“I feel like I’m constantly worrying about the next part of my life without realizing that I’m right in the middle of what I used to look forward to.” -someone on Twitter

Wow!!!!! I just celebrated one year with new lungs on July 28th! “Lungiversary” or “breath day” is like your birthday, but more so the birth of my second life through organ donation. On this day (and everyday) I honor my donor and his family for their decision to allow my life to continue as they mourned the loss of a loved one. As my life continues, I am aware they are not without grief. I choose to believe they are strong and hope they are moving forward. I choose to believe they know their family member lives on through me.

I would not have been able to get to where I am in my life today without each of you cheering me on. I thank each of you for your comments, messages, and emails. During my most challenging days this past year, Nick has been by my side helping me fill pillboxes with hundreds of pills, keeping the house in order, and making sure I always have a ride home from the hospital after a procedure. My mom has been keeping us safe from grocery stores by doing all our shopping for us since March. My sister and Nick’s mom have also been helping with shopping to keep me out of harm’s way. All my friends and followers on Instagram and Facebook have been leaving comments cheering me on and keeping me grounded. Again, THANK YOU!!! You are each a reason for why I am living life now.

As I reflect on the past year, I can say that I feel truly proud of myself.

1. exercise: I walk without getting winded, go up the stairs without getting winded, take a shower without needing to sit, dry my hair without needing a break. These things seem so small and trivial, but, to me, these were huge dauting tasks.

2. caring less: After days of no privacy and insanity in the hospital, right after transplant and during two recent hospital stays in June and July, I feel much more carefree and less self-conscious in bodily happenings. A female nurse wanted to show a female nursing student how great my scar looked. I was proud that my scar healed beautifully and didnt care that they were checking out my sweet rack.

3. weight gain: My face and body are much puffier now due to meds. I always had difficulty gaining weight because my body burned calories so quickly from always fighting an infection and trying so hard to breathe, in addition to eating problems. Now I also have a much better appetite (seriously, steroids make me hungry 24/7) and I’m not burning so many calories just existing.

4. life and death: Life is a gift. Lung transplant is not a cure. I registered as an organ donor on my new license. Instead of dwelling on the bad days, I focus on the days that I feel amazing and the days that I am feeling normal. If I can recover from a transplant, I know I am strong enough to handle whatever comes my way.

5. future: 2020 doesn’t seem to care that this was the year I was supposed to travel, make up for lost time, take advantage of these new lungs. Hopefully, once the pandemic is controlled, I can travel across the country and out of the United States. In the meantime, we can save money by not travelling and eating in restaurants, in hopes of traveling in the future. For now, we’re learning to be tourists in our own city, socially distancing, or course.

6. making a difference:

-When I was hospitalized in July, I received two blood transfusions. They were unable to find an exact match for my blood, so I had to use universal blood type and hope that I didn’t have an allergic reaction. I’m asking that you take the time to donate blood if you are able. Right now, the American Red Cross is even checking for Covid-19 antibodies. Here’s the link to find a blood drive close to you: https://www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/find-drive

– Being an organ donor is essential to the lives of those who are struggling to breath and those who struggle through their own disease and traumas. I hope my story has inspired you to sign up to be an organ donor and give as many as 8 lives, like mine, another chance of living. To register go to www.organdonor.gov/