Up The Farway Tree

Stability

Things are fairly stable at the moment, which is just the way I need it to be. I had transplant clinic last week, where the team came to my local hospital and I got the chance to catch up with them. They were overall pleased with my current state of health, and felt that should the call come any time soon, I would be fit enough for the surgery. It's nearly 18months since I was assessed for transplant and they did seem a little surprised that I hadn't even had a false alarm in that time. For those not familiar with transplant lists, it is common for at least 2 people to be called for one set of lungs - this ensures that if the first person is not well enough to undergo the surgery, the lungs do not go to waste and they have a second person ready and waiting. I guess false alarms are good in that you know you have not been forgotten and you also get a trial run, so to speak. However, to be honest I can do without the trial run and I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that when the call comes, it's the real one.

I went to the shops with Andrew at the weekend. We were actually just going to look at the bookshop and have a nice coffee, but I spotted a new art and craft shop, so wanted to check it out. We decided to take the wheelchair, as it was quite far from the bookshop, so inside the shop had to use the lift to get to the second floor. I picked up some paint supplies and we were ready to head downstairs to the checkout. Slight problem - in the 10minutes we had been upstairs, the lift had broken and there was now a gathering of wheelchair bound customers and mums with prams all hanging around the lift looking helpless. The shop assistant kindly informed me that the only option now was to carry us all downstairs! I politely informed her that I could in fact walk, so would not be requiring anyone to carry me anywhere. She agreed to this plan, but only on the basis that she would assist me. By assist she meant hanging onto my arm so tight it nearly lost circulation, and holding me back slightly so that I could only descend the stairs at a snails pace. Every time I tried to speed up, she held me back saying "now take your time dear, slow down". It was rather humiliating really, although I'm guessing it was all to do with health and safety rules. Andrew had carried the chair downstairs ahead of us and stood waiting patiently as we made the painfully slow journey. He later asked if I really needed to walk that slowly, or I was just 'putting it on for effect'. As if I would do such a thing! I was relieved when we finally left the shop, but did have to wonder how they planning to get the old lady on the huge motorised scooter down those stairs. Maybe we should have hung around to watch..

I have been doing a little painting again. I finished a canvas that dad asked me to paint months ago, so I think he was quite pleased with that. It was a picture of Glenshedy Rock, in Donegal, which he can see from the golf course on holiday. I have also started some canvases for the dining room, since my pictures no longer go with the new decor. I am trying to pace myself, as I do find it really quite tiring now. I'm not very good at pacing myself though, and end up painting until I suddenly feel quite unwell and need to lie down. It's a learning process and one of these days I'm sure to get the hang of it. Maybe.