Growing up in a rural area had its benefits, but when I was getting sick a lot and the doctors were not sure what was going on, my parents knew I needed to be taken to St. Louis Children's Hospital to be checked out. The first test they ran came back positive for cystic fibrosis.
I was 10 years old, and my life changed in an instant. I was immediately taught about new medications and treatments to care for my lungs. Instructed about precautions to be aware of, and with this being 1976, a prognosis was delivered that was somewhat unsettling. Thankfully for CF patients now, there are many advanced treatments.
But I made a decision that I was going to make the most of my life, do my best to take care of myself, and trust that God was in control. I knew that I needed to accept that, regardless of what was in store.
I had a fun time in grade school and in high school, was involved in all the activities that I wanted to be in, and even lettered in varsity golf for 3 years. Then off to college where I double majored, was active in the business school and worked part time in retail. After college, I moved to St. Louis to begin work in retail management. As the disease began to take its toll on my lungs, I knew I needed to find a new career that was not so taxing. I entered the recruiting industry and worked for a great company for 10 years, I was thankful to have won many national awards while there. However, my CF was advancing, and I was evaluated and listed for transplant, then worked for 9 months into my waiting period. Then we decided to finish out my wait at home (a total of 20 months).
I had become very sick, was on oxygen all the time, even while asleep, and it felt like my life was coming to an end. Then, on April 9, 1999 at 4:30 a.m., I received the call from Barnes that was a true gift of life. Wow, a rush of nervous excitement ran through me. I was so thankful for the donor family who had made this incredible decision that would give me a future. And what a life it has been. My wife Teresa and I will be celebrating 21 years of this miracle this month. The gratitude for my donor family cannot even be described. And the same goes for all wonderful care that I received from all the doctors and nurses, and all of the behind the scenes efforts of Mid-America Transplant.
This has been a true miracle. I could not begin to describe all the amazing experiences I have had since my double lung transplant. I continue to be thankful beyond words and do my very best to take life one day at time.
Randy
1 Peter 5: 6,7
