Happy New Year! The start of 2025 provides the perfect time to reflect on the last two months of 2024: November and December were a rollercoaster of highs and lows for Jen.
Jen will tell you that turning 51 in November was truly an almost unbelievable milestone and she was grateful to spend her birthday week doing something she loves— playing cello and making music with her friends! Jen also made some incredible progress in her individual Pilates classes – something she started after finishing formal pulmonary rehab to continue strengthening her core muscles. Jen believes Pilates and her additional weekly cardio/strength training classes have been integral to her continued improvements in stamina that also allowed consistent gains in lung capacity and overall wellness in her recovery.
These milestones were unfortunately followed by some swift and sudden changes in Jen’s health when she came down with a lung infection shortly after her birthday. Jen began home IV antibiotic treatment thanks to still having her port, allowing her to stay in the comfort of her home. Despite this quick response, the infection did not clear as expected and after almost three weeks Jen spiked a fever around Thanksgiving. Further medical investigation (including a bronchoscopy and several blood tests and x-rays) revealed that Jen also had a virus common among transplant patients called CMV, that needed additional home IV treatment. Thanks to the stellar coordination of care between Jen’s medical teams at Duke in Durham and IU Health in Indianapolis, Jen was able to access the treatment she needed for all of these complications without having to be hospitalized.
In the midst of the ongoing infection and CMV, Jen was also experiencing complications related to her cystic fibrosis. Specifically, it was discovered that she had a blocked pancreatic duct causing pain and weight loss – which Jen definitely didn’t need on top of everything else! Jen had a scope that was not able to clear the duct, but a stent partially alleviated the symptoms. Jen will have another more invasive procedure in late January to try to clear the duct again when her infections are cleared up. Meanwhile, she’s focused on eating the best she can and trying not to lose any more weight!
Ending on a high- Jen had clinic to close out the year and her fevers were gone, her tests were stabilizing, and she feels better every day. She continued her IV treatment into the new year. Jen will go to Durham in January for a full evaluation to ensure she is on track for a complete recovery with no lingering complications.
In the meantime, Jen is grateful that this past year has been full of some incredible highlights and memories – and so appreciative for all of you that shared and celebrated with her.
Jen knows it takes a village to get through the highs and lows of post-transplant life. Thanks for supporting her in every way imaginable. Jen also appreciates your support of COTA, who helps so much with the inevitable transplant-related expenses along the way. Always, onward!
