Saturday, April 24, 2010

2nd Transplant Anniversary

I am glad to be back home and am starting to recover from the jet lag now.  Yesterday I was a complete zombie and spent most of the day in a haze of confusion.  I somehow managed to order Tesco online and was relieved when it arrived today and I had in fact ordered some sensible items ;-)   Andrews case had gone missing but it turned up yesterday so I had a joyful amount of washing to do after that.  We have also been on the phone to Air France again but not much further forward really.   Apparently under EU law the airlines need to provide help with accommodation and food but Air France are refusing to do this - they are quoting a get out clause based on expectional circumstances, however this only applies to compensations claims and not to basic help with food and shelter.  They are not helping over the phone so I have completed an online form to customer services but am unlikely to get a response.  We do however also need a letter about the delay in order to try and claim travel insurance for 'travel delay' so I will need to keep chasing this up.  My policy will only pay out a maximum of £100 but it would be better than nothing.  I have also been organising all my medical receipts but noticed that there is an excess of £100 on medical claims so I am one step forward and two steps back!   It is a tiresome process but I think we need to make an attempt to recoup some of our losses.  The word is that NHS are making staff take the time off as annual leave or unpaid leave - that would wipe out my annual leave until August, so probably better taking unpaid leave or asking if I can make time up.  I will find out more when I go back on Monday!

Seb is happy to see us home, although is not too keen to admit it ;-)  When we picked him up from Nan and Bob's he looked a bit confused at first but once I picked him up he did snuggle on my knee - although refused point blank to make any eye contact!  Once back home he was straight outside to bark his head off and tell everyone he was back in town.   He has been keeping a close eye on me since!


Tomorrow (25th) is the 2nd anniversary of my transplant - so hard to believe that two years have passed already.   So much has happened that it becomes easy to lose sight of quite how far I have come.  Health wise my lungs seem to go from strength to strength and have allowed me to experience and achieve more than I could have ever hoped for.  I have been back in work for over a year and now hold much more responsibility than I did pre transplant but feel able to take on this challenge.  I am also enjoying working at the university and am thankful I have the energy to fit this in.  I enjoyed lots of holidays last year and two years ago the idea of jetting off to Florida was a mere dream - I can hardly believe it came true! 

As always please take a moment to remember my donor at this time.  My lovely azalea is ready to bloom and somehow managed to survive the unusually harsh winter.  I am always grateful for her generosity and hope she is proud of all I have achieved since the transplant.  I have no idea what my 3rd year will hold but I am sure there will be even more opportunities, experiences and fun times ahead and I will continue to strive to make the very best of this new life :-)

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Happy 2nd Transplant Anniversary.It's been wonderful watching you enjoy all the opportunities that have come your way since 2008.I'm sure there will be many more. As you say, we will be remembering your donor and her family as we celebrate the great gift of life which you were given.
Lots of love Mum and Dad xx

Ruth Jay said...

Happy anniversary! What an achievment, making so much out of your life since transplant must be amazing for you :)

glad to hear you're home and well, bank account aside! xx

Anonymous said...

Happy Second anniversary Jacqueline.
It hardly seems 2 years and yet you have packed so much into these last 2 years its been amazing to follow.
Have a great day today .
Glad Seb is Ok I know he had a great holiday at Nan & Bob's

Luv

CA & B
xxx

the Gilchrists said...

Sending you love and best wishes on the anniversary of your transplant and wishing you lots of good health and happiness in the future.Remembering your donor and her family.Glad you finally made it home safe and well.Here's to even more great opportunities! X X X X

Anonymous said...

Hi Jacqueline. Happy 2nd Transplant Anniversary. Hope you are having a nice restful happy day. We are very proud of all that you have achieved over the last 2 years. It was fantastic to see you have so much fun on holiday!! We were struggling to keep up with you!!! Mind you we are old!! We will never forget your donor and what her gift has meant to you and Andrew and your mum and dad. not to mention the rest of us!! Awesome!!!! Iv'e been in America too long!!! Here's to many more fantastic times ahead. Volcanoes permitting!! lol Anne and John and Ross xxx

John-Boy said...

Can't believe that you've spent 3 weeks on holiday in my company and you're still speaking to me!!
You truly deserve a medal!!
Seriously though, I agree with Anne that it was often a real problem for us trying to keep up with your blistering pace in Florida!! Awesome!!
Great to see you enjoy your return to Florida so totally and thoroughly!
lol John

Anonymous said...

Time flies! Happy 2nd Anniversary.

Bobby xx

Kelly said...

You received the gift of life. The rest of us received the gift of Jac - we are all blessed :-) Your donor and her family have given such an amazing gift at what must have been such a painful time for them. Such courage and selflessness.

Lots of love xxx

Me said...

Haven't had the interet so not been able to keep upto date with your antics, but from what I gather the volcano ash has made your journey back home crazy! I hope the insurance gets sorted, I hate doing stuff that like that, they make you want to kill yourself they are so unhelpful! Just glad you got the insurance in the end as I remember it was really expensive
I also feel zombieish when I get back from a holiday, I dont think my body copes well with change! xx

CB said...

Happy 2nd transplant anni - had planned to get you a card on Sat, but kinda got waylaid ;) Congrats and thinking of your donor and her family for such an amazing gift.

And thanks for sorting out the flight - turns out your suggestion for it to be Tuesday would have been wiser after all! Ah well, will see what happens! C xxx