's a good trend I guess). Currently at 48%
• Enjoying time with old and new friends. We've made a few new friends in 2014 which was probably the highlight of the year. Friends cheer me up, motivate and inspire me, and I love them.
• I need to stay motivated for gym, even though I can't do half of what I used to, I still need to GO and stay as fit as possible. It's hard to go to gym when it's such a reminder of the crappy lung function! I feel 100% during all other daily activities but gym brings me right back down to earth and gives me pre-transplant feelings of breathlessness. 
• Quality time with Chris and rest of family, loving that Chrislie and Pierre have been in Joburg for a year now.