An overview of Saturday

I know many of you are wondering what we experienced on Saturday, so I wanted to give you a brief summary of the events of the day.

My parents had gone to NYC to surprise my mom's friend Sr. Peggy McCabe who was celebrating her 50 year anniversary of entering the Holy Union Sisters (she and my mom had entered the convent together), Congratulations Aunt Peg!

Scott had gone for a motorcycle ride and Hannah was out playing with a friend, so I was home all alone when the call came at 3:50 Saturday afternoon. As soon as I heard my coordinator's voice, I knew this was it, and I must admit, I panicked! Of all days for me to be all alone! Luckily, Scott pulled in soon after I hung up with Melissa, so I handed him the pilot list for Angel flight and proceeded to run around in circles, not sure what to do first.

We were able to get a hold of Joe DeMarco who happens to be Julie's Angel Flight pilot too (God works in great ways) and though his plane was in the shop, his partner was willing to fly us to Pittsburgh.

My brother-in-law, Jeff, came home from his job at the ER and drove us to the Olean airport where my Uncle Tom, cousin Maura, and her son Burke met us. They were there to see us off as Joe and his partner loaded us up and flew us away.

It was a beautiful 45 minute flight and Joe was so good about explaining things to us about the plane, the different controls, and just keeping our minds occupied. We were met by a limo at the airport and taken to the ER at UPMC.

Scott and I both had envisioned me being wisked away immediately to surgery, but it was nothing like that. I was admitted and taken to a room where blood was drawn, vitals were taken, and an EKG was performed. Dr. Pilewski stopped in to see me and reported that the initial bronchoscope and X-ray of the donor looked good, but warned us there was still a 1/4 to 1/3 chance the lungs would not be good.

I was then taken for an X-ray and was brought to the PACU to be prepped for surgery. In the PACU I signed releases, had an IV started in my hand, and an arterial line started in my wrist. If they had received word from the donor hospital that the lungs were good, they would have taken me into the OR, started anesthesia, and finished the prep process so I would be ready as soon as the lungs arrived.

My sister-in-law had driven our car to Pittsburgh, so she arrived at the hospital around 11:00 and my parents arrived from NYC around 12:30, so everyone was there in the PACU waiting with me when we received word that the lungs were not going to work. My parents left to find a hotel and Leslie, Scott, and I decided we would just drive home.

It all almost seems like a dream now. I was so scared, yet hopeful for what the future was going to bring. I know that we will be better prepared next time and hopefully it will be a little less stressful. I am just so glad to know that the call will come and that when it does, we can get there safely!

Love to you all!