Thanks again my friends,
Now that I got some sleep I can expound a little more. The lungs are often not viable because that are so delicate and are subjected to the environment of outside air and contamination. I was on the operating table, ready to be put under when the Doctor’s assistant came in and gave me the news and showed me a picture of the lungs. He said the lungs were damaged either through the young man’s trauma or through the trauma team trying to save him and that if they put those lungs in I would be fighting the transplant and the lungs trying to heal. He said I was too well to try them. In other words, if I was going to die very soon myself, they would have gone ahead with the surgery.
The preparation took so long because they must coordinate all of the other recipients who are receiving heart, kidneys, liver and so on at the same time.
I was at the hospital for 20 hours, did not eat for 36 and only had 2 cups of ice for hydration during a 32-hour period. Needless to say, I was tired, hungry and thirsty. I came home and went straight to sleep.
I learned a lot through this and will be more prepared for the next time. I will keep you posted when they call for round 2. I have heard that some poor folks have gone through 5 dry runs.
Steve