Las Vegas, Mexico, and a broken toe. Almost sounds like the name of a new movie. The last few weeks of my life feels like I’ve been in a movie!
I told you I have a lot to catch you up with. It starts with our neighbors, they were incredibly nice to let us borrow their snowmobiles for a whirl around the lake. The rush of going super fast on top of frozen water was awesome. 
I called Dana on her birthday three weeks ago to see if she wanted to meet for an appetizer on her way home from work. When she showed up, we were wearing the same jacket. We were asked if we were part of an athletic team at the University of Minnesota. Talk about a great birthday gift, being asked if you are a college athlete when you turn thirty seven is a good day.
Happy Birthday Dana
Sometimes I don’t mind when Travis has to travel for work. Especially when I get to tag along! I was so excited to join Travis in Las Vegas two weeks ago. Other than my Judge Judy trip, I have not been on a plane for five years. I took my first trip on an airplane since my transplant. Not only did I get to fly but I was able to carry on my luggage! As a matter of fact, we were in Vegas for six days and we SHARED one carry on!
Since I have been sixteen, I have always had to travel with a bunch of machines. Carrying on my clothes was difficult because I needed two suitcases for medical equipment i.e. vest treatment machine, nebulizer and accessories, medications, cleaning equipment, oxygen machine with extra batteries (airlines require 150% battery backup, which usually meant bringing 6 batteries which are not small or light). The flight attendants would always ask “that’s ALL medical?”.
This time, it was only a backpack with my medications. Even though I don’t have to carry all that stuff anymore, I still remember what it was like. It was more difficult and required more planning especially with the oxygen. I’m now fortunate to move about the cabin with ease.
The Saturday while we were in Vegas, we went out with our friends Bryan and Farrah (Bryan and Travis work together and we are all good friends).
Travis, Byran, me and Farrah in Vegas
Since Travis and Bryan were there for work, they attended a couple of the conventions. I have always heard how big the Las Vegas Convention Center is, over three million square feet of exhibit space. One afternoon, I met up with the boys and walked around with them. It is huge! You couldn’t see everything in one day.
Even though they were working some of the time, we had a ton of fun while we were in Vegas. I enjoyed doing my own thing during the day while they were busy. Going in and out of the casinos and walking up and down the strip. We went to a few clubs, had some great food, saw a show, watched a UNLV basketball game in a suite, and rolled the dice a little playing craps.
Two friends of ours, Julz & Jon, both happened to be in Vegas at the same time. Jon was at the same convention as Travis and Bryan. Then Julz was there with her company. We actually ended up changing our flight and staying an extra day two days to spend some time with them. Good times.
Travis and Ben went to school together growing up. For the last two years, Richard, Ben’s father, has been waiting on the very same lung transplant list that I had waited on. We are very close to Ben and his family. When we were heading back from Vegas we received a text saying Richard got “the call” for his transplant. We landed in Kansas City for our lay over, I was crying in the airport restaurant because I was so happy and excited he was about to receive his new lungs.
Jane & Richard with his new lungs
The surgery went well and he has had a great recovery so far. I happened to have a clinic appointment this last Wednesday when Richard was being released to go home. Well, he’s going to an apartment, their new home for a while. They live in Duluth and need to stick in the area for the next couple of months. I got to see him walk out of the hospital not carrying an oxygen tank. I couldn’t be happier for him.It was cold outside and he was worried about breathing the cold air. When you wear oxygen like both Richard and I used to, the cold air is very hard to breathe in. I told him, that’s the best part, its not difficult anymore. I can’t wait for him to start experiencing all the things his new lungs will allow him to do.
I know I often mention a request to say a prayer for my donor and their family. I would like to extend that request to include Richard’s donor, family, and continued success with his recovery.
We came home from Vegas for three days and it was time to turn around and get on another plane. We were on our way to Cozumel. Travis’ mom was turning sixty and requested a family vacation. The bonus was our niece, Lauren, also turned twelve, the day after Colleen turned sixty. It was five days of warm weather, relaxation, and celebration.
Family vacation! Zac, Dana, Lauren, Dennis, Colleen, me & Trav
The night before we left for Mexico, I decided to wear socks and walk up our wooden stairs. Even though it was only the second step, I ended up slipping and coming down on a crunched toe. This happened in the evening and we had to leave for the airport at four in the morning. About three in the morning, my foot was throbbing terribly. The good news is, I have broken my foot before and I owned a walking boot. I said to Travis “you have to find my boot!”. I wasn’t going to let a hurt foot stop me from putting my feet in the warm sand.
Traveling with my boot
My old lungs never gave me the the opportunity to snorkel. While in Cozumel, during my first snorkeling expedition with my new lungs, I had a very surreal and profound experience. I stuck my head under water, looked at the ocean floor, and took deep breaths. I embraced the beauty of the fish and the coral. But then, I realized what I was listening to. What I heard underwater was my donor breathing. I listen to my breaths all the time but this was different. It was amplified under water. All I could think was, thank you. Thank you to my donor for this incredible moment that we were sharing together. It was almost like my donor was speaking to me. Speaking through the power of breathing.
Listening to my donor
My friend Sarina has been trying to get me back into coaching figure skating. She is out of the country for three weeks and asked if I could help her while she is gone. I met her at the rink a few times and met some of her students. This week, I started filling in for her. Years ago, before I needed oxygen, I loved coaching. It has been really fun for me to be back at the rink.
Although, I am not on the ice at the moment. I am coaching from the sidelines. My foot was still bruised and sore so I went to the doctor to make sure it wasn’t something too severe. Turns out, my big toe is broken! Go figure, I always like to keep things interesting.
The reason I was on Fox9 News the other day was because there is a play at the the JCC Sabes Theatre in St. Louis Park called I and You. The play is about two teens that would have unlikely have become friends but the girl needs a transplant and the boy ends up helping her study and they share all their secrets. It is playing on weekends thru February 22nd.
Yesterday, we attended the Chilly Open in Wayzata. There is chili to taste at the Chilly Open but the main purpose is golf. That’s right, golf outside in Minnesota in February! They carve out 9 hole golf courses on Lake Minnetonka. It’s basically putt putt golf with tennis balls on the frozen lake with a theme. This year’s theme was country. Thanks Jim and Lori, we had a blast with this group!
Jim, Travis, Hannah, James, me, Lori, Scott, & Jim golfing
Health notice: Monday’s doctor’s appointment went great! I was so nervous with the cold I have been suffering from. Turns out, I had some of the best lung functions yet!! I am still numb to the fact that if I have some congestion that it doesn’t include a hospital stay with a lung infection. Thank you to my donor for this experience.
Nikki's New Lungs 