Wednesday, April 25, 2007

Ever So Grateful






The beautiful woman in all of these pictures is my mother-in-law. She loves, loves, LOVES her grandchildren. Ian and Laurel both love her immensely. It is delightful to watch the three of them interact. Up until recently, the interaction has been limited due to her being on oxygen.

However, thanks to modern medical practices, she recently underwent a double lung transplant. Oxygen tanks are now a thing of the past. As her strength improves, her activities with Ian and Laurel will change. Soon, she will take them for a walk at a park, a museum or perhaps the zoo. In the not too distant future, she and Dad will join our little family up in the mountains for the Highland Games. Towards the end of summer, we're planning a trip to San Diego where she can run after Ian and especially Laurel along the beach.

I am extremely grateful that my mom had an opportunity to improve her health. She is a brave woman for undergoing such extensive surgery. Her determination is obvious as her health improves dramatically each day. I look forward to the many different activities she is going to push on the rest of us in her family. Go ahead, Mom, push away!!!

12 comments:

Elizabeth said...

Yayy. Here's to her health!!

Anonymous said...

That's awesome...she looks so young and full of life....I hope this gives her the chance to chase after her beautiful grandchildren :)

Damselfly said...

Wow, a double lung transplant! I actually didn't know a lung transplant was possible. This is amazing, and so is Grandma.

Anonymous said...

That is so WONDERFUL! I am so happy for you all. I am sure she will be able to spoil them rotten just as a grandma should!

BreathinSteven said...

Hi Tina!!!

I'm so very happy for your Mom-in-law!!! It truly is an amazing thing -- and it frees one from that lousy oxygen tank and so many of the other medical / health maintenance things that go along with it...

Doubtless, there are many-many new medical / health things -- but they always seem easier to handle than pre-transplant... And, she can BREATHE!!! The American Lung Association has a slogan they use-- If you can't breathe, nothing else matters... They are so very right!

It will be wonderful to hear about that beautiful woman chasing Ian and Laurel...

Like your Mom-in-law, some beautiful person and family -- at the most devastating moment in their lives -- reached out to save my life... Organ donors and donor families are truly amazing people... I'm lucky enough to have learned who my donor was about two years after my transplant... She was a beautiful 17-year-old girl from Iowa named Kari... She was healthy as a horse, but in the month before she passed she told her family twice how strongly she felt about organ donation... She brought her beautiful smile into my life in April, 2000...

My princess helped me build a little website that tells some of my story, but mostly is a tribute to her -- it's at:

www.ClimbingForKari.org

Very special to me -- Kari's family gave me permission to post the first letters we exchanged anonymously -- and there are a few poems from one of Kari's very precious friends, Jennifer... Jenn is now one of my precious friends...

I hope your Mom-in-law's journey is as wonderful as mine has been... I hope Ian and Laurel get to love her for a long while!

Love,

Steve
Steve Ferkau
Chicago, IL

Kelly said...

That is such good news!! Congrats to her health!! SHe has got to be a strong woman to make such a come back from such and extensive surgery. Hell just ot have the surgery is a HUGE decision!! I'm glad she is on her way to a healthy life!!!! CONGRATS!!

Rachel (Crazy-Is) said...

WOW! I didn't even know they did double lung transplants! That's wonderful! I hope she's up and around real soon. I know Ian and Laurel will love spending time with her and, of course, running around with her.

Pendullum said...

To her health!!!
How glorious is that!!!!
Thank you for the bright smile you have put on my face! Go MIL go!!!!

Lady M said...

What a brave and loving lady!

Jennifer Swanepoel said...

Praise Jesus for modern miracles!! I'm so happy for you and your family!

carrie said...

Your MIL is an inspiration. You are all so lucky to have her!

Those pics are priceless!!!

Carrie

Dani said...

Congrats to your MIL!! That's so wonderful that she gets to cuddle and play with the kids now!!
I work in a lab that matches organ transplants and I'm always happy to hear about the wonderful people that are helped by organ transplant. I'm so happy for you!