1/2 year!

Hi strangers!


Can you BELIEVE it has been 6 whole months, a half of a year since my liver transplant? I MADE IT!

I am happy to report I am doing really well. There has been a few set backs since I last wrote. My bilirubin (yeah, remember that guy?) has been elevated but the rest of my liver test are completely perfect. After a few blood tests they are still not sure exactly why that is. They are rulling out a few things one being hemolysis or something called Gilberts syndrome....but either way, both things are completely benign. My liver function is perfect and there is no signs of rejection. My doctors are very pleased.

My scar has faded a whole lot and when I went to key west, I even sported a bikini. Noone suprisingly asked why it was there but I got a few stares. Oh well, bring it on, it's my battle wound!

On some other notes...

I am moving to Canton in just a few months with my best friends, Meg, Alex and Julie. We have a huge townhouse! I am stoked to move out but of course will miss all the TLC from my parents. Especially mama doing my laundry and making me pancakes and awesome meals!

My dad recently had a small stroke about 2 months ago. He has made an amazing recovery! Pretty much back to his old self, just about 20lbs lighter! He has done great with going with the doctors reccommdations and had really taken charge with his health. I am so happy, and so very proud of him!


Love ya daddy!

So happy it's summer and warm out! Looking forward to lots of vacations this summer! I remember this time last year starting this blog and talking about my upcoming vacations. Its crazy how things change in just 12 short months. Good changes..and healthy changes. I couldn't be more blessed to be happy and healthy.

And that is my hope for you all too!

xx, Rachael

been awhile..

Hey Everyone! Been awhile right? I haven't updated as much because there really isn't a whole lot to update you on. I did, however, make it to 4 months post transplant without any major complications (knocking on wood). I am a lucky girl it seems :)

I have been back to work for over a month now working 30 hours/week. It's definately not easy, but I would say it's a lot easier than before my surgery. It's gonna take time to build my stamina up and I know that, it just gets frustrating sometimes. And I really have a hard time with nights now. It's crazy that I used to work only nights before. My body just is SO done with it. I also realize how much I miss my friends when I work a stretch of nights, it just plain stinks.


I am going to Key West, FL tomorrow to have another post surgery relaxing vacay! So excited to get away from the rain and cold. Watch as soon as I leave, the weather here in Bmore will be absolutely gorgeous..haha.

Donate life week is in two weeks..everyone sign up to be a donor here www.donatelifeamerica.net! I have been talking to volunteer coordinators and am beginning the advocacy program very soon. I am so excited.

I can't believe it's almost Easter, seems like I had my surgery yesterday and it was Xmas! Hope everyone has a happy one and the Easter Bunny brings you lots of yummy treats!


xx, Rachael

Just a thought or two..

Too often we are scared.
Scared of what we might not be able to do.
Scared of what people might think if we tried.
We let our fears stand in the way of our hopes.
We say no when we want to say yes.
We sit quietly when we want to scream.
And we shout with the others,
when we should keep our mouths shut.
Why?
After all,
we do only go around once.
There's really no time to be afraid.
So stop.
Try something you've never tried.
Risk it.
Enter a triathlon.
Write a letter to the editor.
Demand a raise.
Call winners at the toughest court.
Throw away your television.
Bicycle across the United States.
Try bobsledding.
Try anything.
Speak out against the designated hitter.
Travel to a country where you don't speak the language.
Patent something.
Call her.
You have nothing to lose
and everything
everything
everything to gain.
JUST DO IT.

3 months!!!

Hello everyone!!

I cannot believe it has been 3 months today since my liver transplant. Time really has flown...

So far, I have been doing excellent and feeling better and stronger everyday.
I started physical therapy/chiropractor to help with my b ack pain and so far I have been doing it for about 3 weeks. It is definitely helping me, just wish I would have started it sooner!
I also am back to work! YAY! I am only working 30 hours a week to start out slow but it feels so good to be back in the working world again and back to a routine.
So many people still cannot believe how well I have been doing and that I recently had major surgery. My doctors even spaced my visits from every other week to once a month!! And as crazy as it sounds, I miss seeing them so often. They are like my new family. I feel safe knowing they are looking after me. I couldn't ask for a better team.

Thanks again to all of my family and friends...I wouldn't be where I am right now without all of your love and support.

Keep smiling...

<3, Rachael

MADE IT 2 MONTHS!!

My new liver is officially been living with me for 2 months now!! Our living arrangement is working out just fine! :) All of my labs have continued to be perfect and some drugs are started to get weaned! Yes!!! Finally going down on the Prednisone! That drug makes me super emotional and gives me chipmunk cheeks that are slowly deflating! I am feeling well and building strength and energy everyday....and not to mention living up my life!

I am just not getting over a cold that I did happen to catch, but other than that, I have felt great on the inside. My incision is completely healed and pretty impressive. I like showing it off too, it's my battle wound and I am pretty proud of it! Still have back pain from time to time, but I had back pain even before my surgery.I am hoping to get back to acupuncture to help with the back pain and my overall well-being. It is definitely something I really enjoy!

In 2 weeks I will be 26! eeekkk, I am getting old! I plan on celebrating with friends and family and hopefully even going away to Charleston, SC for a few days with some girls from work. It'll be nice for a change of scenery. And if you know me, you know I love the beach, even if its cold out.

Hope all is well!

xx, R

watch out drivers, i'm baaack!

Hey Everyone!!

Quick update:

No signs of rejection, perfect labs and more meds are getting weaned! YES!!!!!!!!!! Great stuff. This is a pretty awesome liver!!

And yes, I can drive again! Now I understand, however, why the docs say not to for 6 weeks...you really do use a lot of your abdominal muscles. It's not easy for me to drive long distances quite yet or anywhere with a bunch of turns (driving in the city is a lot harder on me). But it's alll good!

Still having intermittent bad back pain, but my doctors are letting me take baby doses of tylenol which doesn't always help. However, if I take the stronger stuff I'm prescribed, I can't drive...so I can't be held back so the tylenol will just have to do!

My gym membership is valid again Feb 1, so I am super anxious to get back in there and work out some of my kinks and rebuild my muscle. My muscles are so mushy! I also am going to take some hip/hop dance classes. I miss dancing so much and it's such a FUN way to work out.

Hope you all are well!!

xx, R

2010

It's 2010!!

Happy New Year everyone! I hope you all had a great holiday season and a very safe new year.

Christmas was everything I had hoped for and more...spent a lot much needed time with family and it was awesome. Had a great time at my Aunt's with all of my cousins...we always laugh so much! My bro and sis in law cooked an awesome meal too and there was even snow on the ground! What more could one really ask for?

So now it's a new year and I am ready to take on the world. I have so many goals.
First, still recovering and building my strength....then (in no particular order..) I plan to travel..to Vegas, NY, the Carribean, California! I am ready to hit the gym and start training to do the 6 mile relay( at the very least) for the Baltimore Marathon this fall. Get back to work...get information about going back to school...become a Certified Pediatric Nurse. Of course be a good daughter, sister, nurse, student, girlfriend, godmother/aunt..etc. And of course educate as many people as possible about organ donation...and hopefully get many people to register!

I am now 6 weeks post-op....and hopefully at my clinic appointment this Wednesday, they will tell me I can drive again. Yay!

That's all for now!

xx,
R

This picture is me and my neice, Madison on Xmas..