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One Year Post Transplant

Tuesday, 12 August 2014

Hello everyone.



On the 10th August 2013 at 3:15pm i went down to theatre to receive the Gift Of Life, thanks to an organ donor. i was in theatre for 8 hours having my horrible old lungs removed and having shiny new ones in! i was in ICU for 10 days and on Bear ward at the Great Ormand Street Hospital for another 3 and a half weeks. 

A year on i am a healthy, happy teenager enjoying my life. i have had a few problems on the road but nothing i couldn't handle, I've done many things i wouldn't of done before my transplant, e.g. go to the beach, walk around without having a struggle with my breathing, play with my nieces and nephews and lots more! but this is all because my donors parents/loved ones said YES to donate his/hers organs! organ donation is such an incredible thing to do and i just hope my donor is looking down on me and is proud, words will never explain my gratitude for my second chance, so on the 10th august me and my family celebrated, not just for me but for my donor! We went for a carvery at the Park Hotel in Barnstaple and then afterwards we went to the park and set off some balloons for my donor, i had a 1 year post transplant cake and 65 roses! in honour of my donor i have a memorial patch in my garden which has stones, flowers and angels in :) i hope i have many more years too look forward too!

so as i always say, please please please sign up to be an organ donor just by clicking.. here

I'm off to London today for my Annual review at GOSH tomorrow :)

here are some photos..


me and mum 
my cake 

65 roses 
letting go of the balloons for my donor


memorial patch for my donor
65 roses 


Speak soon

xxx





A Positive Few Weeks

Saturday, 26 July 2014

hey everyone.


I'm sorry i haven't wrote in 16 days!! I've been pretty busy with everything! 

on the 14th july i went to Butlins with my family, it was a pretty good week! i loved spending it with my auntie, cousin, nan, and great nan and of course my mum and step-dad :) we went on the family fun bikes round the site and on the Tuesday we went down to the beach and i wrote in the sand about my donor, i wrote: '10.08.13, the day an organ donor saved my life' we also did crazy golf haha! when it came to friday 18th and leaving day, i didn't want too leave but i was so happy to get into my own bed on that friday night! i haven't seen much of my house and dogs recently because of being at GOSH and then going into my local and things so I've missed it/them! 

Tuesday 22nd July- me, my mum and dad travelled to GOSH early because i had a Nuclear Medicine Scan at 3:00, i had lie down for an hour and every now and then breathe in this gas thing,  they put something on the telly so i wasn't that bored :P 

Wednesday 23rd- GOSH clinic day, this day i was little nervous for because i didn't know what Helen Spencer was going to say, i hadn't seen her since she said she suspects i have rejection, but thank fully she was very happy at how i am now and kept saying 'well done' the methylpred seemed to have worked and i am better again :) my lung function is 75% and weight is stable :) for the last couple of times when I've been doing my lung function, I've had to do a step test also. The first time i could only do it for 1 and half minutes but last week i could do 2 minutes! My doctor Helen Spencer said that i can go on holiday next month to Hungary with my dad, and also the test i did on tuesday came back normal! so everything is looking good for me again! well except for my hair problems, my hair is really falling out a lot so I've decided to have it cut short again! 

I've completely changed my mind at what I'm doing at college, i was going to do Health and Social Care level 2 but I've now applied to do a apprenticeship for Hair Dressing instead. i have an interview on Tuesday, i think i will enjoy doing hair and if i don't like it then i shall apply for Health and Social Care the following year. 

Its my 1 year transplant anniversary on the 10th august, so me and my whole family are going out for a meal :) on the 20th august is my 16th birthday and I'm having a Masquerade party and then on the 23rd i go on holiday to Hungary :) i have GOSH clinic again on the 13th august just one last check up before i go on holiday! 

Don't forget to sign up to be an organ donor.. click here.



xxx



National Transplant Week.

Thursday, 10 July 2014

Hi everyone!



So this week is National Transplant Week and its very close to my heart because an organ donor saved my life..

Every year 1,000 people die waiting for a transplant. However, only 4% of people regularly give blood, and only 31% have joined the Organ Donor Register. 

In the UK consent is required before organs can be donated. A person can give their consent for example by joining the NHS Organ Donor Register or by discussing their wishes with loved ones. Alternatively a persons organs can be donated if consent is obtained  after their death from an authorised person, such as a relative or friend, it is very important that your loved ones know your wishes.

Pre Double Lung Transplant - was the worst time of my life, i was on oxygen 24 hours a day i never did anything.

Post Double Lung Transplant- my life has changed so much for the better, i can do so much more now!



So please sign up to be an organ donor and tell your loved ones your wishes! just click HERE to sign up.

I was in my local North devon Journal this week promoting organ donation and National Transplant Week just click HERE (north devon journal) to see my short piece!



Little update: i went into my local on Tuesday to start the Methylpred dose for 3 days and it went well, i haven't stopped eating since though! i did my Lung Function yesterday and thankfully it has gone back up to 73% - 74% i go back up to Great Ormand Street on Tuesday 22nd July where i will have a Nuclear Medicine Scan and a few other test then i have clinic on the Wednesday!



xxx



Forgetting About Your Problems For One Night

Saturday, 5 July 2014

Hello Everyone.


On Wednesday 2nd July my doctor Helen Spencer came and spoke to me and my mum, when she waked through the door i knew there was something wrong. She sat down on my bed and explained to me that she suspects i have some of chronic rejection in my lungs. I have scar tissue on my lungs and they are inflamed and they are the two main signs of chronic rejection. On the other hand i was also given good news, i was allowed to go to prom! I was allowed home on the same day too but on the condition that i had to go to my local hospital on Tuesday because i have to start methylpred for three days to try and improve my lung function.

On Thursday i went to go get my eyebrows waxed and i also had my nails done by Kelsey Jones a mobile nail technician, all ready for my prom on friday(yesterday) 

Yesterday (04/07/14) was the day of my prom!! i started to go get ready at 3:00pm and i had my make up done at Golds Beauty by Nikita, she is a very good make up artist and i loved my make up! i had my hair done at 4:15pm by Courtney Short who is a mobile hairdresser. i was ready for 5:15pm to go and take pictures with my friends in a garden and then we got picked up at 6:00pm by a vintage bus! When i walked outside my house, i had a crowd of people waiting to see me in my dress. we had a laugh on the bus and went for a drive, we arrived at prom at 6:45pm and there was loads of people watching, it was so embarrassing haha! We sat down and was served food at 7.30, We had a three course meal. After desert we danced on the dance floor and had a laugh! my feet were hurting so much but i had such a great time! I finally felt like a teenager again! I was home by 11.00pm which was later than i though i would last! :)

Now the excitement of my prom is over, i have lots more to look forward too! I am off to butlins soon, My family all go there every year and we always have a laugh! I also have lots of birthdays and celebrations this summer! Not forgetting my 16th birthday and birthday party :) My party is going to be masqerade themed and we all have to wear masks :) 

Once again i would like to thank everyone for their messages of support and prayers! They mean so much and keep me in my fighting spirit! Also i would like to thank everyone who made my prom amazing! Most of all to my donor and donors family for allowing me to make these memories. A year ago the thought of going prom seemed unimaginable! They'l always have a special place in my heart! <3

Here are some photos :)


backwards photo
me and my beautiful mum

Me and Hannah
all the girls together, in front of our transport


























































xxx

A Worrying Week

Wednesday, 25 June 2014

hey everyone!
 
 
so I came to GOSH for clinic last Wednesday and did the usual tests, e.g. lung function, bloods and x-ray, my lung function was okay, but at GOSH they have a new machine to test your lung function and its more accurate and my lung function is actually only 75% not 90% it hasn't gone down its just a more accurate machine! when we saw Helen Spencer, I told her I was getting out of breath walking, was always tired, and was bringing up yellow mucus every now and then, so she seemed concerned and said I needed IV antibiotics and admitted me into GOSH, Helen was worried that I would have rejection in my new lungs, whilst I have been at GOSH I have had an ultrasound on my stomach because I was having pain near my feeding tube, and after the ultrasound the doctors said that the balloon that is attached to the feeding tube was no longer attached BUT another doctor came to see me and said I don't even have a balloon on my feeding tube! I've also had a ECHO and an ECG to check that my heart wasn't the reason why I'm feeling breathless. This morning I had a platelet infusion because I have a really low platelet level and I went down to theatre to have a bronc & biopsy, a picc line put in and I also.. HAD MY FEEDING TUBE REMOVED! I have been waiting for this for a long time and today it finally happened! I had the tube for about 3 years and I hardly ever used it! when I came around from the surgery I was little rough, and my oxygen levels drop every time I'm taken of the oxygen so I have been on it since, I went down for an x-ray to check that I didn't have a pneumothorax but I don't, the doctors think because I have low platelets and I bled a lot whilst I was having my bronc and they think I still have blood on my lungs that's why I need oxygen, so I might need another platelet infusion, I wont get the bronc and biopsy results until maybe Monday, but I do know that my lungs are inflamed, Helen also said that she can't say it is rejection and she cant say it isn't!
 
 
my prom is next Friday and I'm really hoping I can go because prom will only happen once! and my mum and dad have bought my dress and everything :(
 
sorry this has been a long post and you have a lot to read but a lot has happened in the past week, and thank you so much everyone for the messages and get well soon comments! 
 
 
 
xxx 

Life After School

Monday, 9 June 2014

hello there :)


so since I've left school i have become a little bored already! thats why i haven't updated my blog, because i haven't done much except revise for my exams, which I'm pleased to say.. i have my last exam on friday! :) but.. on the 3rd after my english exam i went to exeter with my sister, it was a good day but i was surprised because i didn't buy as much as i thought i was going too!! i bought a pair of Pumas(shoes), a nice pink top and shorts from new look and of course i went into LUSH and bought some LUSH bath bombs! :) and i bought my baby sister her first vans!(shoes)

Last Friday i went to London with my sister Sam and my dad, we went London because… I SAW ONE DIRECTION LIVE! at the wembley stadium, they were amazing!! and also their support band, 5 Seconds Of Summer was really good too, i think they are an australian band! :) but i loved seeing one direction, i have never seen or heard girls screaming like i did that night, of course i had a sing along to the songs because i can now because i don't get out of breath :)

i said before that i have my last exam on friday which is friday the 13th and its a math exam! the exam today i thought was so hard! (it was maths paper 1) and there was a stupid question about pigs and needing 30 something squared metres of field or something like that haha! and everyone i know that did it was just as confused as me so that makes me feel better!

but i would like thank everyone for all the good lucks for my exams and people saying i will pass them, I've tried my hardest and hopefully i get the grades i need to get into my college course!

one direction :) 



speak soon

xxx 

Goodbye blues & Clinic

Thursday, 22 May 2014

hey :)


hello everyone, so I've actually left school now!!! my last day was on tuesday, and it was emotional but really good day, at lunch the whole of year 11 went up top field and had all our blouses signed and took a lot of pictures, some people had silly string and foam haha! then we had our last assembly and it was so funny when our head teacher said 'theres one thing i needed to remind myself and thats to take a selfie' haha! i might of said this before but even though i missed like a year and a bit of school i will miss it and miss everyone! i only go back into school for my exams and if i want to go in for revision :) which i am tomorrow because i have a textiles exam and I'm going in for revision before the exam. everyone says, you won't forget your school days and i defiantly won't :) 



after i left school on tuesday, me, mum and dad travelled up to London because GOSH said they really needed to see me because my neutrophils weren't going up and because i was in hospital a month ago they was worried they were missing something, we got to GOSH accommodation and they said they was no room in my name so in the end they sent us to powis place on the top floor and there was no lifts!! i was knackered by the time i got to the top haha, we went to clinic on wednesday and it wasn't the best clinic but i suppose you can't have great clinic every time, i did the usual tests, bloods, x-ray and lung function and chest x-ray looked okay, and my percentage of lung function was good but another test i did at lung function was too high, and also my platelets are low at 64 so i can bruise and bleed easily so i need to be careful! and i also mentioned about my hair falling out loads and i have bold patches and theres nothing they can do about it :( Helen said that it normally sorts itself out but can take up to a year post transplant :( I'm so scared I'm going to have no hair left. so clinic was good like i said before :( because I've been to clinic I'm not going up on the 28th but i have to go back on the 18th june to get checked over again :(

here are some pictures of my last day at school.. 


best friends x
will miss these girls x

the whole of year 11 :)


my best friend since primary school
the best tutor x 


one of my science teachers :) x




speak soon! 


xxx





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