Back in SA! First trip post - LONDON

I've been back for just over a week now! What an epic trip! Been procrastinating blogging because I don't even know where to start!

London - London was pretty awesome as always. I stayed with my friend James who I've known since I was literally like 3 years old (see pic below for evidence!). Can't believe it's actually my 4th time there. Previous trips were in 2004, 2011 and 2012.

I've done most of the touristy things before, so I think the most touristy thing we did was to go up The Shard. The last time I was there they were busy building it. What an amazing view!!!!! We were super lucky to get a table by the window in one of the bars up there. Had the most amazing cocktail of my life... wish I'd taken a pic of the menu, but there was lemon and honey involved! I also went to the Tate Modern for the first time. Didn't have much time there but loved it. Did the National Gallery again as well (certain parts of it). For the rest we just walked around A LOT, stumbled across some Christmas markets and did some shopping!

The weather wasn't too bad, temperatures were very mild, and we didn't have much rain. It did blow my mind however that it was dark at 16:00. Insane!!!

I also managed to see my friend Elize who also has CF and moved to the UK a while back. Was very nice to see her new home.

8 Sleeps to go!

Only 8 sleeps til my UK trip!!!! SOOOOOOO EXCITED. It's going to be a very busy week, but I'm motivated to get everything done. Need to have medication delivered, finish up work, TELL strat session, gym/bio, go to pharmacy, Christmas celebrations, Dr's visit, blood tests, Parkrun, pack, etc...

It's been raining for like 5 days straight here. We really needed it and I'm not quite sick of it yet, but it feels like it's been preparing me for my trip! Two weeks ago myself and 3 fellow lung transplant recipient friends completed the Muddy Princess 5km Obstacle Race. It was super fun and surprisingly easy. I want to start doing some Parkruns now, and also have a bee in my bonnet about getting fit for next year's National Transplant Games!

Another highlight was Grandparents' Day at my nephew's school. My dad couldn't make it so I went with my mom. It was SUPER cute, and I feel so lucky to see this guy growing up!!!

All in all everything is good. I'm just so freaking grateful for so much right now. May my health continue to allow me to live my best life!

2 Year Second Lung Transplant Lungaversary and upcoming trip!

My life is going so gloriously fast-paced that I hardly have time to blog anymore! 16 Days ago I celebrated 2 BRILLIANT years with the second set of transplanted lungs! What a journey it's been.... emotional and life-altering highs and lows, Mauritius, New York, bushveld, divorce, living only own, dating, upcoming trip.... but what has been stable and dependable are these BREATHERS! My check-up on the 30th went swimmingly. Lung function fantastic, x-rays beautiful, bloods fine.

On the evening of the 31st, TELL's branding Company, Murmur, had their 1 year birthday celebrations just across the road from my house, so that was the perfect way to celebrate!

The other big news is that today in a months' time I'm off to the UK to visit a whole bunch of friends and my aunt & uncle. It will literally be all over... London, Bristol, Yorkshire, and some Scotland too!
I haven't been this excited in ages, and it barely feels real yet. But I have the Visa, all the tickets have been bought, Scotland accommodation booked... eeeekkkkkk.

Achilles Tendon journey

Yesterday marked a year since I tore my Achilles tendon playing squash. Largely due to years of being on Prednisone, combined with squash and bad luck. It's been a long recovery.... much longer than any of my lung transplant recoveries (how crazy is that??). It's still quite a hectic scar... I try to remember to put tissue oil on, but I forget. All that I really care about is that everything is functioning again and I can DO STUFF again! Below is what it looks like now... All the other scars on my body look great, so hoping this one will eventually follow suit.

The timeline was as follows:

26 Oct - tear tendon
1 Nov - surgery to repair tendon
14 December - cast comes off and instructed to wear a wedge heel.
17 December - fall in my parents' garden and tear open the entire thing, splitting it in all directions (did not post a pic of that, some people might faint)
17 Dec - second surgery to repair tendon and replace with artificial tendon
1 Feb - cast comes off and I get a moon-boot
Wound doesn't look great at the bottom so many visits to wound clinic.
17 March-ish - Moon-boot comes off. Slowly start walking "normally" again.

It took MONTHS to gain muscles back in left leg, a lot of physio... left calf muscles still not back to normal yet. Had to withdraw from the team for the World Transplant Games in Aug this year :-( See pics below (sorry if some of them are still gross):

In other news, TELL was featured in the Rosebank Killarney Gazette last week, and in the Times Online two weeks before that, which is great.

Andrew has also helped me hang my pictures in my flat, so it's really looking nice. The Jacaranda trees are also looking stunning! Pics of all of the above below! ONLY 3 MORE SLEEPS TILL MY 2 YEAR LUNGAVERSARY!!! Will blog again later in the week!