looking back over a year

2012 I am in to my second year with new lungs. If I thought 2011 was going to be a good year, baby 2012 is going to be the best yet.

I started a couple years ago a tradition of looking back on my year month by month. You can view 2009 here and 2010 here.

Here is my synopsis of 2011. 
January brought me my six month lungiversary and my first run down a city block. My first run up city steps. January made me fall in love with being able to jog.

February brought ear infections, headaches, fevers, and other infections. February brought me to a haemotlogist for low blood counts. February I experienced a bone marrow biopsy. Something I don't reccomend. It is MOST uncomfortable and sends my body into spasm shakes. February my results came back saying I had a healthy bone marrow and that I did not have Lymphoma. Later in the year, I would learn I did have lymphoma, it was just lurking somewhere else ready to attack.

March brought my first hospitalization. I had developed CMV virus and a psedumonus infection. March also brought with it the gift of being able to say "yes everything was worth it. Life is worth it now"

April brought my first adventure with my new lungs. I took my lungs to washington DC to visit my cousin. It was the best trip ever. It felt like I should have been in a movie, skipping and 'tra la la laing' the whole time. April brought the first time I blew up balloons post transplant. What a wonderful feeling to blow up balloons for a birthday celebration and not get winded.

May I played my first baseball game in years. I aced it.
May also brought my first tx tragedy. My friend Bree died. She was my age, my mentor, a fellow double lung transplant recipient, a guelph university alumni. She was my friend and I am so so so sad she had to leave this world only a year and 9 months after her life saving surgery. What a courageous and amazing spirit she was.

June brought summer and me having to fight another battle. A battle I never thought I'd have to go through, especially not so soon after transplant. June brought a false negative test to having lymphoma. A biopsy on the back of my nose. More hospitalizations. A cancelled jewellery show. A weakened girl. More CT scans. An MRI and finally a diagnosis of Lymphoma cancer.

July brought trips to the cottage. My first anniversary with new lungs. Planning of the 2nd annual CF for CF fashion show. July brought weekly visits to Princess Margaret hospital for doses of chemotherapy.

August brought me Tristan.
August brought the most successful to date CF for CF fashion show, raising over $30,000 and helping sponsor a family through transplant.

September brought me laughs and happiness with someone who I never thought would. September found us in a baseball tournament for Heather, a strong lady fighting sarcoma cancer.

October found me in Calgary visiting my friend. Another adventure. My first time seeing the rockies. October spawned an idea in my head...a move to vancouver? October was my first time going to a Leafs game.

November was a month of hope and renewel. My cystic sister got her call for new lungs.

December I spent in barbados with my family, Christmas shopping. Getting spoiled for my birthday. Snowboarding for the first time in years not being out of breath.

January 18th, 2012...I move to vancouver for a few months. What the rest of the year holds?...we shall see :)

This last year, I had my one year lungiversary, I beat cancer, I fell in love and planned a move to Vancouver. What a year! Man oh man oh man...what a freakin' wild year.