Stress Test, Update and 1st Cardiac Cath Scheduled

  Hello all, 

 Just an update for everyone who follows this blog. I had my stress test done at Maine Medical Center on September 15th, as well as a pulmonary function test. Those tests are required for my evaluation for transplant, so they had to be done, and I'll probably have to do a few more of those as time goes on.

I got a call from my first cardiac catheterization, which they will be doing to see if they can close up any of those collateral vessels in my left lung, so that when surgery comes, not so many complications will happen. I will also be having a few more of those before the big surgery. It'll all depend on how I recover and recoup. Unfortunately, we are still a ways to go as I've only met half the specialists that I need to meet so far. Many people don't understand that transplant evaluations take a lot of time.

So as I wait for those appointments, I try to continue to stay busy with little hobbies and projects on the side. I am unfortunately not working due to doctors' feeling that it would not be appropriate at this time, especially since they do not want me to exert myself more than needed. So yeah, I won't lie. I'm very bored and I've had a lot of time to think. I can say that my anxiety has gotten worse with everything to come, and here comes seasonal depression, which will not make my journey any easier. 

I wanted to thank everybody who has so far shared or even sent whatever you could for my GoFundMe. The next couple of months are going to be very challenging as well as very expensive. One of my biggest stressors has always been finances. Currently, I am hoping that my insurance will cover a majority of my transplant and all of the testing and procedures to come. Medicare is what is gonna be paying, hopefully, for the majority of it, but unfortunately, with all the cuts to medicare funding being done by DOGE, I could be booted off that list at any time, which is a terrifying thought for me.

 I do wanna take the time to thank everybody who has donated so far, but we are far from scratching the surface when it comes to medical bills, medication costs, travel, stays, food, clothing, etc. So I ask of you, if you can or haven't, please share my GoFundMe link, whether it be to social media or whatever else deems appropriate. I know I'm not in this journey alone, and I want to thank everybody who has been there with kind words, who has extended just a message of hope or love, and thoughtfulness. 

Also, if anybody is really good at knitting or crocheting or doing any of that stuff, I love homemade socks. I am always cold and so fuzzy, comfy, warm socks are always something I will never take for granted.


The following link is to my GoFundMe:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-melindas-dual-transplant-journey


Thought this was pretty. Found on Pinterest.


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