After talking to my mom this morning I realized that I haven't really updated everyone on what the plan is regarding another heart transplant. Right now I'm in the midst of getting all of my testing scheduled, so that I can be placed on the waiting list. The tests include a catscan, lots of bloodwork, x-rays, stress test to measure my oxygen intake, and a few others that I don't recall. Once I have all these tests complete and the data is collected they will place me on the waiting list....from there's it's just that....waiting. The doctor's say that I"m at a stage 2, which means I'm healthy and active, but a new heart would do me good. A stage 1a is when you're surviving in the ICU on a mechanical heart and stage 1b is when you're surviving on dobutamine (a drug to keep your heart going....this is where I was when I was 12). Needless to say...I"m not high priority, but that's a GOOD THING. They can be very particular about the heart they take for me because my life isn't depending on it. Also, it is very beneficial that I'm small and I don't weigh alot....I could take a older pediatric heart or a heart from someone else who is small. The smaller the person is the healthier their heart tends to be, so there are more hearts avaiable for smaller people. The estimated wait time for my status and size is a year, but in all reality it could be a month or a year and a half. That's all up to God....I can't control that....and neither can the docters.
So that's where I stand right now....keep the prayers coming....I'm feeling great...enjoying life....and confident that I will get through this without too many bumps in the road.
Blessings, Angela
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