Note from Stacey

Felix and Mary, thanks for writing! I am excited about being able to do 5.11’s, although I still have trouble with the overhanging climbs. To make myself feel good, I do balancy 5.11’s! I have also been swimming at the Pacific Athletic Club. I am up to 20 laps, resting after each one. Since I am going to enter the swimming relay, I am going to start practicing 50m laps, since that is what I am going to do in the relay. I have also been practicing track and field with Isa and Ana. We went to the track on Saturday and she ran circles around me. It was a very cheerful and inspirational experience to watch how strong and healthy she is becoming! But we are pretty even when it comes to 100m sprints. I cannot run very fast compared to before I got sick. When I run, it feels like slow motion. But I am definitely running. It feels good to be able to run, even if it is only a short distance. I have also had to go the hospital quite often to get blood draws. I am getting used to getting stuck with the big needle. The technician reminded me that it hurts more when you watch, but I like watching the needle go in. While I was walking around the hospital, I ran into another transplant patient named Mary. I found out that she is a heart-double lung transplant patient and she has survived for 15 years. That is almost the record that I have heard of for a lung transplant recipient. She seemed healthy, but she has to come to the hospital twice a day for IV treatments. She gets attached to one of those IV poles for a couple hours. Stacey, from Belmont