An update on my brother.....

Where on earth does time go?  Here we are the 4th of April already, Easter has come and gone, spring is well on it's way and in only a couple of months school will be out!

It's been quite a winter and early spring.  Weather wise it's been very mild.  We had snow back in late November early December and nothing since then.  It rains but that is par for the course around here.  Although, I must say my little area is suppose to get the most sunshine than anywhere else on the Island and I tend to believe that.  For my friends in the mid eastern states and eastern Canada I'm sorry for all the terrible weather you have been having.  This past Easter weekend we hit a whopping 23 Celsius, people were walking around in shorts and flip flops.  Yes spring is here.

One of my last posts I wrote about my brother Mike and his need for a double lung transplant.  Any of you who follow me on Facebook will know that he did get his double lung transplant on February 13th 2013!!!  The joy that brought me rated right up their to how I felt when I gave birth to my daughters. It was such a wonderful birthday gift to his daughter whose birthday is Valentine's day!  There actually was a lot of lucky 13's connected with Mikes transplant, for example, his birthday is September 13 and this being 2013, his surgery was on the 13th and he was released from the hospital 13 days post transplant.  Yes 2013 seems to be his year!  I'll never say 13 is unlucky again!

It was serendipitous that I would be in town that day.  I had to be on the mainland for a specialist appointment.  At the time we got the call regarding my brother, my sister and I were in her car just heading into Vancouver for my appointment.  At first we were hesitant as up until this point Mike was doing very poorly and his condition was deteriorating rather quickly, so when the news of the transplanted started off by saying "I have news about Mike".....long pause......"He's getting his lungs" was the next comment.  My sister and I burst out into tears.  We were so happy we were both shaking.  We made it to my specialist appointment which was an important appointment but it's all a blur as I was so focused on my brother.

We got word that he was going to have his surgery around midnight and that evening and  if we wanted to see him pre surgery we could.  Well of course we wanted to see him, as did his children, and more of the siblings.  While I was there I was able to meet the head guy himself.  The doctor who coordinates all the transplants.  I had a great little visit with him which was very informative and helpful.  I was a bundle of nerves.  I could see the joy on my sister-in-laws face, she always believed that Mike would get his lungs and she stayed so very positive.  Never for a moment did she think he wasn't going to make.  With my nurses hat on, in the back of my mind I couldn't help but wonder if my brother or his wife had any idea as to what he would be in for post surgery.  The surgery was going to take about 9 hours.  I crossed my fingers, said a silent prayer and put the positive energy vibes out there.

It was the next morning and I was on the ferry back to the Island when I got the word that Mike had made it through surgery and was doing well.  I was able to breath a sigh of relief!  It was a short thirteen days later and he was released from the hospital.

Mike and I March 7th 2013 three weeks post double lung transplant. 

Mike and is lovely wife Arletha. She never gave up hope or faith!  Thank you Arletha for your strength and love for my brother!

Mike and his wife were told that they had to stay in Vancouver for 3 months post surgery for follow up and evaluations regarding his condition.  Apparently, Mike is doing so well that there is a strong possibility that they can move back to their home in Sechelt by May!!!