#angelswait

(#angelswait) "Today is Angel's 14th birthday and today she was discharged. Two weeks ago, my daughter received the best gift anyone can ask for: a second chance to breathe. And not to just breathe, but a second chance to really live. #becauseofanorgandonor my daughter can sing without having to catch her breath between lines. Two weeks ago we were anxiously waiting to hear news if the bone marrow also matched when the lung transplant doctor walked into the room and asked Angel if she was scared. She nodded yes. He said, 'Well, you should be. If you're not then you don't belong here.' He looked at me and asked the same question. Was I scared? No. Was that a bad thing? Before THE CALL, I had come to some sort of acceptance that Angel would not ever be transplanted. Maybe it was my way of coping with the inevitable. My daughter was no longer living — just existing — chained to an oxygen concentrator. I had been watching this awful lung disease slowly kill my child for over two years. It was a nightmare. Angel's wait for lungs is over but now her transplant journey begins. And I know she'll go on to do great things. She'll make her donor proud.” – @the_waitinglist contributor Sara Boston of Reading, PA. Sara’s daughter Angel received a #lungtransplant on September 24, 2015. (Photo by Sara Boston) / #endthewaitinglist

(#angelswait) "Angel is having separation anxiety from her nasal cannula. Her oxygen saturation is 100% on room air, but she still feels like she needs it. The respiratory therapist removed the BiPAP machine from her room today so she can sleep without it tonight! Everyone continues to be pleased with her recovery. She's making this transplant stuff look way too easy, but it couldn't have been done without the incredible medical staff here at @childrenspgh. But most importantly, Angel's donor is the real hero. Without them, none of this would have been possible. Thank you for the #giftoflife." — @the_waitinglist contributor Sara Boston of Reading, PA. Her daughter Angel received a double #lungtransplant on September 24, 2015. (Photo by Sara Boston) // #endthewaitinglist

(#angelswait) UPDATE "Not bad for five days post double lung transplant." — @the_waitinglist contributor Sara Boston of Reading, PA. Sara's daughter Angel received a lung and bone marrow transplant on September 24, 2015. (Photo by Sara Boston) // #endthewaitinglist

(#angelswait) UPDATE "Angel got out of bed yesterday and walked three times! Today she had three chest tubes removed. And she was transferred from CICU to a regular floor! She is still having pain, but that's to be expected. She is still wearing oxygen during the BiPAP at night. Hopefully she'll be off of that soon!" — @the_waitinglist contributor Sara Boston of Reading, PA. Sara's daughter received a lung and bone marrow transplant on September 24, 2015. (Photo by Sara Boston) // #endthewaitinglist

(#angelswait) UPDATE "The doctors just rounded. Typically the average hospital stay is two weeks: one week in ICU and another on the regular floor. But her doctors are excited on how well Angel is doing. She may be moved to the regular floor soon. The pulmonary doctor said she needs to write a book on how to have a lung transplant :) And she can finally eat!" — @the_waitinglist contributor Sara Boston of Reading, PA. Sara's daughter Angel had a lung and bone marrow transplant on September 24, 2015. (Photo by Sara Boston) #endthewaitinglist

(#angelswait) UPDATE "Angel did really well last night. I'm told she's one of the best looking post-op patients they've seen. Her surgeon and pulmonary team are very happy with her progress. She's been able to talk a little bit, but is still drowsy with all the sedatives and pain medication. Her doctors are quite secretive about her donor. All I've heard is that it was a child around her age." — @the_waitinglist contributor Sara Boston of Reading, PA. Sara's daughter received a lung and bone marrow transplant on September 24, 2015. (Photo by Sara Boston) // #endthewaitinglist

(#angelswait) UPDATE from 4:57PM "I got the word that the lungs have passed the physical inspection, the last test needed to determine if the transplant would happen. The doctor said the surgery is a go." — @the_waitinglist contributor Sara Boston of Reading, PA. Sara's daughter Angel had been waiting for a lung and bone marrow transplant since July 2, 2013. Last night, she got THE CALL. (Photo by Sara Boston) // #endthewaitinglist

(#angelswait) UPDATE // "Angel just went back at 3:15PM. She was nervous but in good spirits." — @the_waitinglist contributor Sara Boston of Reading, PA. Sara's daughter Angel received THE CALL last night. Angel has been waiting for a lung and bone marrow transplant since July 2, 2013. (Photo by Sara Boston) // #endthewaitinglist