We got another offer of lungs last night, about 5pm. The surgeon seemed optimistic and confident about these—but their initial assessments are based on CT scans and blood gases, etc. They don’t really know until the UPMC team gets the lungs in their own hands. Unfortunately, the left lower lobe was completely damaged by pneumonia. Kind of a coincidence: Caitlin’s left lower lobe was the one that was irreversibly damaged when she was eleven, and which was removed in a long surgery at that time.
We’re keeping the faith. Lung transplant is tricky, and miraculous. It’s not like getting a new pair of shoes. No-go’s happen a lot, as we have certainly discovered. I’m not going to get overly confident, or post about offers, until I hear that the lungs are good to go and we’re on our way to the OR.
–Maryanne, with Nick.
9 Lives Notes 