The rest of the story on that fateful night is:
My Air Ambulance arrived in Pittsburgh with a very worried Doctor onboard. The customs officials had taken so much of the precious time I needed to make my "transplant window", that we landed at the airport at the exact time I was supposed to be on the table -open - and ready for new lungs..
More delays ....
I still hear the ambulance wail as we made our way to the hospital.
In the ER the Anesthesiologist and a Transplant Coordiantor were waiting for me. I found out that the surgeons were "harvesting" the organs in another city. Yes, back then they used the term harvesting, I know it's different now. More politically correct, but this is my story and this is how it happened.
As I lay on the stretcher we chatted away about non-essential topics. We then went into telling jokes.
I spied the curtain moving, the Anesthesiologist changed facial expressions and looked down at me.
"Ready to go?" Excitedly, "Is it a go?" "It's a go, they're on their way back" " Let's get this show on the road !" "Well, you have to tell me the punch line before I can put you under ?"
And that is how I went into a life saving lung transplant. Telling jokes.. If we cannot laugh through our troubles - we will cry hysterically until we destroy ourselves.
Many have been astonished that I did not ask for "Last Rites" just in case. Honestly, the thought never occured to me. I'd had 18 months to think, and get my life right with God. I felt this was all in His hands as he guided the surgeons, nurses and finally gave that torch to me. I thought and still do think, that I am in a win-win situation.. If I was allowed to live, I had more time with family, friends and making memories. If I did not live, I was going home, no more oxygen, struggling to breathe, fatigue, I would be whole again ! Who could argue with those odds?
The next thing I remember is waking up on October 25th.. and that is an adventure in itself...
Thursday, October 24, 2013
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
22 Years Ago Today
Looking back it's hard to believe it's been 22 years !
The time was 12:08 AM and I was called to the phone. I heard a familiar voice ask, "How would you like to go out of town?" My reply was well I am actually, I'm going to St Augustine for a few days to regenerate.
"NO, I mean how would you like to come north, to Pittsburgh?"
Oh my Goodness ! My world stopped turning, I looked at my Mom and mouthed "transplant".
I called the Air Ambulance and started repacking my clothes. The Air Ambulance company called to say a plane would arrive in 4 hours. This will not do ! I had a 4 hour window to before the lungs could no longer be used ! They were paid extra to have a plane waiting in Alabama, but they were sending one from Texas. He assured me the the pilots would be in the air soon. Having worked dispatch for a major carrier, I knew this was not true.. I quickly advised him: 1. The pilots have to get there . 2. They have to do a pre-flight check and get fuel. 3. Check the weather 4. It was a 3 hour flight from Texas to Florida AND 5. Another 2 hour flight to Pittsburgh.
Thoroughly disappointed I called my Coordinator back and told him the news. He said not to worry, UPMC had a small jet that had just cleared customs and was in Tampa. It was coming to get me. !!! YAY!!!!
When I called the Air Ambulance back, he was angry. "What is the tail number?" You don't need that information. "When is it arriving?" Sooner than you can ! All red flags to me at the time. Little did I know those red flags would soon show themselves for the mean spirited creatures they were.
We went to the FBO (fixed base operator) area of the airport. This is where private planes arrive. As we were sitting there, 3 customs officials strolled in. Red Flag alert ! I whispered "They better not be after my plane !" My plane was taxiin up and they walked outside. They received an anonymous tip that this plane had never cleared customs ! I was right ! The Doctor onboard as well as the pilot tried many times to explain the importance of getting off the ground NOW ! No -go , these idiots were playing with my life ! They would not release the plane until all the medical equipment was broken down and inspected for contraband.. Let's be serious !! The Dr. offered to let one of them fly to Pittsburgh with us, and then take it all apart,and they would fly him back home. I needed those machines to live during the flight.. "NOPE"
I'd had enough. I asked for a quarter. "I'm calling the local news. It's a matter of life and death and this time it happens to be mine !" I called the local station, told a brief story of what customs was attempting. I also stated that if I did not make this lung transplant my death would be on their heads ! It was no more than 5 minutes later I heard a supervisor over the radio " Who the hell called the news!" The officials looked at me and I smiled prettily and help up the phone receiver :) "Get that damned plane out of here !"
And that my friends is how my new life began... I came out fighting and still fight !!
The time was 12:08 AM and I was called to the phone. I heard a familiar voice ask, "How would you like to go out of town?" My reply was well I am actually, I'm going to St Augustine for a few days to regenerate.
"NO, I mean how would you like to come north, to Pittsburgh?"
Oh my Goodness ! My world stopped turning, I looked at my Mom and mouthed "transplant".
I called the Air Ambulance and started repacking my clothes. The Air Ambulance company called to say a plane would arrive in 4 hours. This will not do ! I had a 4 hour window to before the lungs could no longer be used ! They were paid extra to have a plane waiting in Alabama, but they were sending one from Texas. He assured me the the pilots would be in the air soon. Having worked dispatch for a major carrier, I knew this was not true.. I quickly advised him: 1. The pilots have to get there . 2. They have to do a pre-flight check and get fuel. 3. Check the weather 4. It was a 3 hour flight from Texas to Florida AND 5. Another 2 hour flight to Pittsburgh.
Thoroughly disappointed I called my Coordinator back and told him the news. He said not to worry, UPMC had a small jet that had just cleared customs and was in Tampa. It was coming to get me. !!! YAY!!!!
When I called the Air Ambulance back, he was angry. "What is the tail number?" You don't need that information. "When is it arriving?" Sooner than you can ! All red flags to me at the time. Little did I know those red flags would soon show themselves for the mean spirited creatures they were.
We went to the FBO (fixed base operator) area of the airport. This is where private planes arrive. As we were sitting there, 3 customs officials strolled in. Red Flag alert ! I whispered "They better not be after my plane !" My plane was taxiin up and they walked outside. They received an anonymous tip that this plane had never cleared customs ! I was right ! The Doctor onboard as well as the pilot tried many times to explain the importance of getting off the ground NOW ! No -go , these idiots were playing with my life ! They would not release the plane until all the medical equipment was broken down and inspected for contraband.. Let's be serious !! The Dr. offered to let one of them fly to Pittsburgh with us, and then take it all apart,and they would fly him back home. I needed those machines to live during the flight.. "NOPE"
I'd had enough. I asked for a quarter. "I'm calling the local news. It's a matter of life and death and this time it happens to be mine !" I called the local station, told a brief story of what customs was attempting. I also stated that if I did not make this lung transplant my death would be on their heads ! It was no more than 5 minutes later I heard a supervisor over the radio " Who the hell called the news!" The officials looked at me and I smiled prettily and help up the phone receiver :) "Get that damned plane out of here !"
And that my friends is how my new life began... I came out fighting and still fight !!
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