She’s breathing!
At the crack of noon, they pulled out her breathing tube and she was breathing on her own! Well, with the help of the new lungs.
It was awesome!
Earlier today, they did a bronchoscopy. Since everything was looking good, they decided to extubate.
They weaned her off the propofol and she started to wake up around 10:30 A.M. She started communicating with hand gestures and then moved to sign language. She’s going to have to let me know where she learned this skill. Eventually, she was spelling letters on her pillow and then quickly moved to the shaky pen and clipboard method. I told her we should proudly display this artwork on the refrigerator.
After taking the tube out which was controlling her breathing, she took a few deep breathes, coughed a few times and she was inhaling oxygen on her own. They will supplement with O2 through a nose cannula for a little while.
Though she’s pretty hoarse, she’s talking now. A lot. I keep trying to tell her to rest, but she has been a little afraid to take a nap. When you sleep, your body naturally takes shallower breathes. She wants to make sure she’s really exercising those new lungs.
She’s still in ICU and will stay there for at least another day. She asked if I would step away and send a quick post. She wanted to make sure I thanked everybody for all of the prayers and support for both our family and the donor family.
She can’t have visitors yet and the rest of the gang is all hanging out in the VIP Lounge.
Will update you later this afternoon.
Nikki's New Lungs 
Amazing!
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Faith, Hope, Breathe Nikki!
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Soooo incredibly happy to read your most recent update! Give Nikki a big hug for me:)
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Amen! A whole new world for Miss Nikki! How utterly amazing! I am teared up with joy for you both. I look forward to her continued progress.
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SO AWESOME!!!!
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Awesome News. We Are Praying For A Speedy Recovery:)
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Way to go!!!
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Amazing!!!
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That is awesome news! Annette and I have been thinking of you guys a lot this week, and are so thrilled that you both are doing great! Give her hugs from us, but don’t squeeze too tight!
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the feeling of her taking a breath on her own must feel like, HEAVEN!! after 37 long years of struggling, I cannot imagine how wonderful she must feel? i’m sure words cannot describe!! so beyond excited for you both!!!
❤,
JJ
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I have been anxiously waiting this news! Wow! Tell Nikki I remember this part and being afraid as well. My breathes were more like hiccups at times because I didn’t know how to breathe normal! I hope they can control the pain. as I know it can be just terrible. Nikki you look great! I love the OK signs! I am overjoyed for you and your new future. Keep breathing, hoping and praying! The best part is, is that you will have to make yourself cough! Ok so Not sure if that is the best part but oh so nice not to hear that sound so often! Cheers to a smooth recovery for you. Hugs! But I would not let anyone actually hug you for a while!
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Awesome news, I can’t help but cry thinking about what you and the donor family are going through! What an awesome GIFT. Keep up the good work, Nikki, but get plenty of rest!
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This is incredible news… God Bless!!!
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What incredibly great news! Can’t wait forThe Rocket to blast off!
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Nikki, I’m so happy for you! I remember when I my husband was discharged from the hospital 10 days after his lung transplant & as he sat in the car & we drove off, I started to cry, for the first time in years he was able to breathe. You are now on that same journey he was in July of 1996. I wish you & your husband the best. Prayers to your donor family.
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Thanks so much,Travis, for all the updates. This brought tears to my eyes!!! She is such a FIGHTER and what can we say about the fabulous power of prayer!!!
Prayers and thoughts will be with you all through the recovery process.
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Best News EVER!!!!!! Life is good, Life is good!!!! Love you guys!!!!
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Hot Damn you are breathing with awesome lungs! So good to see.. I want to know what your first words were.. Can’t wait to see you and hear each detail as you remember it.. HHHHOOOOOORRRRRAAAAYYYYYYY!!!!!
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YES! Cannot WAIT to see you two soon! love the smile Nikki!
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This is such great news Travis… Please give Nikki our best! We are so happy for the two of you and your families!. Will continue our prayers so that her recovery goes smoothly. Also saying a prayer for the donors family as well!
The Votel Family
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Wooooo HOOOOO! Way to go Nikki! I am so very happy to hear this! Love you!
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How do you spell goose bumps???? Because that is what I had and still have after reading this post 5 times over and over again, I can’t explain how happy and thankful that I am at this moment!! As I think of you dear Nikki, I am also thanking the donor and praying for the family. Praise Be To God!!!!! Love you all great big bunches or as I say to the grand babies……To The Moon And Back;))
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DONT RUSH ANYTHING! Take a nap I know all of a sudden you will get a burst of energy then its a go all the way!
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Nikki, you look beautiful!!!!
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God bless you Nikki! I’m so so so so SO happy for you! It brings tears to my eyes and chills on my neck every time I get to read your updates! Prayers to and your donor! Thank you for sharing your journey with us! You are truly inspiring and have made everyone appreciate life so much more! Love you!
PS and only you could make a hospital gown look so fab!!
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Prayers have been answered!! I am so happy for you Nikki & Travis! Nikki you look fantastic. Prayers for peace and everlasting life for the donor. What a wonderful gift of life to you!! Breathe deep and enjoy those lungs!
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I have never been so happy to hear such wonderful news. You look beautiful as always with that wonderful room brightening smile. I can hardly wait to see you walking around on your own. I have tears of joy. Love you Nikki
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This is great news!!! I don’t know Nikki but my sister does and I’ve been seeing updates on my sisters FB page. I’ll keep thinking good thoughts for Nikki and sending prayers from Da U.P. eh!!
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This is great news!!! I don’t know Nikki but my sister does and I’ve been seeing updates on my sisters FB page. I’ll keep thinking good thoughts for Nikki and sending prayers from Da U.P. eh!!
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Travis & Nikki ~ Great news! I am so happy everything is going well. I will be back at work on Friday and TALK with you NIKKI!
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So happy to hear the good news! Way to go Nikki! You are a tough woman and quite an inspiration. You look great…Travis, too. 🙂
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It is so great to here you have new lung Nikki I have been following your post. You deserve a chance at breathing easy! I connected with you with CF sight and am really interested in all the going on of Donate Life and CF I have a daughter-in-law also on the transplant list. She also has CF We pray that one day we can celebrate as you are this week! Congratulations on your brave journey in life! Remember “LIFE IS A SPECIAL OCCASION!” Blessings to you and your family. Lena Vollink
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That is SO awesome!!! Great job Nikki, keep kicking ass!!!! Everyone is praying for you!
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What a miracle this is!! We are so delighted and feel the blessings of all your loved ones and friends sharing in these posts. Rest like you’ve never rested before to give these lungs a good healthy start in your amazing body, Nikki. Like the rest, I have tears just trying to wrap my head around all that has taken place. The research, the doctors, the scientists, the medicine and here you are, proof that it all works. Thank God!
Love You,
Heidi & Scott
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Hey you guys…so happy to hear about the opportunity, the successful process and the recovery so far. Thank you for the updates! I’ve been hanging on every word to hear where you are at! Great people deserve great things!!!
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I keep looking at this picture of you and to me it’s the most beautiful picture EVER!!! I have so much happiness in me knowing that you can finally lead a normal life, even if it won’t be for a while yet – we all know the recovery will take some time! But Nikki – you’re such a go-getter and have so much determination in you that you’ll recover much sooner than the average person! Can hardly wait to see you and give you a loving gentle hug, but in the meantime I continue to keep you, Trav, the family and of course the donor’s family in my prayers! Love you so much!! ❤
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Nikki and Travis-We are so happy and excited for you!! Sending prayers your way for a smooth recovery.
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One step for mankind one deep breath for NIKI wow keep up the good work. Thank You Donor Dave Grube
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That’s so awesome! Nikki is an inspiration to us all, she’s so strong and precious at the same time. Keep up the good work Nikki and I wish you the best with your new lungs. I’m so happy for you and Travis.
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Nikki, you have been in my prayers and thoughts as well as all of the students at my school who have gotten the updates and now ask me daily how you are doing. You are an inspiration!! Love, Tina
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Congrats on receiving your new lungs Nikki. I’m an alum of the U of MN tx program (DL#87) 5/22/99. Yes 14+ years ago and still going!
Take care and enjoy the deep breaths!! And keep talking and walking at the same time. It’s all good.
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