Keith & Sarah’s personal journey with rare lung disease. Part III, “Bonus round”

Over the last few months, Keith and Sarah have been sharing their journey with us. In this final interview of our three-part series, they talk about how he got on a transplant list and their “phones at the dinner table” policy. If you missed our first two interviews with Keith and Sarah, you can find them here.

align="right"

What did you have to do to get on a transplant list? Did you have to meet certain criteria?
[Keith] The transplant assessment process is an intense and very time-consuming one. When you are contacted about being assessed for transplant, you are sent a large envelope listing out a weeks worth of testing, doctors visits, and appointments in Toronto at Toronto General Hospital. The hospital evaluates you on many things, and ultimately if you are deemed “healthy” enough (because you can actually be too sick, or too healthy) as a result of this testing, you are placed on the list. There were psychological assessments, nuclear cardiac testing, liver testing, kidney testing, pulmonary function testing, physical testing, blood tests (LOTS of blood tests) to name a few.

Can you talk about your “phones at the dinner table” policy and how it changed?
[Sarah] Phones allowed at the dinner table. Most families discourage this, as it is always nice to have the family come together at the end of the day and talk about their day. The one time when people are tuned to each other as opposed to their devices! Once Keith was placed on the list, we were waiting for that call to come which would signal the next phase of our life. This meant that our phones were even MORE attached to us, and yes, were placed on the dinner table until that call came.

SK$

How are you doing post transplant?
[Keith] I feel fantastic! Being able to breathe with deep breaths every minute has been the most life changing experience for me. I am still sifting through a bit of a fog with some pain medications but as they are reduced, I find myself feeling more and more enthusiastic about what lies ahead. Each day is a gift, and I am enjoying my “bonus round.” The realities of transplant are such that we never know what tomorrow will bring, so I am living my life to the fullest every day that I am here.

What’s the one thing you both think every rare lung disease patient should know?
[Sarah & Keith] There is hope. With awareness we can educate people on the necessity to be organ donors, which can ultimately get rid of the list! The transplant program at Toronto General is exceptional and if you do what they tell you, take care of yourself and do your physio…there truly is hope for a better life with new lungs. The hospital’s goal is to help you through your disease in any way possible, and transplant is the last option, but if you need it, this is the place to be.

Sarah and Keith are part of our “Spotlighted Blogger” series, where we talk with people who are sharing their personal health experiences to help raise awareness and change healthcare for good. Sarah started blogging about her fiancé Keith’s journey with a rare lung disease back in July of 2012 on her blog Taking a Deep Breath.

Please follow and like us:

2 thoughts on “Keith & Sarah’s personal journey with rare lung disease. Part III, “Bonus round””

  1. Thank you so much for this moving blog. I am currently on the active transplant list waiting and hoping for another lease of life and new lungs and your blog has helped me and encouraged me. I wish Keith the very best of luck for the future and share your gratitude for the incredible generosity and humanity of those who choose to donate their organs to help others.

  2. I just wanted to follow up on my previous comment that I left a year ago. Firstly, I hope that Keith is doing great and enjoying life to the full. One month after I left my comment, I too had a double lung transplant on November 23, 2013. The operation was tough and I almost died after a huge rejection episode a week later. I was in ICU for six weeks but I recovered and now, almost a year later, I feel great, can walk my dog across fields for 3-4 hours and can lead a pretty normal life. Yes, I have to take immuno -suppressants and anti rejection drugs for the rest of my life but generally, I feel great. I am slim and energetic and I love my life. Keith, you helped inspire me and I am grateful to you.

    Best regards to you and your family

    Richard

Comments are closed.

Scroll to Top