I’m finished the drip and I’m feeling really good.

I will be on

a Steroid IV Drip at home for the next three days starting 06/21/2011, this should help with the rejection. I will keep you all posted as to how I’m doing and if not me my sister Virginia. As of today 06/23/2011 I’m finished the drip and I’m feeling really good. Dr. Lee was happy to see the numbers were up in my Spirometer test scores were in good range. He put me back on Cellcept or the name Mycophenolate 500mg twice a day this pill helps to prevent rejection. Also my doctors’ visits are now every three weeks now. Also we will be starting back with IVIG Drip next month, LIVIg is a plasma product formed by taking antibodies from about 20,000 donors and mixing them together. IVIg has proven effective in several immune system disorders, including nearly all autoimmune conditions even CIDP and GBS. The sooner you can treat the patient with IVIg the better the results. There is a window of opportunity usually within the first 18 months during which IVIg administration is ideal. The longer you wait to treat with IVIg the longer it will take for IVIg to work. After being exposed to toxins and poisonous chemicals including carbon monoxide the body's immune system may mount an attack on the body. This autoimmune attack can be reduced by IVIG. Last month I broke out into a an allergy reaction Dr. Lee then put a stop to all the next treatments , so I spoke to Dr.Lee and told him I did take my Benadryl or an aspirin before the treatment until twenty minutes in the drip which I took reasonability for that mistake. So now will continue next month as schedule for the next seven months.Thank you Dr.Lee.

A Small set back

The two main complications of transplant surgery are organ rejection and infection. So what that means is on a scale from 0 to 4, I’m at a 2 for rejection. Since my body recognizes the new lung as a foreign object, it will normally try to get rid of it or "reject" it. Anti-rejection drugs taken after surgery help prevent a rejection episode, but they also inhibit part of the immune system. Since the body's ability to fight infection is decreased, transplant recipients are more prone to infections. Starting Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday I will be on Solumedrol 1000mg a Steroid IV Drip at home, this should help with the rejection. I will keep you all posted as to how I’m doing and if not me my sister Virginia.

Fathers Day!!!

Father's Day is a day of commemoration and celebration of Dad. It’s a day to not only honor your Dad, but all men who have acted as a father figure in your life - whether as Stepfathers, Uncles, Grandfathers, or "Big Brothers." So make sure to call him or send a card or even cook for him after all he is your father or take him out for the day to a movie and yes even fishing. Always remember you have only one father. Enjoy the time you have with your Father after all he is your only Father.  And here is to my Dad Happy Fathers Day.

Father's Day is celebrated in the US on Sunday, June 19, 2011. Other Countries celebrate throughout the year.

The Cost

The average cost for a double-lung transplant, in which both of the patient's original lungs are replaced with the donor lungs, is about $650,000. In addition to the initial costs of lung transplant, patients also incur annual costs for follow-up care. In addition to the initial costs of lung transplant surgery, patients also incur annual costs for follow-up care and prescription medications. The immunosuppressive drugs, which are required on an on-going basis to prevent the transplant recipient's body from rejecting the donor lung or lungs, can cost up to $30,000 per year. Lung transplant recipients also incur the cost of follow-up doctor's visits and tests to make sure the transplant is working correctly, and to continue to treat any related or underlying
Medical costs include:

insurance deductibles
insurance co-pays
pre-transplant evaluation and testing
surgery
fees for the recovery of the organ from the donor
follow-up care and testing
additional hospital stays for complications
fees for surgeons, physicians, radiologist, anesthesiologist and recurrent lab testing
anti-rejection and other drugs, which can easily exceed $2,500 per month
rehabilitation
Non-Medical

It's been Four months since my Lung Transplant.

My Lung Transplant Success Story

Richard Berry, who received a double-lung transplant at Penn Medicine in February 2011, shares his thoughts and experiences about his surgery.

I received a great birthday present this year: a double-lung transplant at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania on February 11, 2011.

Every day, I am thankful to the donor’s family for giving me this second chance at life. I’m getting better and stronger each day, but like any long and rough path to recovery, there have been a few bumps in the road.

Since my surgery I have lost 47 pounds. I'm down to about 26 pills a day from the 35 pills per day with which I started. As of today, I’m breathing 97 to 100 percent room air without any supplemental oxygen. I’ve even joined a gym and go a few days a week to keep the weight off and build my muscles back up.

It’s amazing to be able to breathe without feeling exhausted. Before the surgery, I was using almost four liters of oxygen a day and could hardly walk. I had to quit working and I stopped going out. I went to a wedding once and had to leave the reception early because I ran out of oxygen and felt like I couldn't catch my breath. I panicked at the thought of not being able to breathe without the oxygen — it was so much a part of me.

Since my double-lung transplant at Penn, I no longer need the oxygen tanks to breathe. I don’t even have any oxygen machines in my home anymore. When I did my first lung capacity tests after the transplant I almost cried. It took so little effort.

Along with the physical aspects of my illness, I also had to deal with the emotional issues faced by many people who have transplant surgery. I think it was harder to find a friend when I was ill. The minute I told someone I had COPD or that I was having transplant surgery, I never heard from them again. That really hurt me.

Today, I tell everyone how great my experience was at Penn. I spent three months in and out of the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, in the intensive care unit and rehabilitation center. I’m so grateful for every opportunity I have been given. Penn’s multidisciplinary approach to transplant means all departments interact with each other, working together as my care team.

I couldn't have done this without my friends and family to support me and my faith to get me through each day. And I can't say enough about my transplant doctors and the team at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania who provided excellent care and gave me my life back.

If someone were to ask me if I had to go through this again would I? My reply would be: "You bet your sweet bottom I would!"

.

Thank you Everyone.

Wow my NEW Life has started! That sounds so cool! The best things so far (it's only been an 8 weeks or so) since I have received my new lungs. I have so many people to Thank for helping me get through this that I am not sure where to start but I will do my best. First I have to say have Thankful I am to the donor and his/her family for making the choice to be a donor. Not only have I received a second chance at life but so have other people. Next, I want to thank everybody at the University of Penna for taking such good care of me. I also Thank God, for the Doctors who performed the surgery who made it possible for me to breathe without oxygen or inhalers. Belinda once told me “that it takes a whole TEAM of people to complete a Transplant” I didn’t really understand that statement at the time but now I really do. There was so many people involved in my recovery that it is almost impossible to Thank and tell them how grateful I am to each and everyone of them.


I don’t want to forget my family who has been by my side since that phone call came in for the transplant. Virginia you are “My Angel” -- I can't say enough about how important you to me. Thank you. Dad -- You always make sure that we as a family can get through anything. We had such special times in the hospital. Thank you. Douglas and Christen Doug you are my soul Brother. You took such good care of me. You love me, no matter what. Thank you. Roy -- Thank you for being there for all of us, and loving my sister so much. Thank you. Lisa and Barbara-- There are no words to tell you how much I love you, and your loyalty and you’re never ending support of me and to our whole family. Thank you, to the love of my life. Linda at BCBS -- You have been more than a friend, you took care of me, and keeping me on my feet, and provided me with the meaning of true friendship. Thank you. To the two Donna’s who came to see me in the hospital – You both showed never ending support my entire life, thank you for showing me the way, and providing such love and support to me and my family, and to Francie and Grant for coming up to Penn also, and for bring me Milk Shakes . Thank you!! .

New lungs breatheing easier on my Birthday!!!

It’s been three weeks since I successfully underwent a Double lung transplant, Prior to the transplant, I’ was using 80 to 90 percent oxygen regularly. Today I’m able to function with absolutely no oxygen equipment at all. In addition, I’m able to walk and get around much better than before. The improvement is evident each day as I slowly regains my strength. Our family is especially appreciative of the many prayers, words of encouragement and support we’ve received from friends and customers these past year and five months. We would also like to thank the family of the unknown lung donor. While we do not have any details regarding the donor, we do know that two lives were saved as a result of this gift. Both Myself and another patient received the gift of life from this one unselfish donor., please consider signing up to be an organ donor. Not everyone is as lucky as Myself in receiving a vital transplant. About 18 people die each day in this country because there are not enough organs available for transplant. For more information on organ donation, visit www.organdonor.gov. While this success of my transplant is great news for all of us, my journey continues with the possibility of my body rejecting my new lungs . I’m being closely monitored and receiving anti-rejection medication on a daily basis. Again, thanks to everyone for your prayers! We love you all and we never could have made it on this journey without all of your support! I  wish thank all my brothers  and sisters  and many many friends .I love you all.

The Hydock ”s and Berry’s… Roy, Virginia ,Barbara, Lisa and Douglas.