It's been way too long since I've given an update on our wonderfully chaotic lives.  Chaos? As followers of Jesus, we believe chaos describes the spiritual journey and belief that God brings order, purpose, and peace out of disorder and within human lives, transforming turmoil into a chance for new creation, blessing, and divine presence, even though chaos (like the uncertainty of what physical illness can bring) is a persistent reality. God doesn't just eliminate chaos but works within it to bring forth beauty and order, offering peace amid life's uncontrollable storms. Jesus promises abundant life not only in the good times but more powerfully in the dark valleys.  So, with that said here's what's happening!

It has been 18 months since Debra's lung transplant, and her lungs are working beautifully.  It's still hard to believe how the miracle of new lungs has changed her life.  The real challenge for Debra has been gastroparesis.  Gastroparesis is a chronic medical condition where the stomach's muscles or nerves work poorly (or not at all), preventing the stomach from emptying its contents into the small intestine in a timely manner.  Symptoms range from mild to severe and often include: 

§ Nausea and vomiting, sometimes of undigested food eaten hours earlier.

§ Early satiety, or feeling full after only a few bites of food.

§ Abdominal bloating and pain.

§ Acid reflux (heartburn).

§ Unintended weight loss and malnutrition.

Debra has experienced all of these symptoms almost on a daily basis.  What keeps her alive is a feeding tube inserted in her small intestine.  She uses a high protein formula which supplies her with 1200 calories over a 10-hour period while she sleeps (or tries to).   She can eat Jello, yogurt and other small foods in small amounts to give her additional nutrition.  We praise God for the feeding tube even so she can enjoy a semi-productive life.  The other day she mentioned she looks forward to wedding feast of the Lamb where, in her new body, she will be able to enjoy a prime rib dinner with all the fixings!

Her semi-productive life includes knitting, light housework, keeping the home fires burning, baking (even though she can't eat anything she bakes, watching football/baseball, road trips, visiting family, going to church events and keeping me in clean clothes.  She misses not being able to take baths (because of the feeding tube), eating out and the strength to do many physical tasks because of the loss of muscle mass.  She is maintaining 115lbs which is a blessing.

We celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary on December 21st in a beautiful hotel on the Embarcadero in San Francisco even though the heavy rains caused flooding and power outages.  Our anniversary dinner was at a restaurant in the inner Sunset called Nabe.  Nabe is a Japanese hot-pot restaurant specializing in sukiyaki, shabu-shabu and premium sake.  The tables have electric burners in the middle where a broth-filled pot comes to a boil.  Plates of fresh meats, vegetables, tofu, etc. are delivered to the table and then are cooked, by the guests, in the aromatic liquid.  A raw egg is then cracked in a bowl, mixed with chopsticks, and then the cooked food is fished from the hot pot, dipped in the egg and eaten with rice.  It is a slow, ritual practice of pure enjoyment, performed for many centuries in Japan. I love it!  We chose nabe because the broth is compatible with Debra's diet.  

We bought mass transit passes so I could park the car and leave it but because of the power outage Muni was not operating and so we had to deal with the traffic on the San Francisco streets.  To make matters worse the robotic cars (Waymo, Zook, etc.) where blocking the thoroughfares and intersections because the inoperative traffic lights confused their ability to navigate.  Oh, I forgot to mention on Saturday, December 20, we had the opportunity to join Virginia and Grace for a showing of the Nutcracker where they live in Livermore.  It was wonderful watching Grace immerse herself in the telling of the story of Clara and the Nutcracker.  

By the way, Virginia is engaged to a wonderful man named Dakota.  Dakota, who grew up in Livermore, is a San Jose police officers who has a seven-year-old autistic son (from a previous marriage) named Wesley.  They plan to wed in March, and I have been invited to do premarital counseling and officiate the wedding.  We are so excited to see our daughter in relationship where her fiancé loves and honors Virginia and Grace.  Our son, Benjamin, and his wife, Megan, are still living in and loving Kalispell, Montana where Ben is the Pastor of Worship at Crossroads Church in Big Fork.  Remi and Rhett, Ben and Megan kids, are the wonderful gifts they are raising in the love of Jesus. We visited Kalispell over the Thanksgiving holiday to spend time with family and friends.  Gary and Alicia Hinshaw, and Mark and Maureen Vatcher, made our stay in Montana comfortable and relaxing!  Thank you Vatchers for hosting the boutiful Thanksgiving feast and the Hinshaws for the beautiful accommodations and canned pickles (love 'em Alicia)! 

Many of you have been praying for me and my ongoing heart issues.  I was diagnosed with coronary artery disease in June of 2025.  I have three blocked arteries on the right side of my heart.  A couple of them are totally occluded which causes shortness of breath, fatigue and pain when I exert myself.  My heart muscle is still strong and healthy because of the collateral arteries, bypassing the blocked arteries, feeding blood to my right ventricle.  This is a miracle in itself.  In early November I had a procedure at the VA hospital in San Francisco to place stents in the blockages.  The procedure was stopped because of the difficulty of guiding the catheters through my unusually tortuous (windy) arteries.  The doctors manage to break through one of the blockages but pierced through the artery and small amounts of blood entered by pericardial sac. In the 24 hours after the procedure the artery began to spasm, and recovery room filled with medical personnel trying to ascertain what was happening.  They administered a drug that caused the spasming to cease, and I haven't had an episode since. 

Because stents are not an option, I will be having open heart surgery in the future.  The doctors wanted my heart to heal from the stent procedure before they set a date for the surgery.  After the surgery at the VASF hospital I will spend a week in the hospital and then, if all goes well, will be sent home to let my heart and body heal in the months to come.  In the first few weeks there will be the obvious restrictions of no driving, a 5lb lift limit, and bed rest.  Cardiac physical therapy will begin, and it will be a year before I can resume a normal lifestyle.  I'm looking forward to the days of hiking, biking, snowboarding, etc. with no shortness of breath, fatigue and chest pain.  

During my recovery we need help with so many things, especially during the snowy season.  God has been showing me how I struggle with trying to be "strong' but not "honest" in my relationship with Him, my wife and others who truly love me.  "Strong but not honest" refers to a condition of spiritual performance, where a believer maintains an outward appearance of unwavering faith and resilience while suppressing inner struggles, doubts, or pain.  As a Christian man who is a husband, father, and pastor I'm usually the one helping others and have a very difficult time letting others give or help me. We are told to be strong in the Lord and the strength of HIS might but often try to do the difficult things in life with our human strength.  I know, this leads to burn-out, sickness and not allowing God to use others in our times of weakness.  God tells me in my weakness His strength will be displayed and often times His strength and provision come from those who lovingly are looking to come alongside and help.  I just need to surrender to God and say yes to Him those who are family and friends in my church and community. 

Once again, we thank you for all your love and support, honestly, we truly couldn't do this without you and the power of God!  Happy New year and may this be a year drawing closer to God! 

On April 2nd we celebrated Debra’s nine-month lungaversery.  It was a very meaningful occasion especially after surviving the life-threatening saddle pulmonary embolism that occurred in March.  We finally felt as if the storms had finally passed.  

A few weeks after we were at home and Debra was recovering well, I had the yearning and need to get away.  Even though I was very hesitant to leave my bride's side, she encouraged me to take the trip to spend time with our son Ben and his family, who live in Montana and my sister in Spokane.  Arrangements were made amongst friends and family to attend to Debra’s care while I was away and I began my weeklong trek on Monday, March 10th.  

There were a few things I was concerned about while being away, one being spring snow and the other losing power in the house, both of which occurred while I was away!  I thank the many friends who lined up to plow and shovel the unexpected snow and for the back-up electric generator that Debra operated flawlessly for the six hours the power went out.  We are blessed to have a propane water heater, furnace and stove top to keep us clean, fed and warm when we lose electricity.  We also have wood stove as our primary source heat.  My mountain  woman had no problem overcoming the challenges and I was very encouraged by Debra’s eagerness and resolve to allow me to disconnect for a while.  

I had a wonderful time with my family in Kalispell and our long time friends, Gary and Alicia Hinshaw, graciously provided room and board (and so much more!) during my visit. I also had the chance to visit my sister in Spokane where celebrated an early St. Patricks Day on March 16th.

Coming back home from my time of reflection and respite in Montana, Canada and Oregon, on Wednesday March 19th, I was eager for our lives to get into a normal, healthy rhythm at work and home.  But little did we know there was another fire beginning to ignite.  Waking up Sunday morning, March 23rd, Debra said she wasn’t feeling well and began experiencing severe abdominal pain.  The pain and nausea became unbearable so at 2:30 am on Monday morning we drove to Banner Lassen Hospital in Susanville.  

Soon after we arrived, they did a CT scan that showed why she was in agony.  Results from the imagining revealed inflammation of the right colon and an obstruction (winding) in the small intestine.  They immediately administered pain killers, and she was able to relax pain free.  They also inserted an NG tube down her esophagus to suction the air and liquid away from the small intestine to relieve the pressure in hopes the intestine would relax and unwind.  We notified UCSF to inform the doctors of Debra’s condition and waited for instructions on what our next step should be. 

The beautiful part of the waiting game was how Debra reconciled some misgivings she had about Banner after working at the hospital for 14 years.  The day she walked out the door, there was no desire in her to return to the politically stressful environment of a small, rural mountain hospital where she saw the good, bad and ugly.  But God knew there needed to be healing and reconciliation in her heart and mind to tear down the vain imaginations and fears.  A trip to the ER did just that.

While lying in the gurney bed, old coworkers began visiting her and treating her like a queen!  The gurney bed was replaced with a comfortable hospital bed, and she was cheerfully told she would be given the “royal treatment” because she was still a part of their family even after retiring!  God doesn’t waste anything!  How special and loved she felt in the Banner ER that day!

I had read this in one of my devotionals the day before: “God's plans are often larger than our immediate desires or requests. HIS TIMING may be necessary to align with His overall purposes, which may involve other people, circumstances, or events.”   So true!

The decision was made by the doctors at Banner and UCSF to wait and give the NG tube time to hopefully resolve the problem.  Monday went into Tuesday with no change by Wednesday, and after not eating for several days, the ER doctor at Banner called UCSF concerned she might need abdominal surgery, a procedure Banner Lassen could not do.  Dr. Ali at Banner gave UCSF an ultimatum, either they agree to take her or he would transfer her to another hospital with the means to perform the surgery she needed.  There were still no beds available at UCSF and 35 people were also waiting to be admitted before Debra.

Soon after the call, UCSF agreed to the transfer to the UCSF ER even though there were no beds available and a long waiting list.  Because of Debra’s double lung transplant there are very few hospitals, if any, that can give her proper care.  Needless to say, Debra and I were deeply relieved we were headed to UCSF.  The next decision was how to get her down to San Francisco.

I can’t stress enough how important it is to be gently aggressive as a caregiver and advocate for someone you are watching over.  Banner Lassen began arranging a life flight to San Francisco using the first available flight organization operating in their area.  Debra was very aware of the cost of life flighting patients because of her many years of being a Case Managing Nurse at Banner.  The price tag can be $25k and up depending on distance.  Surprisingly, we were not asked if we had life flight insurance and so I stepped in to tell the nurse arranging the transfer to call our transport provider, PHI Air Medical, first.  The nurse was surprised by my assertiveness but agreed to accommodate my request as I gave him the phone number on the back of our PHI membership card.  In about an hour the transport was arranged with PHI.  The fixed wing aircraft would be flying from Redding, CA to the small municipal airport in Susanville where Banner is located.  

By noon on Wednesday March 26th Debra was loaded on the Beechcraft Super King Air 200 and headed to San Francisco International Airport (SFO).  It’s interesting to note there are no helipads at any of the hospitals in San Francisco and so all medical emergencies land at SFO and then transported to the medical facilities by ambulance.  Before she flew out of Susanville, I boarded the plane to pray with her and to our surprise the flight crew joined us in a prayer circle as we asked for a safe flight and healing for Debra.  After the prayer Debra looked up and said, “Flying in a small aircraft over the mountains has been on my bucket list for a long time.  I finally can check it off!”  We all laughed!

The flight from Susanville would take 45 minutes and I was invited to be a passenger so I could be close to Debra and immediately available when we landed in San Francisco.  I declined because of our need of a car while in the city, plus there were tasks at our home in Clear Creek that needed my attention before joining Debra at UCSF for an indefinite period.  A 45-minute flight time for Debra would be a tiring 5-hour drive for me.

After doing the chores at home, and packing a suitcase, I headed down the mountain to UCSF around 2pm.  Even though I’ve driven to UCSF many, many times over the last 9 months this trip was exhaustingly long.  I hit the Bay Area commute traffic in Vacaville, about 45 miles from San Francisco as I unceasingly prayed for healing and peace for Debra.  

There are a couple of ways to getting into San Francisco from the north, one being over the Bay Bridge from Oakland, which is a stop and go asphalt and concrete nightmare, and the other entry is through Marin County and over the Golden Gate Bridge.  Even though there would be traffic on this route, I would be surrounded by beautiful green coastal mountains with scenic views of San Francisco Bay.  It would take 5 minutes longer over the Golden Gate Bridge, but I needed the time to breathe and relax in prayer before walking into UCSF.  It would be my Psalms 23 time.

Right after I left Vallejo headed east on Hwy 37, I received a phone call from Debra asking how long it would be before I arrived.  She sounded very weary and troubled.  The doctors ordered a CT scan with contrast soon after her arrival and after seeing the images told her she needed abdominal surgery immediately.  I was 45 minutes away and she desperately wanted me to be by her side before she went into the operating room.  I asked her for details, but she said I should call our son Ben who had talked to the surgeon.  I was a little put off because of her decision not to have the doctor call me instead of Ben.  Her concern was I would drive at reckless speeds after hearing the diagnosis and that’s why she requested the surgeon to contact Ben.  I calmly thanked her for her concern and affirmed her decision even though driving at fast speeds in stop and go traffic was impossible!

After the phone call with Debra, Ben called me.  In a very solemn and troubled voice our son told me he could not share any details, but the diagnosis was not good.  Out of respect for Debra’s request I did not press him for any information.  Ben had received the phone call from his mother while he was at the church and then prayerfully on the way home, he said had an unusual experience.  While going over a bridge he looked out the driver side window and an eagle was flying parallel to his car close enough for him to see the color of the eagle’s eye!  I told Ben it was God reminding us of Isaiah 40:31, “But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint.”  A calming peace flooded my heart!  Thank you, Lord!  Before we hung up, I had Ben pray over mom for a prayer for healing and peace.

Thirty minutes later and about 15 miles from the hospital Debra called me again.  She asked the doctors to wait for me to arrive before they took her into the operating room.  I told her I was doing my best in the traffic, but I was still 20 minutes out.  She sighed.  I mentioned Ben had called and he was troubled by the conversation he had with the doctor.  I told her about Ben’s encounter with the eagle and shared the correlation it had with Isaiah 40:31 and how God’s calming Spirit came over me.  After she realized I would not make unwise decisions while driving, she shared the doctor’s diagnosis.

They determined there was not only one, but two obstructions (windings) in Debra’s small intestine.  The images also showed the right colon looked abnormal.  They concluded the abnormality was indicative of a damaged or dead portion of colon.  The probability of them having to cut the colon from the small intestine and then create a hole in her stomach (stoma) that would attach the small intestine to a bag (ileostomy) was certain.  We both wept.  My spirit silently cried out “how much more can she endure Lord!”

I just missed seeing my soul mate by 10 minutes as I arrived on floor 10 of UCSF.  I was told the surgery would last 2 hours but in 45 minutes the surgeon called me.  She said after opening Debra’s abdomen she saw the two obstructions were a direct result of adhesions that were attaching the small intestines to the lining of the abdominal cavity, restricting food and blood flow to the right colon.  After snipping the places where the small intestine was attached to the abdominal cavity lining, the blood began flowing and the abnormal colon opened like an accordion. The colon became alive once again, pink and healthy.  They decided not to sever the colon from the small intestine and wait for 12 hours to close Debra’s abdomen to see if they needed to go back in if there were any complications!  No ileostomy was needed! The doctors told us if we would have waited any longer for the surgery the restriction of blood flow to the right colon would have caused irreversible damage that could have been fatal.  We put it in the miracle column!  The power of God answering our prayers on display again!  I called Ben immediately to let him know and he said excitedly, “My prayer really worked!”  

After 12 hours everything looked good, and the surgeon closed the incision.  On April 4th Debra was released to go home.  Her bowels were functioning properly, and the incision was healing nicely.  She was tired and still experiencing nausea and periodic bouts of vomiting, but this was considered as normal symptoms from a major surgery.  

We thought as the days and weeks passed these symptoms would subside and her appetite and weight would increase.  But these symptoms would increasingly worsen throughout April.  

It’s Tuesday, April 28th, and I’m sitting on the steps of the historic Old Bank Building on One Montgomery Street in San Francisco taking a moment to give you the latest update.  Debra is in the hospital once more malnourished and bone thin because of her inability to eat because of nausea and vomiting.  If she can eat 500 calories a day she’s blessed.  We were supposed to have her blood drawn at the Quest blood draw station in Chico yesterday but because it takes days to get the blood results back when we use Quest, we decided to come to UCSF where it only takes hours.  I’m glad we did.

After seeing the first round of results from the blood draw, I was troubled, troubled enough to suggest that we go the ER at UCSF.  As a caregiver I was struggling to see any improvement in Debra’s ability to nourish her body and become stronger.  Over the last month, I felt I was providing palliative care for someone who was wasting away instead care for someone was on the road to recovery.  

At the mention of going to the hospital Debra was defiant.  After the many weeks she had spent in a hospital bed she was done.  Debra is a fighter and a very optimistic child of God, and I’m so blessed that she is.  It has gotten us through some very tough times in our forty years of marriage.  It one of her greatest strengths but it also can be a great weakness if it doesn’t allow her to look at situations objectively especially when it comes to taking care of herself.  After telling her what I was feeling and seeing, but still leaving the decision to her, she agreed to going to UCSF.  It was a stifling, quiet ride to hospital.

We alerted her pulmonary doctors of the situation and checked her into the very busy emergency room at UCSF that sits below Sutro Tower.  As we stepped into the hospital a wave of relief came over me as my mind and emotions untwisted.  The peace began to flow.  After dropping her off at the ER, I went to park the car and when I came back to the waiting room, I saw her sitting and sharing photos of the grandkids with another ER visitor.  That’s just my lovely Debra!

After a couple of hours, she was given a room where they started an IV to rehydrate her body and give the kidneys a chance to properly function.  The blood work was showing her kidneys were very stressed.  My optimistic warrior then looked into my eyes and thanked me for the decision to come to the hospital.  Soon after Dr. Shah, one of her pulmonologists, came in and said they didn’t realize how far Debra had declined and she was glad she was being admitted to get a diagnosis and a path forward.  Another CT scan was done last night and everything in her abdomen looks healthy.  

Please pray these tests reveal the problems Debra is having with nausea and vomiting and that she can confidently begin eating a nourishing diet once again.

When we got back from UCSF on Wednesday, February 12, from a routine CT scan and bronchoscopy, Debra began having trouble breathing.  When she awoke Friday morning her oxygen saturation levels dropped to a point that she needed to start using her oxygen concentrator.  She called me at work and told me she needed to get to an emergency room right away because her oxygen saturation was down to 72% when she stood up and tried to walk, so I rushed home. Because of Debra’s lung transplant and her special needs, we thought it best to forgo the local hospitals and we immediately left for UCSF’s emergency room since when she was sitting and on oxygen at 5 liters, she was maintaining her oxygen levels at 93%.

Debra contacted her pulmonology case manager at UCSF to let her know what was happening and she said they were ready and waiting for her arrival at the ER.  The five-hour Valentines Day trip to San Francisco was wearisome and worrisome as we tried to guess why her oxygen levels were so low and why she was so fatigued. 

Upon arrival at the hospital, they checked her in and whisked her off to one of the emergency room ICU spaces.  They called a code 3 which is an emergency response and after parking the car I walked into a room full of doctors and nurses. My knees buckled and my heart fainted a bit seeing the urgent care my lovely wife was receiving.  It was a very tense and overwhelming experience.  I whispered prayers for protection over Debra.

They decided to perform a CT scan to give them a detailed imaging of her chest.  I was confused because when we were at UCSF a couple days earlier, they performed a CT scan WITHOUT CONTRAST and the images came back clear and normal.  This CT scan would be performed WITH CONTRAST and when the results came back, they found why she was in distress.  She had a saddle pulmonary embolism (SPE), and the contrast exposed the blood clot. Because they use radioactive iodine, they only use contrast if a person is experiencing symptoms, which 2 days earlier she wasn’t. 

A SPE is a life-threatening condition characterized by a large blood clot that lodges at the split of the pulmonary artery, obstructing blood flow to both lungs.  The SPE was larger on the left side and was causing her heart to pump harder to push the blood through to her lungs.  A restricted blood flow to her lungs manifested itself with lower oxygen levels and extreme fatigue.  They decided to perform a procedure to remove the embolism.  

The next morning (2/15) they performed a suction thrombectomy.  This was a minimally invasive procedure that used a catheter-delivered suction device to remove the blood clots from the lungs.  She was wheeled into one the interventional radiology operating rooms and two hours later I received a phone call from the doctor saying he suctioned a very large clot from her chest.  Thank you, Lord, that the clot was discovered early and there is no significant damage to the heart or lungs!

Debra spent a total of 5 days in the hospital, 3 in ICU and two in the Thoracic Cardiopulmonary (step down) unit recovering from the thrombectomy and we were able to celebrate her birthday at home on February 19th.  She will be on a blood thinner called Eliquis permanently to keep from getting further blood clots. Since then, her stamina has slowly increased, her oxygen levels have been strong and the norovirus symptoms she had been struggling with since the week before Thanksgiving have diminished!  She is scheduled to start pulmonary and physical therapy in the coming weeks to strengthen her lungs and body.  

The miracles continue!

O Lord my God, you have done many miracles for us. Your plans for us are too numerous to list. If I tried to recite all your wonderful deeds, I would never come to the end of them.

Psalm 40:5

Who would have guessed the most difficult part of Debra’s lung transplant, after surgery six-months ago, would have nothing to do with her lungs.  In fact, after today’s visit with Dr. Hayes, the head of UCSF’s pulmonology department said her lungs are doing amazingly well!  It’s not her lungs that are the problem but her stomach.

The norovirus made itself at home in Debra’s body around Thanksgiving of 2024 and it still hasn’t loosened its grip.  Nausea, loss of appetite, diarrhea, loss of weight, etc. are constant reminders of how a virus can thrive in an immunosuppressed body for months, and years in some cases.  Even with the added burden of the norovirus Debra continues to have a bright outlook on the future because she knows that God is her refuge and strength.  Continued prayers please.

The six-month mark for a lung transplant recipient is a milestone.  It is celebrated with lower dosages of drugs such as prednisone (an immunosuppressant drug used to prevent the body from rejecting a transplanted organ), eliminating drugs such as Valcyte (used to prevent infection with cytomegalovirus (CMV) that may occur after an organ transplant), and blood draws that have been once a week since the lung transplant and now be will twice a month.  Plus, driving to UCSF for medical appointments will be every six months, and then eventually once a year to the great joy of Debra’s chauffeur (ME!).  Video visits every three months will be a welcome new norm.

I’m writing this update from a coffee shop in the Presidio, a now  defunct army base that was established during the Civil War, that is a part of San Francisco’s rich and weird history.  This 247 year old military base is a unique place to explore with its historical monuments, old military buildings, multi-war cemeteries and beautiful hiking trails.  It’s not hard to guess it’s one of our favorite areas to visit and relax.  

As winter turns to spring, and spring to summer Debra’s strength and stamina returns, I plan to take her on one of my favorite hiking trails in the Presidio, Lover’s Lane.  It is a path that was established in the mid 1800’s between Mission Dolores in San Francisco proper and the Tennessee Hollow where the army soldiers had their encampments.  It was not only used by the clergy to get to the army base but also the wooden walkway the soldiers would hike to meet their sweethearts in the city. Thus, the name Lovers Lane!

We have so much to be thankful for as we begin this new year!  Debra’s lungs are doing remarkably well after receiving her transplant five months ago.  Her blood panels are beginning to look normal with some minor tweaks with the immunosuppressive drugs.   We were able to spend five full days at home this last week without commuting to San Francisco although we will continue to traipse down the hill to Chico for blood draws every Monday morning.  We are counting our blessings, but Debra is still struggling with the Norovirus.

Ever since Thanksgiving she has been losing weight and having a hard time eating because of the incessant diarrhea and nausea caused by the norovirus.  Her weight lose is causing concern with her doctors to the point of consideration of hospitalization.  We had a video conference with a GI doctor on Tuesday (01/07) to talk about some dietary and lifestyle strategies to help Debra maintain her weight. He also prescribed a medication to help build up the good bacteria on her stomach lining.   

We received the results from a stool sample taken on Monday and it shows Debra is still shedding the Norovirus.  Please pray the virus will leave her system and that her appetite would return so she can get the nourishment her body needs to keep the new lungs healthy.  Even though this leg of this incredible journey has been arduous we know that God causes all things to work together for the good for those who love Him and are called according to His purposes!

As some of you know we have two mountain cats at our home.  Ezra and Sally are siblings we were gifted by our stray-animal-loving daughter a few years ago.  They are great mousers and keep our property free of the vermin that commonly plague our Clear Creek home.  They are also great companions especially on cold winter days when you need a lap warmer. 

With so many weeks away from home for medical appointments and procedures our cats have been left alone and graciously cared for by our neighbors Steve and Eileen Sadar.  It’s not uncommon for Ezra to be missing for three or four days as he is a wanderer and hunter in the forest.  But when his absence went from days to a couple of months, we resigned ourselves to the reality he was gone for good.  The possibility of him being accosted by a larger predator was a strong possibility.  As empty nesters we find great joy in our two feline friends and Ezra’s absence saddened our hearts.  Of course we prayed for Ezra's safe return but began losing hope as weeks turned to months.

During our last trip to UCSF, I had some down time while waiting for Debra as she was getting some testing done.  With my iPhone in hand, I started browsing on Facebook and saw a friend of ours, Lela, had a post for a large, orange male tabby cat that showed up at their door in Chester.  The photo on the pose looked very familiar to our Ezra and a glimmer of hope emerged in my heart.  One of the distinct markings on Ezra is a white “O” on his left side and I could faintly make out the marking on the posted picture!  

After Debra came back to the waiting room, I showed her the post on Facebook and asked her if she thought it was Ezra.  She was skeptical but agreed we should contact Lela to see if we could stop by her house in Martin Ranch to see the cat.  We contacted Lela and made the arrangements to stop by and hopefully identify our Ezra.

As we traveled up the mountain we just couldn’t figure out how Ezra could have made the incredible journey from our home in Clear Creek to Martin Ranch which is over 15 miles away through mountain forests and around a lake.  I thought to myself if it could happen in the movies it could happen to us.

Walking up to Ken and Lela’s house and knocking on door I was wearily excited.  After spending a long hard four days in San Francisco with Debra we both needed a miracle fur-ball blessing!  After being graciously welcomed into Ken and Lela’s home the prodigal cat was brought from the garage to be identified.  The minute I saw the scared orange tabby cat we knew it was Ezra!  We laughed with joy and thanked Ken and Lela for posting on Facebook and giving him sanctuary.  

Even though Ezra was skittish and meowing loudly from the cat carrier riding in the back seat of the car, when we got him into  our house and he quickly reacquainted himself with his food dish and his favorite too perch on the carpeted cat tree.  But his final and favorite destination was next to Debra on the sofa where he quickly dozed off.  The incredible journey had ended well for all of us!  Thank you God for answering our prayers!

God’s fingerprints of His Presence and care are more common than we realize.  I know I move so fast in this distracted life I miss the beauty and peace of God in the moment.  Sometimes God sends messengers to remind us.  Let me tell you the story of Sister Anthony.  

After a very difficult couple of weeks, Debra and I found ourselves in San Francisco at UCSF for a four day stint.  If you remember her tacrolimus level was abnormally high after Thursday blood draw on December 5th.  They cut the dosage in half and by the blood draw on Monday, December 9th, the tacrolimus level had dropped to the near normal range.  But even when Debra’s blood work was balancing out, thank you for your prayers, her stomach was a mess.  Diarrhea and pain had been an ongoing problem since Thanksgiving week, and we didn’t know why.  Dr. Rupal Shah, one of the pulmonologists at UCSF, was called in to assess Debra’s condition.  When we met with Dr. Shah, Debra was losing weight and not able to keep food in her stomach and there was discussion of the possibility of hospitalization to try to help Debra’s weak body fight whatever was causing this problem.  A stool sample was collected, and the decision was made to give the situation another 24 hours and then decide on whether to admit Debra. 

Before we left the meeting with Dr. Shah, we asked her if we could possibly move the ultrasound appointment from December 26th to sometime sooner, possibly even while we were currently in San Francisco.  If you remember months earlier a blood clot was detected behind Debra’s right knee and the doctors immediately prescribed Lovenox, an anticoagulant that Debra would have to inject in her stomach in the morning and evening for three months.  After almost three months, two weeks shy, her stomach looked like a war zone with multiple bruises.  Amazingly, they had an opening at the ultrasound lab two hours after our meeting with Dr. Shah!  We left our meeting with doctor and headed up to ultrasound department even though we would be two hours early for a 2pm appointment.  We ordered lunch to go and sat in the waiting room of the lab. 

At this point we were beyond exhausted and feeling a bit discouraged by the sickness that was plaguing Debra for weeks on end.  Lord…how much longer!  I was struggling with my own weariness and really didn’t have much to give anyone, including Debra.  Lord…how much longer, I need you now!  Enter Sister Anthony.  After eating our lunch, Debra had to go to the restroom and while she was gone a little old nun walked out of the ultrasound lab with her walker and sat next to me.  We began to talk.  The God appointment began.

Sister Anthony an 81-year-old nun who worked as a nurse at the Sisters of the Poor for 60 years in San Francisco.  Even though she can’t work the floor anymore because of her health, she still assists with some administrative duties and cares for her garden and calls the convent home. If you look at her picture you can see the peace and joy, she has in serving our Lord Jesus.  After Debra came back, we sat and talked about our walks with God the power of prayer and the goodness of God.  A much-needed meeting for Debra and I!  Thank you, God, for your servant sister Anthony, truly a god send

After our meeting with our now favorite nun, the results from the ultrasound came back a few hours late and behold, the blood clot disappeared.  A phone call from Dr. Shah came announcing the end of the injections of Lovenox.  We rejoiced!  That evening we had a celebration dinner at Viva Goa in the Marina District a few doors down from our motel.  Debra ate mulligatawny soup and some naan bread, and I had the curried fish. Excellent meal, we would highly recommend this eatery.  With our tummies full we headed back to the motel where Debra slept better than she had in a long time.  Her turn-around health wise was beginning.  

The next morning the results from the stool samples trickled in and the culprit of her sickness had a name, Norovirus.  With most people the norovirus sickness with the vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, stomach pain, etc. lasts for one to three days.  This is what people with normal immune systems experience for the most part. But because Debra is immunocompromised it had lasted for three weeks making her dehydrated, malnourished and very weak.  There is no treatment for norovirus expect rest and hydration until the storm passes with the immune system fighting the battle.  The doctors decided, in Debra’s situation, they needed to wisely and carefully cut back on her immunosuppressive drugs to give her body a chance to beat the virus. 

And so, after the blood draw on Thursday morning at UCSF (12/12) we headed home.  Even though it was a long and grueling four days in San Francisco we felt extremely blessed from the positive test results and the care from UCSF we received.  And of course we thanked God for Sister Anthony realizing our partnership in spreading the good news of God’s Kingdom does not end even at eighty-one years old.

Raising our kids came with great joy and unexpected challenges.  Overall, Ben and Virginia were compliant and eager to please their parents except when it came to certain foods.  I think all kids are finicky to some degree in their diets and for our young ones it appeared in the vegetable family.  Ben gagged on cooked spinach and zucchini and Virginia abhorred cooked carrots and all types of nuts.  

One of Debra’s immunosuppressive drugs is a finicky child also.

Tacrolimus can be hard to manage, especially since it’s an immunosuppressant with a narrow therapeutic index. Small changes in factors like dosage, timing, diet, or concurrent medications can significantly affect its blood levels and effectiveness. Here are some reasons why tacrolimus can be tricky:

1.  Absorption Variability:  Food, particularly fatty meals, can reduce its absorption. It’s best taken on an empty stomach or consistently in the same way.

2.  Drug Interactions: Many medications (e.g., antifungals, antibiotics, or certain heart medications) can either increase or decrease tacrolimus levels. 

3.  Metabolism:  Tacrolimus is metabolized by the liver enzyme CYP3A4. Anything affecting this enzyme (like grapefruit or certain herbal supplements) can lead to unexpected blood levels.

4.  Monitoring Needs:  Regular blood tests are essential to ensure levels stay within the therapeutic range and to avoid toxicity or rejection (if used post-transplant).

5.  Side Effects:  High or low levels can lead to complications, such as kidney damage, increased infection risk, or neurological effects like tremors.

As you can see from the graph Debra’s tacrolimus levels are on a roller coaster.  During the last week of November, we had our granddaughter Grace visit us for the Thanksgiving week.  We are not sure who had what but somehow a stomach bug was passed to Debra and I.  Headaches, stomach pain, nausea and diarrhea were the main courses for our Thanksgiving Day meal.  We had to take Grace home early because she was as miserable as we were.  We could barely take care of ourselves no less a 10-year-old homesick little girl.  

With very little food and water intake Debra’s tacrolimus and creatinine (measure of kidney function) rose to alarming levels.  God’s timing is perfect, and all this occurred during a scheduled visit to UCSF for a CT scan (the doctors believe the Ground Glass Opacity is from minor scarring and all is good, no rejection) and a Pulmonary Function Test (to measure the strength of the lungs, good also).  

We will be staying one more night in SF for another blood draw tomorrow Thursday morning.  Pray the tacrolimus and creatinine levels will normalize.

UPDATE (12/05)  The results from the lab draw came back and tacrolimus level through the roof at 30 ug/L.  Normal range is 5-15 ugL.  We have been instructed to stop taking the next five doses of tacrolimus.   We will be heading back to UCSF Sunday afternoon for a blood draw on Monday morning. The doctors are stymied because her creatinine levels are trending down.  Usually when the tacrolimus levels run high so do the creatinine levels.  Tacrolimus levels this high can damage her kidneys.  Pray, pray, pray....and pray some more for all the drugs to balance out.

Fall has come and gone over the last month and the snow has come to visit.  The days are cold and the light wanes as the sun runs low and lazy in the southern sky.  Cozy fires accompany the extra hour of sleep we love during the holiday season.

The snow came early this year along with the need to remove it from the sidewalks and driveways.  Normally I enjoy shoveling and snow blowing, especially walking behind my Ariens Rapidtrak snowblower that can propel the snow into the next county!  But even with this magnificent machine I was waylaid by a mountain biking accident that happened last June.  I hit a dog and went over my handlebars landing on my right knee.  The dog came out of the ordeal better than I as a MRI showed a badly torn meniscus in both the lateral and medial.  The pain has been terrible and surgery could not have come quickly enough.  

On November 12th I checked in at the Reno Orthopedic Clinic and Dr. Kalisvaart and the arthroscopically removed the torn edges of the cartilaginous tissue.  The surgery took all of 20 minutes.  I can’t speak highly enough of the staff and doctors at ROC.

In post-op the anesthesia and OxyContin took all my pain and cares away.  The nurse explained as the meds wore off I would experience the normal pain after knee surgery and advised me to stay on top of the pain with meds and to use crutches to keep any weight off the knee.  Then the inexplainable happened.  As the meds wore off there was no pain and no nausea.  Soreness yes, pain no.  Within in an hour after discharge I gingerly crutched into Ike’s Love and Sandwich Shop and enjoyed dinner.  

We picked up OxyContin and Zofran at the pharmacy, but it went unused because Motrin took care of any discomfort.  After one week I was off the crutches and back to my normal duties at home and church.  I will start physical therapy with my dear friend Steve Brown next week to learn how to strengthen the knee.  I give thanks to God for the power of prayer, the skills of doctors and the miracle of healing that defies reason at times.

On November 2nd we celebrated Debra's three month lungaversary with joyful and full hearts.  It's still like living a dream come true as I watch Debra slowly get stronger and more active at home and in the community.  There have been a few days where Debra physically did too much but she is learning her limits.

On November 4th and 5th we headed back down to UCSF for her final CT scan and bronchoscopy this year.  We fully anticipated that everything would go smoothly but after the CT scan there was a bump in the road.  The CT scan showed Ground Glass Opacity (GGO) in the lower right lung.  GGO is a hazy area on a chest x-ray or CT scan of the lungs that indicates an abnormality in the lung tissue. It's caused by a number of possible factors in lung transplant recipients including, infection, rejection, hemorrhaging or it can be nothing at all.  After the CT results on Monday (11/04) are hearts sank.  We immediately took our cares to the Lord and his promised peace and joy filled our minds and hearts.

Tissue samples from a bronchoscopy would be taken the next day to give the doctors a definitive diagnosis of what was causing the GGO.  After the bronchoscopy we stayed the night in SF and then we headed home to our mountain retreat the next day and waited for the pathology report.  On Thursday morning I awoke at 7am and checked Debra's online medical charts and the results of the pathology report indicated no rejection or infection!   Needless to say Thursday was a very good, joyous day. Another good report is Debra's lab work shows the meds are becoming balanced after some dosage adjustments.  

My sister Ruthann has came to visit from Spokane to help us with the chores of Fall to prepare the winter snow.  We picked her up at SFO and then had the opportunity to see some of the sights of the San Fran along with eating at one of the many restaurants dotting the cities landscape.  We took her to one of our favorite seafood restaurants on Fillmore St. called the Woodhouse Fish Company.  The fish is deliciously fresh and the atmosphere salty with many wooden model fishing boats lining the walls.  

From Debra: I was told by the dermatologist that I needed to take care in the sun since the medications make me very susceptible to skin cancers.  Hats, long-sleeve shirts and sun-block lotions are mandatory when I am outside. It was impressed upon me very clearly when participating in the monthly post lung transplant zoom meeting. There are on average 20 people that sign in, I am the “Newby” and at this month’s meeting the oldest was 15 years. One of the discussions was about skin cancers and how important it is to really be vigilant. Two of the participants were currently being treated for skin cancer.  Winter that will be easy, but come summer it will be an adjustment, but everything is doable. 

It’s been an eventful but good week as Debra has eclipsed the 3 mile marker on her walks (cumulative throughout the day).  Before we left San Francisco this morning (10/23) she walked 1 1/2 miles without stopping, a new record, and by the end of the day once again went beyond 3 miles!  The picture shows us on the second floor of the remarkably beautiful Ferry Building in SF.

We went down to UCSF for a blood draw on Monday (10/20) so the doctors could have the results back quicker.  There was some confusion on the dosage of the anti-fungal drug fluconizole which threw off the immunosuppressive drug called tacrolimus.  Not good.

This will probably be WAY too much info for the average Joe but here it goes....

The blood panel showed the immunosuppressive drug, tacrolimus, was too high and needed to be adjusted.  Debra was put on a new anti-fungal drug, fluconizole, that influenced the tacrolimus level and so that's why the tacrolimus level was too high.

Fluconizole can inhibit the metabolism of tacrolimus, leading to increased tacrolimus levels in the blood. This can result in tacrolimus toxicity, which may manifest as kidney damage, high blood pressure, and neurological effects (such as tremors or confusion).  Got it?

And so they needed to adjust the tacrolimus dosage again to bring the level down.  After changing the dosage Debra will have to have another blood draw next Monday (10/28) at UCSF.  

The good news is when they get the meds balanced it will be 5 months until they will have to adjust the tacrolimus again because that's when they are taking her off the fluconizole.  It's a pharmaceutical roller coaster!

We are are enjoying the diversity and beauty of San Francisco.  Inbetween all of our appointments we try to visit some of the off the beaten path hidden gems of the City and the surrounding areas.  During our last visit we stayed in the Marina District at a motel called the Signature Inn located on Lombard Street.  I would describe it as a cheap chic, retro modern boutique accomodation with a '60's kind of vibe.  Right around the corner from the motel is Chesnut Street with a plethora of restaraunts and shops.  One of our favorite eateries is Tacolishous.

We have also enjoyed riding the street cars when we want to take a break from driving and play the tourists.

San Francisco currently operates two streetcar lines, the F and E lines, which feature a variety of historic streetcars from different eras and countries. The F Market & Wharves line is particularly well-known, running from the Castro neighborhood along Market Street to Fisherman’s Wharf. It features restored PCC streetcars from the 1940s and 1950s, alongside a variety of unique, vintage trams sourced from around the world, like those from Milan and Melbourne. The E Embarcadero line is an extension of the historic service, connecting Fisherman’s Wharf to the Caltrain Depot. Together, these lines represent a kind of “rolling museum” of streetcars.

In total, San Francisco’s fleet includes about 30 vintage streetcars, with roughly 20 in active daily service. The Market Street Railway nonprofit, in collaboration with Muni, helps maintain this diverse fleet and expand the collection, preserving it for both locals and tourists who enjoy this classic transit experience. Five dollars gets you an all day pass!

We will be going down to SF after church this Sunday for another blood draw on Monday.  Please pray with us that the drugs will balance out!  We love all of you and are grateful we are surrounded by your love and prayers.

It’s really hard to describe what it is like to see Debra walk around the house and neighborhood without oxygen.  Yesterday (10/14) we strolled to Clear Creek Park enjoying the brisk fall afternoon and when we made it back home it was close to a 1 ½ miles trek.  “My chains are gone; I’ve been set free…” is the background melody in my mind and my heart.  A new life and a new healthy wife!  Tomorrow Owens Medical Supply will be coming to pick up all the oxygen bottles and oxygen concentrator.  We thank God for the supplemental oxygen Debra has used since 2016, but we also thank God she will no longer have to rely on it to live!

The homemaker is making our house a warm sanctuary of beauty and rest once again.  Our cats, Sally and Ezra are enjoying Debra's nurturing spirit, enjoying cuddling up with her in bed and her special cat snacks that I always forget about.  Every day the miracle lungs grow stronger, and Debra’s stamina increases.  Even though she will not be able to work in the dirt in our yard and garden because of the possibility of the funguses, she can still harvest the tomatoes and other vegetables from our garden. 

Last Saturday (10/12) we attended an afternoon tea at the Walker Mansion in Westwood.  Our dear friends Rob and Linda Hart, who manage the mansion and kitchen, seated both Debra and I at a special table away from the crowds where we enjoyed tea and crumpets along with many other delectables.

Our church and community are so excited to have Debra back in the neighborhood.  On Sunday (10/13) Debra joined me on stage to thank our wonderful church family for their love, prayers, special gifts and financial support. We were overwhelmed by the welcome we received as our church family joined with us in thanking and singing praises, to our Lord.  Tears of joy and gratefulness flowed freely throughout the sanctuary.

On 10/14 we left for Quest in Chico at 5:30 am for the weekly 8am blood draw and then met with Debra’s cousin John and his wife Kellye, who live in Paradise. We ate breakfast at one of our favorite places in Chico called Beatnik’s. John and his wife have been praying faithfully for us as well as their home group. It was wonderful to see them.

We do have a couple of prayer requests to share with all of you.  First, pray for Debra as she navigates the world of Medicare for 2025 especially the Part D prescription coverage.  The immunosuppressive and organ rejection drugs are of concern to us because how they are classified as high tier by the private insurance companies.  Each plan can divide its tiers differently, but generally, drugs in lower tiers are less expensive than those in higher tiers. Plans negotiate prices with drug companies, and if they can negotiate a lower price, they can put the drug in a lower tier and pass the savings on to their members.  

The next request is for the blood clot that is possibly still located behind Debra's left knee.  She has been on the anticoagulant Lovenox for a few weeks and will continue to use it until the next ultrasound in December.  We are trusting God with both prayer requests and refuse to let them rob us of our peace and joy!  Again, thank you for all you loving support!

Although we had permission to leave the Bay Area on September 24th, we decided to stay an extra week since it was filled with appointments at UCSF.  And so in week 9 Debra had another CT scan, bronchoscopy and a final meeting with the pulmonologist before leaving the Bay Area.  There will be more tests and meetings in the months and years to come but they will be fewer and farther between.  We will still be required to do bloodwork weekly after we come home at Quest in Chico until the New Year.  In the new year bloodwork will go from once a week to twice a month to once a month.  Eventually she will have bloodwork every three months.  Debra’s new lungs have “Property of UCSF” stamped on them and she will have an ongoing relationship for care and encouragement with UCSF for the rest of her life. 

We woke up on Monday, October 7th, ready to go home after Debra’s 7am blood draw at UCSF Mission Bay.  I took a picture of the rising sun glimmering off the skyscrapers in San Francisco as you look up 4th street from the UCSF Mission Bay campus.  After weeks of driving the streets of San Francisco for appointments, errands and sightseeing we would finally be crossing the Bay Bridge to head north to the mountains and home.  After leaving the City we stopped in Vacaville for breakfast with our dear long-time friend, Rosemary, who helped us celebrate our escape from Alcatraz.

After breakfast we hopped in the car to face the I-80 traffic for a few miles until we hit I-505 where we both took some deep breaths of freedom city life.  On Sunday afternoon our small Volkswagen Taos was filled to the brim with our belongings that accumulated over the 2-month period we lived at the Sonesta ES Hotel in South San Francisco’s Oyster Point district.  I got very little sleep on Sunday night as I thought about going home and how we were going to fit the remaining balance of things from our hotel room into the car.  I have loaded cars many times in my life, but this was the tightest pack I had ever done!  We had to leave a carton of eggs behind along with a gallon of water because we had no more room in the Taos.  I’m sure the hotel maids enjoyed our excess!

From I-80 we crossed over to Chico to stop at Quest Labs to make sure Debra was set for a blood draw on the upcoming Monday.  We then headed up Hwy 99 to Hwy 36 to avoid Hwy 32’s clean-up work from the Park Fire.  Turning east on 36 we began to climb in elevation.  We bought an O2 sensor that fits likes a ring on Debra’s thumb and is connected via Bluetooth to an app on Debra’s iPhone to continuously monitor and record her oxygen saturation levels.  In Red Bluff, 305 feet elevation, the O2 monitor read 97%.  At 2,000 feet it read 97%.  We climbed and climbed until we hit Morgan summit at 5,750 feet and it still read 97%!  We were in tears and decided to stop and take a picture of her holding her oxygen canula in her hand in front of the Morgan Summit sign.  Thank you, Lord, for new lungs!

Walking back to the car we heard an alarm going off on Debra’s iPhone and our hearts sank.  It was the O2 monitoring app sounding the alarm that Debra’s oxygen saturation level had dropped below 90% to 87%.  The blaring alarm continued until Debra sat for a few minutes as we headed down the road to Chester.  We knew it would take time for Debra’s new lungs to acclimate to the elevation.   After all it was only two and a half months from the transplant surgery and her body was still healing.  We shot up some prayers of thanksgiving to Jesus and continued down the road towards Chester.

The beauty of the mountains after living in San Francisco for two months is indescribable even with the fire scarred landscape.  God made humans to live among other living things and not concrete and steel.  Living in a world of inanimate, cold objects wears down your mind, spirit, soul and body.  Being on the road for miles and miles does something to your bladder, and we had to make a stop at Holiday Market in Chester for a potty break and fuel for the car.  Before stopping to let Debra out of the car, I asked her if I should pull out her portable oxygen concentrator in case she needed it.  She declined the offer and told me she would take it slow.  She got out and I drove the crowded pumps to fill up the car. 

After getting gas I parked in front of the market expecting to see Debra waiting for me at the market’s front door.  No Debra.   Being a little concerned, I headed into the store to find her.  Looking toward the restrooms I saw no sign of Debra but then out of the corner of my eye I saw her in the produce department pushing a cart.  Surprised, I headed her way and then asked her what she was doing.  She told me as she was heading to the bathroom that she had a little talk with Jesus and asked Him to unleash the Holy Spirit in her lungs so that she could breathe without the  alarm going off on her iPhone.   God tells us we have not because we ask not, Debra asked, and she received good O2 levels.  We both teared up over the loose-leaf lettuce thanking God!

Arriving in Clear Creek was like Dorothy stepping foot on the soil of Kansas after being in the land of Oz.  After six months of being away Debra was home and breathing without the oxygen apparatuses.  No leashes, no chains, no tubes, however you want to describe it, Debra is finally free with her miracle lungs.  Unlike before the lung transplant Debra was progressively getting sicker and now Debra will over the upcoming weeks, months and years will be getting better.  Please keep us in your prayers and we will continue to keep you updated on the incredible God journey we are traveling.  To God be the glory!

On Tuesday, September 24th, we met with the pulmonologist and it was to be Debra’s last meeting before she was released to leave the San Francisco area.  But things didn’t go as we expected.

Debra writes:

“Well, today’s Dr visit at 9:30 didn’t go as planned…Within a couple of minutes into the cursory stuff, weight and vital signs, the nurse and I smelled smoke. It immediately got very strong with an electrical smell and very smoky. We were coughing and she left to find out what was happening. They handed out N95 masks and the emergency notice went over the loudspeaker that it was an emergency and to evacuate immediately-that it wasn’t a drill. We were on the 6th floor and proceeded to the stairs. People from the 7th and 8th floors were also coming down and it was a bit stressful, but we all got out ok, no one fell even though there were some anxious people that were pushing their way to try to get out faster. The alarms were also going the whole time, so it was hard to hear. There were a lot of police, security and people in hazmat suits on the main level making sure everyone got out. It is a beautiful day here, so it wasn’t cold outside which was a blessing. After about 30 minutes the fire department came and checked out the roof (there was construction going on up there). They left after about 30 minutes later. There were about 300 people outside, probably more. I got a call from the pulmonary department about an hour later telling me initially they would reschedule my appointment for later that day. I called them back about 30 minutes later and was told they would call to reschedule another day and we could leave. I’m guessing that it was an electrical fire that they were able to extinguish, and the smoke got into the air vents. I will ask about it at my new appointment on Thursday. We came home and we both took naps. I definitely got my steps in for the day and have a great story 🤓👍”

And so, another meeting was scheduled for Thursday where they gave Debra a gold star on her progress. The fluid sack between her chest cavity has diminished and the blood clot is still being treated with an anticoagulant, but the doctors are confident it will dissolve. Debra is released to go home!  We will be staying one more week, for testing and meetings, before we head to Clear Creek.  We are looking forward to being home on October 8th.  It will be six months since Debra has been home!

I had a chance to go home during week 8 and get our home ready for Debra’s return.  We would like to thank Holli Satterfield who stayed with Debra while I was away.  When I took a right turn on Hwy 36 toward Lake Almanor I looked up in the sky and was amazed by the star filled sky.  While living in South San Francisco during the last few months the fog and bright lights masked the galaxy of stars.  The empty, traffic free, highway to the mountains was like a highway to our little bit of heaven.  

A question weighing on our minds was whether we could use a wood burning stove in our home.  We absolutely need to ensure the environment in our home is clean and healthy for Debra’s new lungs.  I purchased an Air Quality Indicator (AQI)/CO2 monitor to objectively test the air in our house along with a medical grade air purifier.  AQI is measured in increments of 50 up to 500 with the lower numbers indicating a healthy air quality.  The evening I arrived home I set up the AQI monitor, and after an hour of letting the device stabilize without a fire, the monitor read 45.  Zero to 50 means the air healthy and is what we are shooting for.  I then lit a fire and watched the AQI begin to rise, it peaked at 70 which is not terrible but for new lungs, it is unacceptable.  Opening and closing the wood stove doors and lighting a fire in a cold stove is when the AQI will rise. I opened some windows to vent the house and after an hour or so I watched the AQI begin to drop.  After two hours, with the windows closed, the monitor read 40 again.  My testing was conducted with no air purifier operating and after turning on the air purifier the AQI dropped to below 10!  Thank God we can use wood, and we would also like to thank friends who graciously brought us wood for the winter.  Not only did they deliver wood they also split and stacked it!  

On Thursday, September 19th, Debra had an ultrasound that aids in the evaluation of the lungs for many different abnormalities, including pneumonia, any fluid between the lung and the chest wall (pleural effusion), too much fluid in the lungs (pulmonary edema), and any collections of air outside the lung but within the pleural cavity (pneumothorax).  Blood clots are a common and serious complication after lung transplantation. They can occur in the form of a pulmonary embolism or a deep vein thrombosis in the legs. So the ultrasound included images of her legs.

A pulmonary embolism (PE) is a blood clot that breaks free and travels through the veins to the lungs, blocking blood flow to the lungs and heart.  Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a blood clot that forms in the deep veins of the leg, which can break off and travel to the lungs.  About 2-3 in 100 patients experience blood clots in the transplanted lung.   About 1 in 100 experience deep vein thrombosis in the legs. 

Debra’s ultrasound showed a small DVT in her (left upper calf/behind the knee.)  After we received the news it dampened our spirits somewhat as we were both tired and not expecting any complications.  Usually ymptoms of a DVT include tenderness or a throbbing pain in the leg which indicates a more serious case of DVT.  Debra had neither and so we are so grateful the doctors caught it early. 

We would not have known that she had a blood clot in her leg if not for the ultrasound. Thank you Lord! The doctors have prescribed the anticoagulant medicine Lovenox to help the blood clot dissolve. Debra injects the Lovenox twice daily.   Injections will last for 3 to 4 months then hopefully will be able to stop. A second ultrasound of arms/legs will occur in 3 months to see if it’s gone with continued weekly lab draws to assess blood level of the Lovenox. Prayers please!

We had a couple of divine appointments during week 8 that lifted our spirits and made us very aware of how God turns our mourning into dancing when we look beyond our trials and suffering.  Nothing is wasted in the Kingdom of God, even our trials and suffering can testify to the glory of God when we believe His promises and walk in the Kingdom of Light. 

One of hte God stories started on a Saturday in front of Oracle Park on 3rd and King street as a throng of Giants fans waited to get into the ball park.  Over 40,000 people would eventually stream their way to their seats to watch the Giants and I was one of them.  The lines were very long, as they are for weekend games, and so I decided I would just wait near the gate at Willy Mays Plaza until the line dissipated.  It was a circus to be watched as the crowd was very diverse and chaotic.  As I leaned against a post I noticed a San Francisco police officer on a mountain bike pull up a stone’s throw away from me.  Looking closer I notice his name on a badge on his chest that said “B. Erickson.”  Having a son named Ben Erickson I wondered if the B was for Ben.  

My curiosity got the best of me and so I went over and asked him what the B stood for.  It turned out the B stood for Brandon but it opened up a conversation.  He told me He was doing overtime at the game to put a little more money his pocket to support his family who lived in Dixon about 80 miles north of San Francisco. Early in our marriage Debra and I lived in Vacaville, just south of Dixon, were Brandon's 3 boys attend school.  I shared our story about on why we were in San Francisco and about Debra’s miracle lungs.  With such a big crowd to manage our chat ended and he got back to work.  The gates to Oracle Park opened and eventually I made my way in to watch the Giants lose another game.  The Sheboygan sausage with grilled onions and garlic fries were the bright spot of the day during the game.

It's hard to believe that over 800,000 people live on the San Francisco Peninsula as it is the 2nd most densely populated city in the U.S. behind New York City.  There are 19,000 warm bodies crammed into a square mile.  It’s mind boggling especially when you are driving.  Everything is 15 miles away from our hotel but it takes an hour to get anywhere it seems! 

A few days after my trip to the ball park we had to go to UCSF on Parnassus street to pick up some medications for Deb.  On the way back Debra wanted to pick up some thank you cards and so we stopped at the Stonestown Gallaria right off Hwy 1 as you are headed to Daly City.  We stopped, jockeyed for a parking space and went into Whole Foods Market to look at cards.  After purchasing a couple of cards we decided to walk down to Jamba Juice for a quick pick me up as Debra was getting tired.  We ordered and then spotted a secluded table where we could rest and drink our Jamba’s.  

We passed the Apple Store so Debra and I popped in to look around.  After browsing for a moment Debra and I left to grab seat in the mall.  Leaving the store I noticed a SF police officer standing in the corner of the store providing security.  Just quess who it was…BRANDON!  What are the chances that I would run into him again on the other side of the peninsula in the one most densely populated cities in America.  I just knew God was up to something and I got excited.  I walk over and immediately Brandon recognized me from the ball park and we warmly shook each other’s hand.  I asked him if he could take a break to come and meet my wife. 

We talked with Brandon and had the chance to go deeper into the story of our lives. Brandon said that being a police officer in SF and doing overtime was the only way he could make ends meet.  Debra shared about our journey and how it all started in Vacaville where we began raising our family.  Debra and I could relate to his situation as we recalled the years of Debra working as a nurse and I as a pastor at Crossroads Christian Church in Vacaville.  That’s when Brandon opened up about how he and his wife sensed the need to find a good church for his family.  I encouraged him to check out a couple of churches up near Dixon and that we would be praying for him and his family.  I mentioned that our meeting was not a coincidence, and God was trying to get his attention.  He agreed.  We exchanged phone numbers and then invited him, and his family, to come visit us in the mountains.  Debra and I walked back to our car praising God for his goodness!  

Psalms 27 has been one of our favorite chapters in the Bible and we have leaned on it's truths in many of the difficult seasons we have faced.  Just beleiving we can see the goodness of God in the land of the living is the start of making this promise real.  We encourage each other with this truth often we get discourage especially when are struggling with the daily challenges of recovering from a bilateral lung transplant.  It's no mistake that the Lord repeats "wait for Lord" twice in verse 14.  Strength WILL rise as we wait upon the Lord!

Debra’s body is slowly adjusting to her daily drug regimen but it hasn’t been easy to say the least.  Tacrolimus is one of the medications she takes and is used in the prevention and treatment of solid-organ transplant rejection.  It is one of the more finicky meds and the correct dosage can be influenced by many factors.  Antifungal drugs, that will be taking for the rest of her life, interacts with the tacrolimus significantly and when they are adjusted the tracrolimus will be also have to be adjusted.   She also needs to avoid excessive intakes of high potassium foods (bananas, oranges, orange juice, potatoes, spinach, etc). Other things she cannot eat or drink are grapefruits, grapefruit juice or any soda (Fresca) or fruit juice blends that contains grapefruit juice. Grapefruit can increase the levels of tacrolimus to a potentially toxic level.  So far she is doing well with her diet and the tacrolimus levels in her blood have been good with minor adjustments.  

We have had the opportunity to try out many different restaraunts around the peninsula and one of our favorites is the Woodhouse Fish Company on Fillmore street.  We have to be very selective on where we dine because of Debra’s diet restrictions and the grilled salmon tacos at Woodhouse seem to agree with her digestive system.  For breakfast she usually has a protein drink along with sous vide or scrambled eggs.  Chamomile tea seems to help calm her stomach right before we go to bed.  The doctors have told Debra to increase the number of calories even though her appetite is not quite there yet. 

Notes from Debra:

Wednesday (9/11) was incredibly windy. Our round trip walk to Starbucks was BRUTAL. The wind was blowing harder than usual which made it difficult to breathe. It was very exhausting, however, we did it!  Kevin & Sheri Kassel were in SFO to meet with a kidney transplant surgeon at Sutter Hospital.  They stopped by to visit and have dinner with us.  It was really good to see them!

Thursday (9/12) I was very fatigued and didn’t feel well - labs were good except my white blood counts were slightly elevated. It was recommended that I rest Thursday which I was very happy to do.  Friday I took a slow walk with many rests along the way via the walking path to Starbucks for a tea. I’m still not feeling great,  but we did it. We were also blessed with a visit from long- time friends, Lonnie & Deanna Pense who live in Napa. It was wonderful to spend time with them and share lunch together.  I also had my last visit from the home health nurse who said I was doing great.

I am getting stronger every day and our homecoming is about three weeks away if everything continues to go well with my recovery.  I have been away from my beloved mountain home, wonderful community of Clear Creek and my church family since April 11th. I can’t wait to be home.

On the first Friday of every month Debra participates in a zoom meeting with one of the UCSF lung transplant social workers (Katy) and about a dozen lung transplantees.  Those participating have had new lungs as soon as a month (Debra) and as long as twelve years.  It's a special family unlike no other.  Debra recognized one man, John, who frequented Banner Lassen Hospital in Susanville while she was still working as a Nurse Case Manager.  He is living in Susanville and doing well.  John and Debra's faces lit up when they saw each other on the zoom meeting.  

Katy had each one of the transplantees introduce themselves and share how they were doing and then pass on bits of wisdom to make the journey of post-transplant less challenging.   There were the young and older men and women sharing their victories and failures from all walks of life.  As I sat and listened, I reflected on the power having a positive attitude when facing the obstacles before us.  Even unbelievers can benefit from looking at the brighter side of life rather than the dark valleys.  As believers though it's not just positive thinking but primarily having the power of the Holy Spirit within us to renew our minds and give us an unearthly, eternal hope.  Without this kind of hope we fall into despair and fear which leads to anger, depression and anxiety.  

If you have lived life long enough you have experienced the dark emotions and attitudes that create fear and hopelessness.  Today, Sunday, I woke up having to make a choice of walking in the light or dwelling in darkness.  Walking in the Spirit is making the choice of abiding in the light of Jesus having a mind controlled by His Spirit.  We make that choice not only when we wake up but every moment of the day!  I woke up this morning not really feeling like a Spirit Walker and just wanted to stay in bed.  It was just one of those blah mornings that we all experience.  

And so, I spent a little time in the Word and shot up a prayer confessing and repenting of anything that might be hindering the Spirit of God in my life.  And even though I didn't FEEL like getting up, by FAITH I got up and started the routine of the day by making breakfast for Debra and I.  Scrambled eggs (well cooked), bacon, pita bread and orange juice along with a sermon from Pastor Paul up in Kalispel fed our bodies and souls.  As I was making breakfast, I opened the refrigerator and noticed we were just about out of water.  We take for granted being able to enjoy the fresh mountain water up in Almanor that flows from our taps.  And so, Debra and I took a trip to Safeway to replenish our water supply and pick up some fresh fruit and vegetables.  

I could tell Debra was struggling walking to the car to go shopping.  When Debra struggles, I struggle also, just trying to figure out a way I can help.  Often when we can't pinpoint solutions to our struggles, we get frustrated.  I wasn't frustrated with Debra but my ability to discern how I could help.  After all I'm her caregiver and I want to give her the best care!  When we got home from the store, we both laid down to rest.  While resting I asked the Father to give me wisdom as Debra's husband, and caregiver, about what to do to turn things around.  An answer came that I knew Debra would NOT like.

At our last meeting with the doctors and nurses they were very impressed with Debra's level of physical activity and encourages us to even do more.  They recommended climbing stairs as this exercise strengthens the legs and gluts.   When we got back from the hospital Debra did just that and climbed the stairs from the second floor to the fourth floor.  A new victory that lifted both of our spirits.  Up to this point Debra's walking has consisted of going from point A to point B In our daily activities.  So, the answer to my Sunday morning prayer was to start taking intentional walks every day.  Just like Debra takes her meds faithfully at a prescribed time every day we needed to do the same with walking and exercise.  

I went into Debra's bedroom and shared my answered prayer, which was to get up and walk to Starbucks, a future goal we set right after her surgery.   All I can say is she really was not fond of the idea and the tears began to flow.  (She later shared with me the tears came because she was hopping mad at me!).  But through the tears and her tired, healing body she arose and got dressed.  I felt like one of the drill sergeants I suffered under in Navy bootcamp!  The good thing about walking to Starbucks at Oyster Point are myriads of benches that dot the walkway along the bay where she could rest as much as she desired.  It would be about a half mile stroll to the coffee shop.

As we left the front door of the hospital l took her hand and ready to assist her in any way.  It was a beautiful day with many people walking, running and biking the pathway.  At first, I could tell Debra was struggling as we sat on the first bench.  I assured her at any time I could go back and get the car if need be.  She shook her head no and we continued.  From the first bench to the second, third, fourth, etc. I thought she had walked far enough but she wanted to continue.  When we arrived at Starbucks I grabbed her hands, looked in her face and tearfully shared how proud I was of her fortitude and accomplishment.  I wish I had a gold medal to place around her neck, she ran the race so well!  We not only made it Starbucks, where we had lattes and chicken skewers for lunch, but Debra walked all the way BACK to the hotel for a total of 1.8 miles, almost 5,000 steps! "For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline".... and Debra was living proof of this powerful truth.  

Updates from Debra's testing and procedures are all good except X-rays showed there is a pocket of fluid between her ribcage and right lung.  They are considering a procedure to drain the fluid using a long needle.  Pray the water sack will disappear, so no procedure is necessary!

Many thanks to Pat and Julien Howe for visiting from Alamanor, delivering our mail and lunch on Friday.

Tuesday, September 3rd was the day of multiple tests and procedures on Debra’s new lungs.  A CT scan showed how well her new lungs are adapting to her the body and if there were any abnormalities.  The pulmonary function test (PFT) was a breathing test that measured how well the lungs are supplying oxygen to the body.  And the bronchoscopy (bronch) allowed the doctors to visually inspect the point of attachments of Debra’s new lungs to her bronchial tubes.  They also used a small amount saline solution to wash the lungs and then the fluid was suctioned out with the bronch tube.  The collected fluid sample was examined for cells or bacteria that may indicate infections or lung conditions that are not normal.  A biopsy of the lungs was also harvested for examination.  We will share the findings of the procedures when they come in.

PRAISE ALERT!  The results from Debra’s blood draw from Monday showed all is looking good, even the creatinine levels were back to normal!  Thank you for your prayers!  Another praise is that Debra walked over a mile the other day.  It wasn't done in one long walk but by adding up many small walks.  She is amazing!

As we we sat in the waiting room at UCSF on Monday, before Debra’s blood draw, we recognized a lady who was a fellow participant in the pre-lung transplant briefing back in April.  We reintroduced ourselves and found that she, Lori, had her transplant operation on August 17th.  Debra and her had a mini celebration of the new life they have with lung transplants!

We are always looking for things to brighten our small hotel room as Debra continues to heal and get stronger.  The cards we have received, along with the pictures of friends and family bring smiles to our faces.  We both love flowers but since we cannot have real flowers because of Debra's new lungs, we have to be creative.  It started with Charlene Ruggerio sending us a paper bouquet of daisies.  Then my son Ben, while visiting, encouraged me to buy some wooden roses when we were in a shop in Japan town.  The other day I was in Target and saw some Lego flowers.  At first I thought they might be too fake, and they are, but they do add a certain kind of beauty to our small living space AND they are fun to build! 

It has been awhile since we have thanked everyone for joining us on this incredible journey of faith and hope.  The donations, cards, phone calls, visits, etc. have all been points of light for us!  It says in James that "every good and perfect gift comes down from the Father of Lights."  God has used all of you to shed His light in our lives.  We are truly blessed!

We celebrated, on Sunday September 1st, the one-month anniversary of getting the call for my miracle lungs, and so I want to share this testimony.

When I was living in Clear Creek at 5,000 feet, my ability to breath declined significantly to the point that I required 10 to 15 liters of oxygen for simple tasks like walking around the house and out to the car. On April 1st we were at UCSF for a pulmonary function test, which measures lung function and capacity, and the results from the test showed I dropped to 35%.  The doctors said I was ready to be placed on the lung transplant list.  They also told us I would be required to move to a lower altitude to breathe easier and to be closer to the hospital to be ready for a call for transplant.

So, on April 12th I moved to Napa, CA to live with my mom.  The timing was perfect because she had just gotten out of rehab after recovering from multiple falls and she needed a 24/7 caregiver.  It was my new assignment and even though I would miss my husband and my mountain home in Clear Creek, I accepted the call with joy.  In Napa I was requiring only 5 to 6 liters of oxygen and was able to walk, cook and drive my mother to shop. I was also able to help our daughter Virginia with her overnight shifts Thursday through Saturday by caring and loving up on our granddaughter Grace which strengthened our bond of love.

In the beginning of July, I had a repeat pulmonary function test then consulted with my transplant pulmonologist to go over the results. She said my lung function had improved to 40%! I asked if that meant I would be taken off the transplant list. She said that I would still be on the list but there would be a longer wait for a transplant than initially expected.  I talked to God on the way back to Napa and realized that in the delay I would be able to serve and bless my mom and Virginia & Grace for a longer time.  John and I were a little discouraged by the news, but we reminded each other that God’s timing is always perfect even when things are delayed. 

As life moved ahead, I began to make plans for living in the here and now and not the future.  And so, on July 31st I woke up with a strong desire to get my hair cut shorter and did some errands for my mom.  Waking up August 1st, I put together a double batch of peanut butter cookie batter for mom and her Friday card group.  At 10:30am I called Susanville Dental to cancel my cleaning for August 8th.  About 10 seconds into the call with the dentist I was notified I had another call coming in.  It was from my pre-transplant case manager and so I hung up and answered her call. 

She said she needed to ask me some questions; had I been out of the country, had I been sick in the last 2 weeks, had I been around anyone sick, and a few other questions.  The answers were all “no” and I was puzzled on why she was asking those questions. She then told me that UCSF had lungs for me, and I needed to be there by 1:30pm!

I immediately called my brother Tracy who had graciously volunteered to drive me when the call came.  He had to leave work in Vallejo and would be there by 11:15. Then I had my mother call John in Lake Almanor, and he promptly headed down to the Bay Area.  My brother and I left for UCSF, and we arrived by 1:15pm!  John arrived around 6 pm and came into my hospital room where we both cried tears of joy as we thanked God for His goodness! 

The call for the lung transplant turned out to be exactly 11 weeks from the day I was placed on the transplant list.  (From John:  I was sitting in my office that Thursday morning getting ready for a worship team rehearsal that evening when I got the call from Debra’s mom.  When I heard the news, the room began to spin, and tears of joy flowed freely.  I walked to Matt’s office and told him the good news and that I had to leave ASAP.  We embraced and cried together as Matt prayed for protection over Debra and me.  I also called Bob Satterfield who would take charge of the worship team while I was away.  Again, there were tears of joy over God’s goodness!)

As I reflect on how God provided in our time of waiting, He showed us how He truly is in control of a believer’s life when we are fully surrendered to Him.  I wasn’t perfect in the wait, but He blessed me anyway… He WANTS TO BLESS US!

(P.S….regarding the haircut.  During surgery and until I transitioned to the thoracic step down unit, I had an arterial line on the right side of my neck that was taped right at my hair line and even in my hair.  With longer hair it would have been more difficult to manage for the doctors during the surgery and me while I was recovering.  God truly cares about all the details!)

(P.S.S…Many thanks to Bob and Holli Satterfield who drove all the way down from Lake Almanor to celebrate John’s birthday month on Saturday.  Holli stayed with Debra while Bob and John went to a Giants game at Oracle Park.  If I remember right, Bob repented from being a Yankee’s fan and said he has seen the light of being a Giants follower!)

UCSF has a great app called MyChart that keeps patients informed of every detail of their medical history, medications, test results and upcoming appointments.  So, after Debra’s blood draw on Thursday morning we had a chance to look at the blood results around 11am on MyChart.  All looked good except…the level of creatinine in her blood.  It was too high, and it’s been rising over the last couple of days.

Creatinine is a waste product that comes from the digestion of protein in your food and the normal breakdown of muscle tissue. It is removed from the blood through your kidneys. Everyone has some creatinine in their blood, but too much can be a sign of a possible kidney problem. (www.kidney.org)

Before transplantation, the serum creatinine is usually normal reflecting normal kidney function, but it often begins to rise and reach abnormally high levels in the first year after transplantation. When the creatinine levels rise the doctors will adjust medications, specifically those drugs causing the problem.  It truly is a every changing balancing act! UCSF has been doing lung transplants since 1991 and so they know exactly what medications cause a strain on the kidneys.  

By 2 pm on Thursday, Ling, Debra’s case manager called and gave us instructions to decrease the amount of Tacrolimus, one of the very potent immunosuppressive drugs.  This coming Monday’s blood draw will indicate whether this med change will lower the creatinine levels.  Your prayers are powerful and appreciative…let’s pray Debra’s medication dosage will stabilize as she continues to heal.

And now some thoughts from Debra:

I can’t express how much I appreciate your prayers and cards of encouragement. Thank you so much!  I’m getting stronger each day. Even days when I’m more fatigued, I can still feel improvement.  

On Wednesday John bought a grayish bulldog pillow for me to use to apply pressure over my chest.  To do the transplant surgery the surgeon had to do a large side-to-side “butterfly” incision and split my sternum to remove the old lungs and then put the brand-new lungs in. A small pillow held against the chest helps it not to hurt as much when I cough. A splint is loosely defined as an external device used to immobilize an injury or joint.  That’s why I named my new pillow “Splinty” because he “splints my incisions”. 

Thursday, on our way back from our blood draw at UCSF, God blessed me abundantly by allowing me to meet the wonderful Iranian Jewish family that are praying for me. Half the family was in the lobby, and we visited a bit before I headed back up to our room. As I was waiting for the elevator, the doors opened and the grandma (named Parand) and 5 of her grandchildren were getting off.  She looked at me and said, “you are Debora”. She introduced herself and her grandchildren then looked me in the eyes and told me that I would be fine and would life a blessed life. 

She said that her whole family would continue to pray for me during their morning prayers at 8:00 am and that I was written down in her eldest grandson Elijah's prayer journal (shown in the picture with his dad Edward). I was so blessed and humbled. 

Today I had a milestone in my walking -2,427 very slow steps, which is 1.04 miles done over two walks. Virginia visited us today as well and took us to lunch for John’s birthday. It was so good to see her. I did take a long nap after lunch.                     

After each 8am blood draw at UCSF, on Mondays and Thursdays, they run tests on the blood  to see if the numbers are normal.  Sometimes when the numbers are abnormal they will adjust the meds to keep everything “in the green.”  If adjustments need to be made they give us a call in the afternoons of the blood draw days.  We then begin filling the pill box for the next three days with the correct dosages of each medicine.  Since we are still amateurs in filling the pill container we are very careful and follow the med chart with great diligence.  

Yesterday afternoon we began filling the pillbox after receiving the call that there were no changes to the dosages.  Debra and I did not sleep well the previous night so we were both tired.  There hasn’t been a time filling the pill box when we have not had to correct one another as we follow the medicine “blue card.”  It can get tense and as her caregiver, I double check everything.  

After completing our task with the meds, we ate dinner and decided to go to bed.  I wasn’t in a good mood and just wanted to get some sleep.  Laying in bed and feeling less than good caregiver. Have you ever had those days when your walk with the Lord,  prayers and time in the Word are a little dry?  That’s what I was experiencing all day long.  I just needed to reset with a good night sleep.  And that’s when the racket started.

The yelling, slamming of doors and loud music began around 9:30pm.  At one point I heard our door handle click and I quickly got up, looked through the peep-hole, and saw a young boy running away.  The noise continued and at 11pm there was a knock at our door and so I jumped out of bed, ran to the door, opened it and came face to face with a woman dressed in middle eastern attire with a scarf on her head, holding a bottle of Thousand Island dressing.  She was startled and I was perturbed, wondering why this lady was knocking at our door so late at night.  I sternly told her my wife, who was recovering from lung transplant surgery was trying to sleep and asked if they could quiet down a bit.  She humbly apologized as the door across the hall, room 406, opened and her husband sheepishly began to explain what was happening.

He told me their large family had to book two rooms but couldn’t get them on the same floor.  This couple were in the room  across the hall from us with a young child, room 406, and the rest of their family was in the room one floor down below our room. The reason this lady knocked at our door, room 405,  is that she thought she was one floor down at room 305, where the rest of her family was staying, and needed to give them the salad dressing!  Whatever…I just wanted to sleep!

At 11:45pm the noise continues but now with some middle eastern music in the background.  I had enough and was about ready to call the front desk.  I wanted to make sure it was room 305 making the noise and so I got dressed and headed down to the third floor.  Out of the elevator I took a left turn down the hallway and saw a young man chasing two kids and behind the chase was an older woman wearing the same type of flowing garb as the lady upstairs.  As I walked towards her she began speaking to me in English but with a heavy Yiddish accent.  She asked if she help me and I began to explain to her why I came down and that my wife, who needed to sleep, needed respite from the music, slamming doors and squeals.  

With her brow furrowed a bit, she waved her hand and asked me to follow her down the hallway.  At the threshold of room 305 she knocked and the door opened to a room full of kids laughing and playing.  Her husband invited me in and introduced me to their grand kids.  The young boys were wearing yamakas and girls were in dresses and ponytails.  The family was Jewish and visiting from Los Angeles for three days to tour San Francisco.  The older Jewish lady began to explain to her family why I was there and why they needed quiet down.  They all respectfully nodded their heads.  She then asked if they could pray for Debra before I left.  We grabbed hands and she began praying over Debra in Hebrew!  She then asked one of the older boys to write Debra’s name down so they could pray for at their 8am prayers!  

As I walked back to our room I my hard heart broke.  Weeping quietly I thanked God for using a Jewish family to help me realize He never lets go and can display His love for me in ways I cant’ even imagine.  I went back to room 405 and shared the amazing story with Debra.  We both thanked God for his goodness and fell asleep.

When something as phenomenal as a lung transplant changes your life forever, you want to give God the glory by telling your Glory Story to others. How do you share your joy visibly, especially if you're a quiet soul like Debra?  Wear a t-shirt!  We found one on Zazzle that is wonderful.  Take a look at the picture!  The only thing it lacks is mentioning anything about our miracle working God.  That’s where Debra can fill in the blanks.

PRAYERS ANSWERED!  Debra no longer has heartburn!  Let’s keep on praying for consistent good sleep.  We were to have some friends visit from Napa today but we had to put it on hold because Debra had another rough night.  Good days for visitation are ahead and we look forward to them.

Debra did make blueberry scones and they were delicious!  Tomorrow morning, we do another blood draw and then an appointment with the pulmonologist on Tuesday.  God is good!

I began my therapy the other day with bicycle exercise and stretching.  I found a folding bike that fits in the back of our car and it’s been awesome!  I have been riding around on the San Francisco Bay Trail that's right outside our back door.  I look forward to the day when Debra can join me on my rides!

After a couple of rough days of heart burn and little sleep, Debra napped all all morning, woke up around 3pm and wanted to bake scones.  I have to admit that I didn’t think it was a great idea to take on baking after having a lung transplant three weeks ago but a part of the healing process also includes mind and spirit.  And so we hopped in the car and headed to Mollie Stone’s Grocery Store.

At first she texted me the list of baking items and asked me to go shopping.  What takes Debra 30 minutes in the market takes me over an hour as I have no idea the size or brand she really wants.  So we have a running conversation as I wander down the aisles trying to do my best.  So when she said she wanted to go I was all in, kind of….

The spirit is at times willing but the body can be weak.  Arriving at the store and walking down one aisle, it didn’t take long for Debra to tire behind the shopping cart.  She asked me to help her go to the restroom and then the car.  While she was in the bathroom I began to think of a way to make it easier for Debra to shop and the answer came instantly.  I asked for a motorized shopping cart so she could sit, drive and shop.  When she came out of the restroom her eyes lit up as she hopped aboard her chariot and we were on our way!  

Debra is very pleased and encouraged by the number of cards she has received.  Each one holds a special place in her heart.  And many thanks to Pastor Matt who stopped by Wednesday for a visit and a time of prayer.  We are so blessed!  

By the way, happy fourth birthday to Remi one of our beautiful granddaugters!

“Mrs. Erickson after reviewing your medical charts and your latest blood work results,  I have to say your lung transplant and post recovery thus far have been textbook.  It’s remarkable.” This statement was delivered to us this morning at our weekly Tuesday meeting with the Pulmonary Nurse Practitioner at the Lung Transplant clinic.  We were overjoyed by his words but still oh so tired from a long night of little sleep.  For the next six weeks Debra will have blood drawn on Mondays and Thursdays with meetings at the Pulmonary Clinic on Tuesdays to assess the results.  Medication modifications will be made to keep everything in the green zone.  Every other Tuesday there will be CT scans and bronchoscopies to visually inspect the health of the lungs.  

We also had a Physical Therapist come to our hotel room this afternoon to do an assessment of Debra’s strength and balance.  Jeremy, the therapist, also gave Debra a daily exercise routine that will increase in his intensity in the weeks to come.  All in all Debra is doing very well in her recovery.  She truly is a gentle warrior!

Prayers?  1) Relief from heartburn.  It doesn’t matter what she eats right now because it’s the meds that is causing the heartburn.  2)  Pray for healing in her back as there are pains that are common with the intense surgery she had undergone.  Over time the will subside but Lord may it happen sooner than later.  3) For me, John,  as I had a minor collision with a bicyclist in downtown SF.  I’m not used to sharing the road with Kamikaze delivery bikes that pass quickly on the right side of the car.   I was attempting to make a right hand turn and forgot two things:  check your right side view mirror for bicycles going faster than car traffic and remember to use your turn signal.  I’m still beating myself up over it!  Thank you Lord for protecting the rider, it could have been a lot worse!  He gave me a scolding that I will not repeat in this update!

Walking down the halls of our hotel there is the aroma of diversity.  The smell of boiled seafood and Asian spices along with fried foods (which I can’t quite identify) fill the corridors.  I suppose there are a myriad of reasons why the occupants are staying for days or weeks at the hotel but their food smells amazing!  

This is our second full day (Sunday) at the hotel. Friday was Debra’s arrival and it was good to have her step over the threshold of our temporary home.  Her presence changed the atmosphere of the rooms of my heart and mind..  It was a good day with oxygen levels of 97 and a long walk down the odorous hall from the car to our nest. Then things changed over night and things got scary. 

On Saturday morning, after a fitful night of sleep,  Debra woke up and I made her usual avocado toast for breakfast. After eating, she took her 9 am regimen of pills.  About thirty minutes later she arose from the sofa and the room began spinning.  She caught herself on the arm of a chair and quickly sat down.  I freaked out and my mind went through all the reasons this could be happened.  I then helped her into bed.  We prayed and then waited and after forty-five minutes she regained her equilibrium.  

We talked about the episode and what possibly could have caused it.  Debra believes it was the combination of drugs reacting to one of the drugs she normally takes at night.  The Blue Card (the sheet that specifies dosage and periodicity of the medicines) instructed her take to Zyrtec, an antihistamine she normally takes at night, as a part of the morning regimen.  Debra has been taking Zyrtec since 2016 to help her runny nose and one of side effects is drowsiness.  The Lung Transplant Home Health Nurse came in the afternoon and Debra told her what happened.  Both Debra and the nurse  believed taking the Zyrtec in the morning with her other drugs was the culprit.  So in the future we will make sure the Zyrtec is taken at night.

This morning, Sunday, Debra was lethargic after another low-sleep night.  We did her morning vital signs and everything looked normal except her O2 levels. They stayed below 94.  What to do?  

We prayed and then we got this very strange phone call.  It was from Fred and Lonnie calling from a model airplane event from a field somewhere in Southern Oregon.  These two dear friends were Christian brothers of ours who we fellowshipped with years before moving to the mountains.  It was strange because we met Fred at a church in Napa when we were first married and then we met Lonnie years later at a church in Vacaville.  They never had met before this God moment in Oregon.  It just so happened when they were mingling in the crowd at this RC airplane event that Fred heard Lonnie’s last name, Pense, and remembered me mentioning the Pense family name in a conversion.  That’s when Fred asked Lonnie if he knew John Erickson.  Of course he did!  When then  shared what we were going through and asked  them to pray for us.  What a difference a  FaceTime call made for Debra and I at a moment we both needed encouragement and prayer.  

After the call, and prayer, from our friends, Debra determined she needed to get up and walk which is a doctor prescribed part of her daily routine.  Even though she didn’t feel like it, she got up, sat for a bit, got dressed and asked for her walker.  To our amazement only steps from our hotel door, we checked her O2 level again.  It went from 93 while in the room to 98 walking in the hallway!  I truly believe that we have not because we ask not and the prayers from two righteous brothers can accomplish much!  Thank you Fred and Lonnie!  (PS…she walked almost 700 feet to our car in the parking lot and we took a beautiful drive around the sun-filled streets of San Francisco!)

The is the day that the Lord has made and we will rejoice and be glad in it especially when Debra has been discharged from the hospital!  Exactly two weeks from her transplant Debra is right on schedule to start her new life outside of the walls of UCSF.  The whole staff at USCF has been absolutely wonderful!  Everyone from the janitors to the surgeons gave us top-notch care.  

Notice that Debra is getting the “Driving Miss Daisy” (a movie from the 1980’s) royal treatment as she rides in the back of our car and I chauffeur her to the hotel.  She is the queen in our house, no doubt, but the real reason she has to sit in the back seat is because of the airbags.  If they deploy for some reason her new lungs would be severely damaged.  It will be three months before she can operate a car and so I will happily “Drive Mrs. Debra.”

The x-ray shown is a picture of Debra’s healthy new lungs.  You can see the left lung is a little wonky, healthy but wonky, because these lungs were designed by God for another persons body.  The surgeon said there was some distortion between Debra’s chest cavity and the donor lung.  Dr. Kukrega said she had to move the lung up in the chest cavity for the lung to sit and function properly.  For the next six weeks we will be visiting the hospital numerous times so they can monitor Debra’s progress as the lungs adapt to her body.  Incredible!

After leaving the hospital, winding through the streets of SF,  we arrived at the hotel located in Oyster Point, South San Francisco.  This will be home for the next six weeks.  Debra will get to know the hallways on the 4th floor well in the days ahead as she walks to exercise lungs and body.  Eventually she will graduate to walking the beautiful path behind our hotel that runs parallel to the bay.  When she is conditioned enough to walk a mile the pot-o-gold awaits her…a Starbucks.  The coffee shop is up the path a ways and as we stroll towards a Decaf Cafe Latte, with oat milk, we will wave at our neighbors who happen to be the bio-tech giants Astro Zeneca, Abbvie, and Genetech (just to name a few).  But until then it’s time to rest and heal and rejoice the we are experiencing the goodness of God in the land of the living (Ps. 27:13,14)

I walked into room 1031 at UCSF this morning to a tired and beat up wife.  She was having very bad pains in her chest and her breathing was labored.  It was kind of a shock seeing her like this especially after having some very good days with everything heading in the right direction.  There was also concern about her white blood count (WBC) that was elevated beyond the normal range. What was happening?  Normally a high WBC is indicative of an infection.  I called for our Prayer Warriors to battle!

The night before she had a CT of her lungs and the results came in saying that her post bilateral lung transplant showed no evidence of acute rejection or infection.  Good news!  So why so much discomfort in her chest?  The conclusion was the it was being caused by the mayonnaise from the tuna melt she had the night before.  Indigestion on steroids after a double lung transplant.  

Before too long, after taking some indigestion tablets, the pain resided and she was wheeled down to the 3rd floor for a bronchoscopy.  She was very anxious about the procedure and rightly so.  The earlier broncs during her stay were done kind of cold turkey with no sedation and only some minor numbing of the throat.  I watched one of the first ones and  it look like torture.  They told us that from this point on the bronchs would be much easier as she would be mildly sedated for the procedure.  In disbelief we nodded our heads okay.  About an hour after the bronchoscopy I went to visit her in the recovery room and even though she did have a sore throat, she couldn’t even remember the procedure!  Then, with a drunken smile on her face, she asked me if I could pick up a Fillet-O-Fish for her at McDonalds!   And so I put on my Door Dasher hat and was off.  The journey to find a McDonalds in San Francisco is a whole other story.

During the drive in the concrete jungle to find a Mickey D’s,  Debra sent me and the Prayer Warriors this text:  “God is so good! My WBC’s were trending up to 24.6. Now they are almost in the normal range at 13.7. The normal WBC range is 3.4 to 10.0. Im still pretty woozy from the bronchoscopy-they gave me sedation I am so happy-I had 5 (broncos) in a row in ICU without sedation and it was beyond brutal- felt like I was drowning…”  and  “My last chest tube is out! Home tomorrow!”  

Thank you, thank you, thank you God for answered prayer and peace that passes understanding.  We just need to remember to hold the mayo.

We can't express enough how blessed we are to have all of you in our lives.  The prayers, cards/texts/calls/visits and financial support have been amazing!  Keep them coming please!

Breathing again, drinking water and eating are all signs of Debra's awesome progress.  Today there were a few milestones.  First is that the doctors gave her the greenlight to begin eating.  When I walked into her ICU room she said that the hospital food was not to her liking and that she wanted a Jamba Juice smoothie with blueberries, strawberries and scoop of protein powder.  Thus I happily started my Door Dash ministry!  I took a look at the UCSF menu and thought it wasn't that bad...

Debra had her first visitors...Ivan and Sarah Houser.  They had come down for some appointments at UCSF and came by to visit.  Debra was glad to have some company besides her doting husband.  Only two at a time in the ICU so I sat in the waiting room.  When they came out Sarah told me to tell Debra that she had the skin and color of a 20 year old!  They alll enjoyed their visit.

Debra has been sitting up and walking and if you notice in the picture with the Housers, she is not wearing oxygen as she is sitting.  BUT...she is also not wearing oxygen when the Physical Therapists take her on walks down the hall.  It's just too good to be true!  She is exceeding all expectations in her recovery.  In fact, tomorrow she will be transfered out of ICU to a Step-Down Unit... a day ahead of schedule.

One more Glory Story and prayer.  As the Housers and I sat in the waiting room talking.  We noticed a man sitting in the corner.  After a few minutes we struck up a conversation with him.  HIs name is Jackson and is from Hawaii.  His wife, Bernitta, has been laying in the UCSF ICU room for two months awaiting a heart and kidney transplant.  She was in a hospital in Honolulu for many months before the doctors realized she needed more than the Queens Hospital could offer.  They flew to SF hoping for a miracle.  I shared Debra's glory story with him and told him we will be praying for his wife.  The Housers and I joined hands with Jackson and prayed for healing and peace during their waiting.  Jackson and his wife are believers who have a very interesting story of how they came to Hawaii from Micronesia.  He gave us the history of his small island home and how it was controlled by black magic and voodoo for decades.  In the 1800's century missionaries came from Boston and in the Name of Jesus drove out the powers of darkness. It's a great story...when you see Ivan Houser ask him for more of the details!

We finallly found our San Francisco home where we will be staying for the next few months as Debra needs to be no longer than 30 miles from UCSF.  After being released we will make frequent trips to the hospital for treatments and monitoring.  I am begining to clean and prepare the rooms for Debra's arrival!

After the surgery Debra had a breathing tube inserted in her windpipe to help her breathe.  It's called intubation.  The new lungs are very fragile at this point and need to acclimate to the body they were placed in.  As I talked with ICU nurse taking care of Debra, she said the breathing tube normally stays with the lung transplant patient for 3-4 days.  Debra's tube was removed in about 18 hours because her new lungs were doing so well!  Another miracle!  WATCHING DEBRA TAKE HER FIRST FULL BREATH AFTER THE TUBE WAS REMOVED BROUGHT ME TO TEARS!  THANK YOU GOD!

Debra will be in ICU until Wednesday and then moved to a step-down unit if everything progresses well.  From this point on there will be a daily routine of physical therapy, to make her body stronger and respiratory therapy to encourage the lungs to get stronger.  She is drinking water now but in a few days she will begin eating solid food.  There are also daily bronchoscopies to inspect and remove mucus from the bronchial tubes.  It's not a fun procedure.

I am beginning to set up our temporary home in San Francisco where we will live for the next couple of months when she is released from the hospital.  I also will be reviewing the caregiver training videos. Pray I will be a diligent and patient caregiver!

We would like to again thank you for all of your loving support through the prayers and financial giving we have received.   Special thanks to Bob Satterfield for taking on so. many of my responsibilties at LACC and to Eileen and Steve Sadar who are taking care of our home and pets in Clear Creek.

Debra no longer has Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis...SHE HAS BEEN HEALED!

After 10 1/2 hours debra was wheeled into the ICU with a new set of lungs!  Dr. Krukeja said the operation was a succes.  There was a minor adjustment that had to be made in positioning the left lung but other than that, all was well.  I was able to go and see her right after the operation and though she was under sedation she looked beautiful even with the breathing tube and all of the wires attached to her body.  I slept in peace last night    

     I called the ICU at UCSF this morning to check on her status and she is awake and able to respond to commands to move the different parts of her body.  Today they will begin the process of removing the breathing tube so she will be able to breathe on her own.  They will also conduct her first bronchoscopy.  Many thanks to Nick Smith and Lonnie Pense who sat with me during the operation.  They brough much comfort and joy!

At 6am they wheeled Debra into sugery!  Everything looks good and we both are tearfully excited to this new chapter of our lives.  Debra and I have been leaning on Jesus heavily this morning knowing that the Lord is our Shepherd and God the Father will complete the good work that He has planned for Debra and I.  It will take 8-10 hours...He has heard our prayers!

Dr. Jasleen Kukreja is a cardiothoracic surgeon and director of the Lung Transplant Program at UCSF Medical Center. She is also director of the adult respiratory mechanical circulatory support program. She performs lung transplant surgery and lung volume reduction surgery for emphysema, and treats patients with tumors of the chest, including lung cancer, esophageal cancer, mediastinal tumors and mesothelioma.

Kukreja is the associate director of UCSF's lung transplant research division of cardiothoracic surgery.

Kukreja earned a medical degree at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. She completed residencies in general surgery at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston and in cardiothoracic surgery at UCSF. She completed fellowships in general surgery and thoracic surgery at Brigham and Women's Hospital, and also completed extensive training in designing clinical trials, studies that evaluate potential treatments' safety and efficacy. She has a master's degree in public health from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. 

Kukreja has received many professional honors, including the Pharmacia/Upjohn Trauma Research Competition Award, John A. Mannick Research Award and an excellence in teaching award from Harvard Medical School.

This morning, August 1st, UCSF called Debra saying they have a donor identified.  Debra is at UCSF waiting for the surgery.  The surgery is scheduled for 6 am tomorrow morning. There is a 30% chance that the surgery will not take place if they find anything wrong with the donor lungs after visually inspecting them.  We are both at peace.

A Blessing Quilt made by the students at Lake Almanor Christian School.  Thank you Pammy Bates for heading this up!

"Praise the Lord, my soul;  all my inmost being, praise his holy name.  Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits- who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s." PS. 103

From Debra Erickson

Just left UCSF after 6 plus hours of tests and meetings with the lung transplant team. The last couple of meetings were with a pulmonologist and a lung transplant surgeon and they both agreed I was a very good candidate for a transplant and ready to be put on the waiting list for new lungs! My case will be discussed in the upcoming Tuesday morning meeting of the transplant team and then will hear from my RN case manager giving me the official confirmation either Tuesday afternoon or Wednesday at the latest. 

WOW...IT'S HAPPENING!

This morning Debra and I ate breakfast in Chester at Lola's...it might be the last breakfast Debra and I will have up on the mountain for a long time.  She is headed off the mountain to live with her mom in Napa for at least two weeks if not for many months.  Let me explain.

On April 1st Debra had a cardiac catheterization procedure to make sure her heart is in good shape for transplant and then we were scheduled to meet with the pulmonologist on April 18th to go over the test results.  But because of the concern the doctors had with Debra's rapid decline they moved the appoinment up to April 4th.  

Since we were already in the Bay Area we made the decision to stay until the meeting on the 4th.  We used the time to study and watch all of the training videos for those who are receiving new lungs (recipients) and the those who will care for the lung recipients (care givers).   After watching 34 videos we were quite overwhelmed with the new reality of what a double lung transplant entails for the recipient and the caregiver.  

On the 4th we sat down with one of the pulmonologists at UCSF to go over the test results for her heart.  The results showed her heart was in great shape for the transplant.  We then were hoping that we would walk away with the good news of Debra being put on the Lung Transplant List (it’s called being listed) but instead we were told there needed to be more testing to determine if there is an underlying condition that caused Debra’s lungs to decline so rapidly. We were also told that after Debra was listed she needed to move off  the mountain so that she could be closer to UCSF while waiting for the for the transplant call then for a period of time after for her new lungs and body to heal and become stronger before returning to our beloved mountain home. This doesn’t mean we need to leave our mountain home forever but just for the time for the healing.

We also met with our social worker who made sure we had completed all the preliminary steps so we could be put on the transfer list.  This included things such as watching all the training videos, determining where we are going to stay for up to 3 months in SF post-op, having the finances in place, etc.  She encouraged us to start our fundraising also.  She reminded us that we need to take everything a step at a time and to rely on the team at UCSF to guide us through the lung transplant journey.  We left UCSF after the meetings feeling a bit shell shocked by what we were about to go through...a new reality.

The reason Debra is headed down to Napa today is to take care of her 85 year old mom Virginia who fell while we were down at UCSF.  She was taken to the ER for and hospitalized over the weekend.  It was determined that she needed to be in a rehab facility to work on her problems with balance and walking.  After spending 7 days in rehab they are releasing her Saturday, (4/13) and they require that someone needs to live with her for at least two weeks if not longer.  Debra volunteered to go and live with her mom until she is able to live alone once more. 

While down taking care of her mother she will have another speciality CT on 4/16 and an ultrasound on 4/17-both at UCSF.  We then will meet with one on the transplant MD’s and the transplant surgeon the following week to discuss the plan to move forward.  We have already been given a heads up that the surgeon will probably order even more tests and it will most likely be sometime in May when we meet with him again. Once the surgeon determines that Debra meets the criteria “to be sick enough to need it but healthy enough to survive the surgery and subsequent recovery” she will be placed on the waitlist. 

Once on the waitlist, Debra will stay in Napa until she gets a new set of lungs.  IF she is listed and a donor is found immediately this will mean she will be living in the Bay Area for at least three months.  The length of stay for her will be determined by how quickly a pair of donor lungs become available and the amount of time it will take her to recover post-op. Debra is calling this her “deployment to the Bay Area for an unspecified time” as a good former Navy wife. 🤓

We are trusting the God who sustains us and works everything for the good for those who love Him and are called according to His purposes!

We just left my pulmonologist appointment at UCSF. Essentially, the doctors want to perform more testing to see why my lungs declined so rapidly since February.  These are scheduled for April 24-25 at UCSF.  I will then have another appointment with the pulmonologist to go over the results and determine the next step in the transplant process.  

We were encouraged to start fundraising for the transplant because of the possibility (miracle) that I will be on the list in the next couple of months and a pair of lungs become available soon thereafter.  

We are trusting in God’s timing and desire not to miss His Presence and direction in every moment while we are on this blessed journey!

Resting in Him, Debra

Hey everyone just a quick prayer request for Debra.  On April 1st she will have a cardiac catheterization at UCSF.  A cardiac catheterization is a procedure where a long, thin, flexible tube called a catheter is put into a blood vessel in your arm, groin or upper thigh, or neck. The catheter is then threaded through the blood vessels to your heart. It will used examine her heart and blood vessels surrounding her heart.  This will be the last test needed to ensure her body is healthy for a double lung transplant.         

On April 18th we will meet with the pulmonologist at UCSF to talk about whether she is at a point to be put on the transplant waiting list.  We are praying that after this meeting she will be on the list!  John will also meet with Debra's social worker to discuss the different facets of being a post-op caregiver.  

Thank you for alll your emails, cards, visits, donations and help around our house.  WE COULDN'T DO THIS WITHOUT YOU!  

Because Debra's need for higher oxygen levels has increased, we have had to modify our routine when we take excursions.  While sitting, Debra's oxygen backpack supplies 5 liters of oxygen which is sufficient to keep here O2 sats at 95%.  When she stands up and walks her O2 needs jump to 10+ liters and the oxgen backpack can't suppy that amount.  This means she needs to use a oxygen tank that can supply up to 15 liters of oxygen.  With that level of O2 the oxygen bottle is only good for 30 min and is used for transitioning from sitting in the house to getting into the car.  This means getting in and out of the car she uses a continuous flow oxygen bottle but when she is in the car she can use her oxygen backpack!  She needs assistance in going places because of difficulty in getting the oxygen bottle in the car which drops her O2 levels.