You've Been Given the Gift of Life, Give it Back!

Welcome friends and family!

Thank you for visiting my blog. It documents my amazing journey from pre to post double lung transplant. I am a 37 year old mother and wife with Cystic Fibrosis who has been more greatly blessed than I could ever imagine possible!

It has been a bumpy ride, but God has given me strength, love, friendship, and, FINALLY, health. My prayers have been answered, my miracle was granted, and I want to share the joy of my new life with you.

If you are a first time visitor, please take a moment to watch The Miracle of Transplantation video below. To me, pictures speak a thousand words.

My entries begin in April of 2008 and my double lung transplant was December 10. Scroll down to my blog archive and you can read from the beginning or jump around. If you are looking for a specific topic, you can use the search engine.

Please feel free to contact me with questions or feedback, I would love to hear from you!

I hope I can help you to experience the love God has for each and every one of us!

May God Bless You with Miracles in Your Life! Nancy


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Monday, December 15, 2008

NANCY IS FINALLY ABLE TO RELAX AND SLEEP!

Okay, Nancy is in her bed sleeping after much activity with pulmonary function test and treatments!  The reports from her nurse, Bruce, and the pulmonary guy, Gary, are all wonderful...she is doing excellent on all counts and was sitting in a chair in her room when Ann and I got here.  She actually ate her first solid food (banana pudding extraordinaire...my addition and emphasis!)  I have a photo I will post later to prove it!!   We have no idea how long they will allow her some peace and quiet before the next round of treatments, but Ann and I are hoping it will be at least an hour or so as she really needs to sleep!  

We are so thrilled and grateful that she is FINALLY in her very own room D948!  Hurray and Hallelujah!  Between the tears that keep coming up, I'm smiling from ear to ear all the time...on cloud nine, or ten, or maybe even 20!  I'm so far up in the clouds you'd need a telescope to see me.  I just can't take my eyes off of Nancy's face...it is so incredible to see how far she's come since last Wednesday that, barring something unforeseen,  I really believe she might be able to move to the apartment in time for Christmas! 

Ann is glued to her chair, refusing to leave even to go for food or drink...and I had to be arm twisted to leave to go up to the cafeteria to get something for both of us a short while ago.  No matter what happens from here on out, I truly believe the worst is behind Nancy now and from here on it is going to get easier and easier and before we know it she is going to be up and out of here.  Can you feel my heart pounding?  Can you feel the joy and love washing over you?  We are so blessed to experience these moments of pure, unadulterated euphoria!  How can we ever forget these high points.  Unlike Nancy, it's on the mountain tops I grow!  And this is equivalent to being on top of Mount Everest!  I could go on and on and on, but you all get the picture, or, you will shortly, when Nancy can share her own joy with you.  

What an honor, as her father, for me to be able to do this one small thing for her...keeping this blog going has kept me going, even at the worst of times through this process, and all the outpouring of love and support for Nancy that has come through your messages has sustained both Ann and me and the rest of Nancy's family back in Olean.  

I want to add one unsung hero to the list of heroes in our family...Grandma Gail Matthews...she has been the glue that has held us all together and she is the one who has carried the heaviest burden since Nancy married into her family.  She is the one who hasn't been able to be here with us out of her love and caring for Hannah.  She is the one who, over the years, has cooked, washed, cleaned house, taken care of the pets and always been there to take Hannah through all the many hospitalizations Nancy has endured.  Scott and Hannah are both so fortunate to have her there at home with them to give and give and give, and to her we ALL owe an ENORMOUS debt of gratitude!  Thank you Gail, for all you've done, and will continue to do, for our precious daughter and her family!  We love you dearly.

To all the unspoken  heroes out there who never receive the recognition or the praise they so richly deserve, let us all give thanks and wish the greatest of blessings upon them!

Tis the Season for giving thanks!

Vance
Nancy's Dad

9 comments:

Judy Stohl said...

Nancy's journey is amazing - what a wonderful Christmas miracle!! Thank you Vance for updating the blog so we could travel this journey with you. Keep up the good work Nancy - you are doing great!!

Anonymous said...

What wonderful news!! I hope she gets the needed rest! Aunt Ann--get some rest too! You an Uncle Vance are an inspiration to me. What a blessing it is to know that Nancy has you both there --and that Gail is at home holding down the fort! God Bess you all! Here is to FAMILY!!!

Love,
Bridgette

Blomquist Blog said...

Hallelujah is right! Nancy is remarkable! I am so glad she is in her own room and now can get some much needed rest. What she is doing is truly a miracle. May God continue to bless her and watch over her each and every step of the way!

Grandma Gail is quite amazing as well. I have so enjoyed getting to know her here and there! She is the glue that holds that family together that is for sure. She is a true blessing!

We do have so many people to be thankful for. I am just so thankful that Nancy and I became friends years ago and I have had the opportunity to know and love her and her family. What an honor it has been for me to call her my friend! I love you guys!

Rest up Ann and Vance and give each other a big hug for me. We love you all!

Love,

Debbie and Family

Cammi said...

I'm SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO happy to hear this GREAT news! We love you, Nancy! You so very much deserve all of these wonderful blessings! YOU ARE AMAZING!!!!

Anonymous said...

Sweet Nancy, I am praising God and thanking Him for all he is doing for you. I knew he would be faithful to you. HE LOVES YOU SO SO MUCH AND I do too. You look awesome. I did notice that the hair fairy has paid you a visit. Ha Ha Take all your medicine so you can come home soon. Love Mom

Anonymous said...

As a friend of Anne's and former '58 graduate of SHA I send all my love to a wonderful family.....Reading your blogs has been an inspiration to all of us especially at this joyous time of year. We have learned to appreciate the little things in life we take for granted every day...Every breath we take, every hand we hold, every hug we receive etc, etc..... We will continue praying for all of you..I feel certain you all have received a Christmas miracle....No one family deserves it more......
Much love to all
AnnMarie (Monahan) Barton and family

Unknown said...

We are overjoyed with the blessing you have received. We are praying for you and your family daily.Your blog has given me much peace these last few months and your dad is doing a GREAT job. He brings me to laughter and tears all at the same time!! Nancy, your faith has moved a mountain! Merry Christmas with love, Leo & Marilyn

Amy Deahr said...

That would be so wonderful for Nancy to be at the apartment by Christmas, what a gift that would be. She is absolutely amazing! So are all of you!

Thank you to you all for letting us be a part of your journey and lives!

Love,
Amy

Love you Nancy!!!

Anonymous said...

Your descriptions are absolutely beautiful of how Nancy is doing and how exciting it is to see her smiling face! Keep up the great work :-) Please let Nancy know that I am thinking about her and praying for her and that she looks wonderful!

Love to all of you!
Lara

The Miracle of Transplantation

Pause the music player before watching.