Month: February 2006

Cherie, thanks so much for your note. I have been thinking about how fun the ice skating party was, too! I have been watching the Olympics, too. I have to admit I became an Olympic couch potato for 17 days. I celebrated my young friend Joshua’s 12th birthday with his family last weekend. It was extra special, because he just won the U.S. Bouldering Championship for 12-13 year-olds in Colorado. We are all very proud of him. I have started badminton practice two hours a day. It is a lot of running around. The drills are good; I think I will improve a lot practicing with this college team. I have still not been feeling too well on a consistent basis. I changed medications and maybe I am just having trouble adjusting. I have been cooking more and gaining a little weight, though. Stacey, from Belmont

Felix, thanks for your Valentine’s greetings. Yes, the bronchoscopy went well. The results from my annual are back. There are no signs of rejection or infection, so all is well. My lung function is up to 58%, a little higher than last time I was tested. In addition to going to school and working on the newsletter, I have been climbing a lot recently. Last week, I on-signted my first 5.11a on top-rope since the transplant so that was encouraging. I find the harder climbs a lot more interesting. I have also started up my women’s climbing club again (sheclimbs)and met some new friends. I have been trying some other activities, too. A couple weeks ago, I played tennis with Ana and Isa. (Rupie, Isa’s dog, wanted to play but she had to watch from outside the fence. Luckily, she had two bones to occupy her.) Last Saturday, I also played table tennis with Robin and Robert, and took a 3-mile walk around the lake in Fremont. Table tennis may be my new event for the Transplant Games! On February 13th, I talked at the LAM support group. The members of the group are not yet at the stage of the waiting list, but it may become their only option for extended lives, since there is no cure for LAM. It was good to be able to share my personal experience with them, and it was something I could do for others. Stacey, from Belmont

Monday, I got up at 5:00 a.m. to get to the hospital by 6:45 for morning lab tests. These included x-rays, urinalysis, a blood draw, a Pulmonary Function Test (including a six-minute walk test) and an Echo study. Tuesday was another early morning. I checked into the hospital at 6:15 a.m. for my bronchoscopy. I was given the anesthesia at around 8:30 a.m. and did not wake up until around noon, in the recovery room. No memories! I felt okay, but very groggy. Dave took the whole day off work and spent the evening with me. I really appreciated his support. Today, I’m back at the college, trying to get caught up in my classes after all this hospital business! Stacey, from Belmont

This week I was very busy with finishing the newsletter for the Transplant Recipients International Organization. It was the first issue I have published. I think it turned out fairly well. If anyone is interested in a copy, let me know. The cost is $15 for a year’s subscription. With the newsletter done, I had the opportunity to go to another Youth Climbing League comp to cheer on my old team and climbing students, and chat with many of the parents. After the competition, the Levin family had me over for dinner. It was a tasty Thai curry chicken dish! Afterwards, I went home to play Scrabble with Dave. Today, I gave a climbing lesson to my student, 13-year-old Ilan Gray. He is getting pretty strong. Much to my delight, I found out that he did the most pull-ups in his class in a P.E. test last week! About four years ago, I had given him a pull-up bar and it looks like he has been using it. He is also improving his bouldering skills; he has jumped two levels (from V0 to V2+) in just two months, and has joined the Twisters competitive team. My climbing is also going well. I have reduced my current 5.11d project to only two falls. I have yet to send (climb without falling) any 5.11’s on top-rope but I think it’s going to be in the next couple months. Tomorrow I will have my annual physical, along with several hospital lab tests. Tuesday, I will have a minor surgery called a bronchoscopy, in which the doctor takes a small sample of lung tissue and tests it for signs of infection or rejection. Stacey, from Belmont