One more point Steve ;

 Why do they have to measure Lung capacity in Liters ? Whatsa matta with good old American P.S.I. ? Or S.A.E Volumetric standards .

Steve;

 I don't envy you .I had an aneurism removed from the back side of my heart .

 Went through the whole drill . Doc says I have C.O.P.D. , Funny no diagnoses like that before . Anyway , your comment on Ox.Sat . Mine has always been above 96 and lately it is always 99 .

 No real lung problems , but a lingering cough .Clear lungs though .Yes , Steve , I smoked from three to four packs a day ( Unfiltered ) and dropped to one pack and then No Packs .That was hard too .

 What folks don't realise about what you went through , is you will be on anti-rejection meds the rest of your life ! So From one Cracked chest to another . "Live life and Prosper  ". as SPOCK would say .

Thanks PJ.

Been away from the computer for a while but it's great to hear things are going well Steve. Good deal the issue was cvought well before any reaction. All the best!

Thank you GH!

While the infusion time is a drag, and you can't build during, at least you can bring some research material to read to pass the time and prepare for the next great build I know is in you.

Good to hear they caught it in time and have a solution. 

All of us are still on board, pulling for you my friend.

Thank you Piers.

I had to return to the hospital last week for a 4 dose IV treatment. There is a antibody mismatch between the donor any myself and I need to have the IV administered once a week for 6 weeks then monthly until November. Luckily I won't need to go back to the hospital for it and I can get it done at an infusion/home care center. It takes 6 hours and that's kind of a drag, too bad I can't bring a build LOL. They caught this mismatch before I started rejection so that great. My volume today at clinic was above 4 liters. That is amazing progress for having the transplant 1 1/2 months ago.

Steve

Steve,

A great outcome for your condition, you have great colour in your photos.

You have had quite a journey there and sounds like a long journey ahead of you too. But as you say, at least it will be a long journey, better than the alternative.

So take care of yourself and I (we) look forward to watching your quality builds for many years to come.

All the best,

Piers

 Great news on your progress Steve. 

That is awesome news Steve!!!  I wish you a speedy recovery and look forward to seeing you back the the model bench.  You better go beddie bye a little earlier though!  Rest up and recharge!  OK Mommy Mode off.

Thank you Gary!

I'm still doing great, the incision site pain is diminishing every day and I'm getting stronger. My wife is with me in my brother's spare bedroom so we are kinda living on top of each other. She's headed back to Boise on the 14th and I can reopen the workbench for business.

The amazing thing is my oxygen saturation is 100%, you can't get any better than that.

Thank you all!

Steve, I've been off the website for a few months, and have just now read about your story. WOW!! This is GREAT news, friend! G;ad to know that all went well, and that you're healing just fine. Hope to see some models from you soon. God Bless you, Steve!!

Gary Mason

As far as hospital pix go, you look good :-). Always good to see patients dressed up in the "civilian clothes", makes you feel less "hospitaly" :-).

Good luck with the recovery 

Yer doin great Steve!!  So glad to hear this.  I didn't know that rejection of the lungs is a lifetime issue.  I guess I thought that at some point your body would decide they belonged there.  It does sound like you are trading one set of problems for another, but this set of problems is SUCH an improvement!

It was good to see your smile in the pictures.  Glad to hear you are out of the hospital.  When are you going to be able to go home?  I am guessing you need to work with the fine medical staff where you are for a while.

Please take care,

D

That's fantastic news!!! Hope you can stay away from the hospital for a good long time! 

Grrr, Internet problems. Not sure I got through last week. If not, thinkin' of ya!

Maxie

That is great progress Steve, and it is fantastic to hear. Again... it is great to hear good news. Keep it up! Thanks for sharing!

Steve

Nino, Scott, Damian, fox, thank you.

I was discharged from the hospital yesterday morning I had to do some shopping to help with my new routine organization, unpack and sort all the pills, nebulizers, and IV's since, I still have a PICC line for IV's for the next month and went to dinner. I was very tired and sore at the end of the day, which was somewhere around 1am.

I'm feeling great today and did a breathing test at the clinic. This time however, instead of blowing into the mouth piece and taking a few minutes to recoup,  t I blew all three times, one right after another and said "we done here?" LOL. My capacity went from less than 2 liters to 5!

My bench has been taken over by my meds for the moment since I'm living on top of myself in the spare room at my brother's house. But once I get the routine down I will get ot back.

Thank you everybody for your support, prayers, concern and friendship. I will keep everbody posted if anything unexpected happens. I am very determined to make this a success.

Steve

Been down that road you are going to travel. It's tough, but I know that you can handle it easily. I used to love Pink Grapefruit but still can't have it. Changed my diet 3 times, before, during and after the kidney transplant. Lots of food I used to love and now have to stay away. Changing it again because I'm now pre-diabetic. No insulin "yet", just another pill in the morning and another at supper time, but counting Carbs is a royal PITA.

Jim  

Steve,

Very happy to see that all has gone so very well post op and that your felling better than you have in some time. Take things slowly and dont over do it.

All the very best to you and your family for now and into the future.

Kind regards

Damian

Man, after 25 years, your looking great Steve.  You seem to have more hair now than you did back then

Scott

 Steve,

    That's what I will need, a good mask/respirator.  I have quite a few Resin kits but have only done the OKB 1/700 stuff so far since no or minimal sanding needed. My Blue Water Navy Subs need serious sanding and those Hospital masks don't cut it.

  What's your pick as a first kit to celebrate a return to your life of leisure? 

    Jim.

(It's snowing here and I almost went out to shovel when I saw your post. Thanks.  Reading your post delayed me just enough. Someone came by with a snowblower.)

Thanks Jim,

I purchased a new N95 mask and spray in a well ventalated area. I'm not going to let some things slide like I did before respreator wise. I'll wear the mask even while gluing and applying filler.

Hi Steve!

     A very great Welcome Back!  I followed along on the posts with fervent Hope and Prayers.

     I am very impressed with your recovery from a 2-lung Transplant.  I did not know both could be done a the same time. Wow. You look great and as TB said the Tank tracks don't even show...

   Okay, so no resin kits for awhile and only non-toxic glue in a tube?   My suggesion: keep the oxygen tank.  Spring has started so a hit or two of O2 and you'll have the grass cut in half the time.

   Kidding aside, you were missed.  Glad you are back online. We need your observations and perceptive posts.

    Jim.

Thanks Johnny, Mike, Gam and TB

Johnny, even things such as Grapefruit, because of the interaction with one of the immunosuppressants, buffet lines, rivers, lakes, anything has a higher possibility of getting sick. The ocean and pools are alright because of the saline and chlorine in them. From what I understand they want me to have just enough of an immune system to fight off what I can but confused enough that my body doesn’t look at the lungs as being foreign, or at least doesn’t attack them. The body will never accept lungs apparently. They tell me that I will be back in the hospital at some point due to illness or the start of rejection. It’s all part of finding that very fine line.

Either way I knew I was exchanging one set of problems with another, but I certainly would have died if I keep going like I was. At my former decline I probably would have lasted maybe another two to three years. Now I could be looking at 20+ depending on how well they walk that tightline, and I stick to my med schedule and stay exercised up.

I have to say, I am very excited just to get out there and start my new lease on life!

TB, a pedometer is a good idea. There's no way my legs will carry me 2 miles yet but it won't be long. Hiking a part of the Applation Trail or maybe even the Idaho Central Trail close to me is now on my list. Thank you for your prayers my friend.

Steve

Hey Steve ;

 Just thought I would give you my progress report and see if  over time you could match it . I walked 5,788 steps in one day .That's a little over two miles . I will be looking for any updates from you . You don't look so bad for someone who got run over by an Abrams ! LOL. LOL. 

 Anyway guy , me and my team will still bring on the prayers till you are as close to 100% as you can be and then some . Your friend always -Tanker - Builder

Heck, after my two week stay in the hospital ANYTHING but hospital food was a delight! 

That is friggin' awesome, I'd never have thought you'd be out this soon! 

Congratulations Steve.  Best of luck to you as you continue down this new path in life and on the road to complete recovery.

Mike

modelcrazy

LOL, will do Jim. There are a few things that are permanently off the menu though. Any meat that is not fully cooked (med rare steak) , Uncooked sushi  any eggs other than scrambled  and cookie dough